> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://studio-docs.sandbox.game/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://studio-docs.sandbox.game/the-editor/how-to-spawn-the-player-and-place-npc-prefabs.md).

# How to spawn the player and place NPC prefabs

The **player** is not a character `.glb` you drag into the level. Play mode creates a **Pawn** at **Player Start** from the **GameMode**.

**NPCs** (guards, wildlife, other bodies in the world) are the opposite: you **place** prefab instances in the scene, or spawn them from code. They stay in the Outliner while you edit.

A Model Mesh Node that looks like a person is still scenery until it is a pawn tree (capsule, visual mesh, movement). See [How to use a character pawn](/the-editor/how-to-use-a-character-pawn.md) for that tree.

## Player vs NPC vs mesh

| What you want                          | What to put in the scene                        | What Play does                                         |
| -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| The person you control                 | **Player Start** only                           | GameMode `pawnFactory` creates the pawn at that marker |
| Other characters standing in the level | Prefab instances (`prefabPath` on the instance) | Those copies are already there                         |
| A posed body with no gameplay          | A Model Mesh Node                               | Nothing. It does not walk                              |

{% hint style="info" %}
*NOTE: Do not place a player pawn (or the player prefab) in the scene **and** spawn from `pawnFactory`. You get two bodies. Keep the player prefab in `assets/prefabs/` and spawn it from GameMode.*
{% endhint %}

The Empty template does not set `pawnFactory`. Play then spawns a bare `ENGINE.Pawn`. Use a movement template (**3rd Person Movement**, **1st Person Movement**, and similar), or set `pawnFactory` yourself.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

## Place Player Start on walkable ground

Select **Player Start** (`ENGINE.PlayerStart`) in the Outliner. Move it onto collision the pawn can stand on. Physics on that ground: [How to set collision and navmesh on mesh models](/the-editor/how-to-set-collision-and-navmesh-on-mesh-models.md).

Player Start is not a visible character.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Set pawnFactory on GameMode

In your GameMode `initialize`, set `pawnFactory` to the pawn you want. Then run `pnpm build` and **Build Project** (`Ctrl+B` / `Cmd+B`). See [Project code fundamentals](/best-practices/project-code-fundamentals.md).

```typescript
public override initialize(options?: ENGINE.GameModeOptions): void {
  super.initialize({
    ...options,
    pawnFactory: async () => ENGINE.CharacterPawn.create(),
  });
}
```

Use `ENGINE.DefaultCharacterPawn.create()` when you need interact and fire. Details: [Doors, switches, pickups and triggers](/the-editor/doors-switches-pickups-and-triggers.md).

If you wrote a custom `@ENGINE.GameClass()` player, create that class in `pawnFactory` instead. A custom **PlayerController** is a separate factory (`playerControllerFactory`) on the same `initialize` options.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Keep the player prefab out of the level

Templates often save the player as `.prefab.json` under `assets/prefabs/`. Configure the tree (capsule, `modelUrl` on the visual mesh, camera), then **Save as Prefab**.

Play still creates the player through `pawnFactory`. Dragging that prefab into the scene is a second copy. See [How to Set Up a Prefab](/the-editor/how-to-set-up-a-prefab.md).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Place NPC prefabs in the scene

Build the NPC once (capsule, visual Model Mesh Node with physics off, animation if it needs it). **Save as Prefab**.

Drag the `.prefab.json` into the viewport for each copy. The instance shows `prefabPath` pointing at that file. Move each copy; do not duplicate by dragging a raw `.glb` if you need the full pawn tree.

Edit the shared template by double-clicking the prefab (Outliner or Assets). Placement on each instance stays on that instance.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Or spawn NPCs from code

When they should appear at runtime, use `ENGINE.spawn` or `ENGINE.spawnAsync` with the fully qualified prefab path, then add the node to the world. Same APIs as on the prefab page.

```typescript
const npc = await ENGINE.spawnAsync(
  '@project/assets/prefabs/npc.prefab.json'
);
world.add(npc);
```

Do not patch `.genesys-scene` files to stamp characters. Place in the editor, or ask the agent through [Sandbox Studio MCP](/working-efficiently-with-ai/set-up-and-use-sandbox-studio-mcp.md).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Enter Play mode and check the count

Play. You should control **one** pawn at Player Start. Placed NPC prefabs should still be in the world.

If you see two of “you,” a player pawn or player prefab is sitting in the scene. Remove it. If WASD does nothing, `pawnFactory` is still the bare Pawn, or Player Start is not on walkable collision.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Common mistakes

| What went wrong                              | What to do                                                              |
| -------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dragged a character `.glb` and expected WASD | That is a Model Mesh Node. The player is a Pawn from GameMode.          |
| Player prefab sitting next to Player Start   | Remove the instance. Spawn from `pawnFactory` only.                     |
| NPCs are `.glb` props with physics on        | Save a pawn (or GameClass) as a prefab. Physics off on the visual mesh. |
| Empty project, Play, no walking character    | Set `pawnFactory`, or start from a movement template.                   |
| Two player bodies                            | Placed pawn **and** factory spawn. Keep only Player Start in the level. |

## What You've Done

You can leave the player to GameMode and Player Start, and put other characters in the world as prefab instances or `spawnAsync` calls. Next: [How to use a character pawn](/the-editor/how-to-use-a-character-pawn.md) to change the visual `.glb` and camera, or [Create an Animation State Machine](/the-editor/create-an-animation-state-machine.md) if an NPC needs its own graph.


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