diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp
index 380a2d1e9b..220b845882 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,110 @@ namespace sol
     };
 }
 
+namespace
+{
+    ESM::NPC tableToNPC(const sol::table& rec)
+    {
+        ESM::NPC npc;
+
+        // Start from template if provided
+        if (rec["template"] != sol::nil)
+            npc = LuaUtil::cast<ESM::NPC>(rec["template"]);
+        else
+            npc.blank();
+
+            if (npc.mId == ESM::RefId::deserializeText("Player"))
+                npc.mId = ESM::RefId::deserializeText("blank");
+
+        // Basic fields
+        if (rec["name"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mName = rec["name"];
+        if (rec["model"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mModel = Misc::ResourceHelpers::meshPathForESM3(rec["model"].get<std::string_view>());
+        if (rec["mwscript"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mScript = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(rec["mwscript"].get<std::string_view>());
+        if (rec["race"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mRace = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(rec["race"].get<std::string_view>());
+        if (rec["class"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mClass = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(rec["class"].get<std::string_view>());
+        if (rec["head"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mHead = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(rec["head"].get<std::string_view>());
+        if (rec["hair"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mHair = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(rec["hair"].get<std::string_view>());
+
+        if (rec["isMale"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            bool male = rec["isMale"];
+            if (male)
+                npc.mFlags &= ~ESM::NPC::Female;
+            else
+                npc.mFlags |= ESM::NPC::Female;
+        }
+
+        if (rec["isEssential"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            bool essential = rec["isEssential"];
+            if (essential)
+                npc.mFlags |= ESM::NPC::Essential;
+            else
+                npc.mFlags &= ~ESM::NPC::Essential;
+        }
+
+        if (rec["isRespawning"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            bool respawn = rec["isRespawning"];
+            if (respawn)
+                npc.mFlags |= ESM::NPC::Respawn;
+            else
+                npc.mFlags &= ~ESM::NPC::Respawn;
+        }
+
+        if (rec["baseDisposition"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mNpdt.mDisposition = rec["baseDisposition"].get<int>();
+
+        if (rec["baseGold"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mNpdt.mGold = rec["baseGold"].get<int>();
+
+        if (rec["bloodType"] != sol::nil)
+            npc.mBloodType = rec["bloodType"].get<int>();
+
+        // Services offered
+        if (rec["servicesOffered"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            const sol::table services = rec["servicesOffered"];
+            int flags = 0;
+            auto setFlag = [&](std::string_view key, int mask) {
+                if (services[key] != sol::nil && services[key])
+                    flags |= mask;
+            };
+
+            setFlag("Spells", ESM::NPC::Spells);
+            setFlag("Spellmaking", ESM::NPC::Spellmaking);
+            setFlag("Enchanting", ESM::NPC::Enchanting);
+            setFlag("Training", ESM::NPC::Training);
+            setFlag("Repair", ESM::NPC::Repair);
+            setFlag("Barter", ESM::NPC::AllItems);
+            setFlag("Weapon", ESM::NPC::Weapon);
+            setFlag("Armor", ESM::NPC::Armor);
+            setFlag("Clothing", ESM::NPC::Clothing);
+            setFlag("Books", ESM::NPC::Books);
+            setFlag("Ingredients", ESM::NPC::Ingredients);
+            setFlag("Picks", ESM::NPC::Picks);
+            setFlag("Probes", ESM::NPC::Probes);
+            setFlag("Lights", ESM::NPC::Lights);
+            setFlag("Apparatus", ESM::NPC::Apparatus);
+            setFlag("RepairItem", ESM::NPC::RepairItem);
+            setFlag("Misc", ESM::NPC::Misc);
+            setFlag("Potions", ESM::NPC::Potions);
+            setFlag("MagicItems", ESM::NPC::MagicItems);
+
+            npc.mAiData.mServices = flags;
+        }
+
+        return npc;
+    }
+}
+
 namespace
 {
     size_t getValidRanksCount(const ESM::Faction* faction)
@@ -152,6 +256,7 @@ namespace MWLua
             stats.setBaseDisposition(stats.getBaseDisposition() + value);
         };
 
+        npc["createRecordDraft"] = tableToNPC;
         npc["getFactionRank"] = [](const Object& actor, std::string_view faction) -> size_t {
             const MWWorld::Ptr ptr = actor.ptr();
             ESM::RefId factionId = parseFactionId(faction);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp
index c02bad3bd3..dca136cd63 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <components/esm3/loadclot.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/loadligh.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/loadmisc.hpp>
+#include <components/esm3/loadnpc.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/loadskil.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/loadweap.hpp>
 #include <components/lua/luastate.hpp>
@@ -188,6 +189,10 @@ namespace MWLua
                 checkGameInitialized(lua);
                 return MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->insert(potion);
             },
+            [lua = context.mLua](const ESM::NPC& npc) -> const ESM::NPC* {
+                checkGameInitialized(lua);
+                return MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->insert(npc);
+            },
             [lua = context.mLua](const ESM::Weapon& weapon) -> const ESM::Weapon* {
                 checkGameInitialized(lua);
                 return MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->insert(weapon);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
index 7262805f81..369731a019 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
@@ -726,8 +726,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         switch (type)
         {
             case ESM::REC_ALCH:
-            case ESM::REC_MISC:
-            case ESM::REC_ACTI:
             case ESM::REC_ARMO:
             case ESM::REC_BOOK:
             case ESM::REC_CLAS:
@@ -735,14 +733,16 @@ namespace MWWorld
             case ESM::REC_ENCH:
             case ESM::REC_SPEL:
             case ESM::REC_WEAP:
-            case ESM::REC_LEVI:
-            case ESM::REC_LEVC:
-            case ESM::REC_LIGH:
                 mStoreImp->mRecNameToStore[type]->read(reader);
                 return true;
             case ESM::REC_NPC_:
             case ESM::REC_CREA:
             case ESM::REC_CONT:
+            case ESM::REC_MISC:
+            case ESM::REC_ACTI:
+            case ESM::REC_LEVI:
+            case ESM::REC_LEVC:
+            case ESM::REC_LIGH:
                 mStoreImp->mRecNameToStore[type]->read(reader, true);
                 return true;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.cpp
index 80bcdb056a..0e64e6e627 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.cpp
@@ -269,13 +269,29 @@ namespace MWWorld
             list.push_back((*it)->mId);
         }
     }
+    template <class IdType, class StaticMap>
+    inline bool shouldInsert(const IdType& id, const StaticMap& map)
+    {
+        auto it = map.find(id);
+        return it != map.end();
+    }
+
+    template <class StaticMap>
+    inline bool shouldInsert(const ESM::RefId& id, const StaticMap& map)
+    {
+        if (!id.template is<ESM::GeneratedRefId>())
+        {
+            auto it = map.find(id);
+            return it != map.end();
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
     template <class T, class Id>
     T* TypedDynamicStore<T, Id>::insert(const T& item, bool overrideOnly)
     {
         if (overrideOnly)
         {
-            auto it = mStatic.find(item.mId);
-            if (it == mStatic.end())
+            if (!shouldInsert(item.mId, mStatic))
                 return nullptr;
         }
         std::pair<typename Dynamic::iterator, bool> result = mDynamic.insert_or_assign(item.mId, item);
diff --git a/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua b/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua
index b2711c895b..5c21de8f56 100644
--- a/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua
+++ b/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua
@@ -875,6 +875,13 @@
 -- @field #Actor baseType @{#Actor}
 -- @field [parent=#NPC] #NpcStats stats
 
+---
+-- Creates a @{#NpcRecord} without adding it to the world database.
+-- Use @{openmw_world#(world).createRecord} to add the record to the world.
+-- @function [parent=#NPC] createRecordDraft
+-- @param #NpcRecord book A Lua table with the fields of a NpcRecord, with an optional field `template` that accepts a @{#NpcRecord} as a base.
+-- @return #NpcRecord A strongly typed NPC record.
+
 ---
 -- A read-only list of all @{#NpcRecord}s in the world database, may be indexed by recordId.
 -- Implements [iterables#List](iterables.html#List) of #NpcRecord.