diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a2df2e025e..e3b281b909 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
     Feature #8580: Sort characters in the save loading menu
     Feature #8597: Lua: Add more built-in event handlers
     Feature #8629: Expose path grid data to Lua
+    Feature #8654: Allow lua world.createRecord to create NPC records
 
 0.49.0
 ------
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 57ebeefcfd..5991c57c4c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ message(STATUS "Configuring OpenMW...")
 set(OPENMW_VERSION_MAJOR 0)
 set(OPENMW_VERSION_MINOR 50)
 set(OPENMW_VERSION_RELEASE 0)
-set(OPENMW_LUA_API_REVISION 87)
+set(OPENMW_LUA_API_REVISION 88)
 set(OPENMW_POSTPROCESSING_API_REVISION 3)
 
 set(OPENMW_VERSION_COMMITHASH "")
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/actor.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/actor.hpp
index 425e44451b..bd098d99d5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/actor.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/actor.hpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "../context.hpp"
 
+#include "servicesoffered.hpp"
 namespace MWLua
 {
 
@@ -25,15 +26,6 @@ namespace MWLua
         record["servicesOffered"] = sol::readonly_property([context](const T& rec) -> sol::table {
             sol::state_view lua = context.sol();
             sol::table providedServices(lua, sol::create);
-            constexpr std::array<std::pair<int, std::string_view>, 19> serviceNames = { { { ESM::NPC::Spells,
-                                                                                              "Spells" },
-                { ESM::NPC::Spellmaking, "Spellmaking" }, { ESM::NPC::Enchanting, "Enchanting" },
-                { ESM::NPC::Training, "Training" }, { ESM::NPC::Repair, "Repair" }, { ESM::NPC::AllItems, "Barter" },
-                { ESM::NPC::Weapon, "Weapon" }, { ESM::NPC::Armor, "Armor" }, { ESM::NPC::Clothing, "Clothing" },
-                { ESM::NPC::Books, "Books" }, { ESM::NPC::Ingredients, "Ingredients" }, { ESM::NPC::Picks, "Picks" },
-                { ESM::NPC::Probes, "Probes" }, { ESM::NPC::Lights, "Lights" }, { ESM::NPC::Apparatus, "Apparatus" },
-                { ESM::NPC::RepairItem, "RepairItem" }, { ESM::NPC::Misc, "Misc" }, { ESM::NPC::Potions, "Potions" },
-                { ESM::NPC::MagicItems, "MagicItems" } } };
 
             int services = rec.mAiData.mServices;
             if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, ESM::NPC>)
@@ -42,10 +34,11 @@ namespace MWLua
                     services
                         = MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->get<ESM::Class>().find(rec.mClass)->mData.mServices;
             }
-            for (const auto& [flag, name] : serviceNames)
+            for (const auto& [flag, name] : MWLua::ServiceNames)
             {
                 providedServices[name] = (services & flag) != 0;
             }
+
             providedServices["Travel"] = !rec.getTransport().empty();
             return LuaUtil::makeReadOnly(providedServices);
         });
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp
index 380a2d1e9b..e847357bd9 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/npc.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "actor.hpp"
 #include "modelproperty.hpp"
+#include "servicesoffered.hpp"
 
 #include <components/esm3/loadfact.hpp>
 #include <components/esm3/loadnpc.hpp>
@@ -44,6 +45,126 @@ namespace
 
         return faction->mRanks.size();
     }
+    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();
+
+        npc.mId = {};
+
+        // 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["primaryFaction"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            auto factionStr = rec["primaryFaction"].get<std::string_view>();
+            ESM::RefId factionId = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(factionStr);
+
+            const auto& factionStore = MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->get<ESM::Faction>();
+            if (!factionStore.search(factionId))
+                throw std::runtime_error("Invalid faction '" + std::string(factionStr) + "' in primaryFaction");
+
+            npc.mFaction = factionId;
+        }
+        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["isAutocalc"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            bool autoCalc = rec["isAutocalc"];
+            if (autoCalc)
+                npc.mFlags |= ESM::NPC::Autocalc;
+            else
+                npc.mFlags &= ~ESM::NPC::Autocalc;
+        }
+
+        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>();
+
+        if (rec["primaryFactionRank"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            if (!npc.mFaction.empty())
+            {
+                const ESM::Faction* faction
+                    = MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->get<ESM::Faction>().find(npc.mFaction);
+
+                int luaValue = rec["primaryFactionRank"];
+                int rank = LuaUtil::fromLuaIndex(luaValue);
+
+                int maxRank = static_cast<int>(getValidRanksCount(faction));
+
+                if (rank < 0 || rank >= maxRank)
+                    throw std::runtime_error("primaryFactionRank: Requested rank " + std::to_string(rank)
+                        + " is out of bounds for faction " + npc.mFaction.toDebugString());
+
+                npc.mNpdt.mRank = rank;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (rec["servicesOffered"] != sol::nil)
+        {
+            const sol::table services = rec["servicesOffered"];
+            int flags = 0;
+
+            for (const auto& [mask, key] : MWLua::ServiceNames)
+            {
+                sol::object value = services[key];
+                if (value != sol::nil && value.as<bool>())
+                    flags |= mask;
+            }
+
+            npc.mAiData.mServices = flags;
+        }
+
+        return npc;
+    }
 
     ESM::RefId parseFactionId(std::string_view faction)
     {
@@ -95,9 +216,18 @@ namespace MWLua
             = sol::readonly_property([](const ESM::NPC& rec) -> int { return (int)rec.mNpdt.mDisposition; });
         record["head"]
             = sol::readonly_property([](const ESM::NPC& rec) -> std::string { return rec.mHead.serializeText(); });
+        record["primaryFaction"] = sol::readonly_property(
+            [](const ESM::NPC& rec) -> sol::optional<std::string> { return LuaUtil::serializeRefId(rec.mFaction); });
+        record["primaryFactionRank"] = sol::readonly_property([](const ESM::NPC& rec, sol::this_state s) -> int {
+            if (rec.mFaction.empty())
+                return 0;
+            return LuaUtil::toLuaIndex(rec.mNpdt.mRank);
+        });
         addModelProperty(record);
         record["isEssential"]
             = sol::readonly_property([](const ESM::NPC& rec) -> bool { return rec.mFlags & ESM::NPC::Essential; });
+        record["isAutocalc"]
+            = sol::readonly_property([](const ESM::NPC& rec) -> bool { return rec.mFlags & ESM::NPC::Autocalc; });
         record["isMale"] = sol::readonly_property([](const ESM::NPC& rec) -> bool { return rec.isMale(); });
         record["isRespawning"]
             = sol::readonly_property([](const ESM::NPC& rec) -> bool { return rec.mFlags & ESM::NPC::Respawn; });
@@ -152,6 +282,7 @@ 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/types/servicesoffered.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/servicesoffered.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..94695c44fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/servicesoffered.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#ifndef MWLUA_SERVICESOFFERED_HPP
+#define MWLUA_SERVICESOFFERED_HPP
+
+#include <array>
+#include <components/esm3/loadnpc.hpp>
+#include <string_view>
+
+namespace MWLua
+{
+
+    inline constexpr std::array<std::pair<int, std::string_view>, 19> ServiceNames
+        = { { { ESM::NPC::Spells, "Spells" }, { ESM::NPC::Spellmaking, "Spellmaking" },
+            { ESM::NPC::Enchanting, "Enchanting" }, { ESM::NPC::Training, "Training" }, { ESM::NPC::Repair, "Repair" },
+            { ESM::NPC::AllItems, "Barter" }, { ESM::NPC::Weapon, "Weapon" }, { ESM::NPC::Armor, "Armor" },
+            { ESM::NPC::Clothing, "Clothing" }, { ESM::NPC::Books, "Books" }, { ESM::NPC::Ingredients, "Ingredients" },
+            { ESM::NPC::Picks, "Picks" }, { ESM::NPC::Probes, "Probes" }, { ESM::NPC::Lights, "Lights" },
+            { ESM::NPC::Apparatus, "Apparatus" }, { ESM::NPC::RepairItem, "RepairItem" }, { ESM::NPC::Misc, "Misc" },
+            { ESM::NPC::Potions, "Potions" }, { ESM::NPC::MagicItems, "MagicItems" } } };
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp
index d98c769e65..5539d8d77c 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/loadweap.hpp>
 #include <components/lua/luastate.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/finitenumbers.hpp>
@@ -188,6 +189,14 @@ namespace MWLua
                 checkGameInitialized(lua);
                 return MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->insert(potion);
             },
+            [lua = context.mLua](const ESM::NPC& npc) -> const ESM::NPC* {
+                checkGameInitialized(lua);
+                if (npc.mId.empty())
+                    return MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->insert(npc);
+                ESM::NPC copy = npc;
+                copy.mId = {};
+                return MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->insert(copy);
+            },
             [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 e4e67c2f3d..12120b998d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/store.cpp
@@ -269,9 +269,12 @@ namespace MWWorld
             list.push_back((*it)->mId);
         }
     }
+
     template <class T, class Id>
     T* TypedDynamicStore<T, Id>::insert(const T& item, bool overrideOnly)
     {
+        if constexpr (std::is_same_v<decltype(item.mId), ESM::RefId>)
+            overrideOnly = overrideOnly && !item.mId.template is<ESM::GeneratedRefId>();
         if (overrideOnly)
         {
             auto it = mStatic.find(item.mId);
diff --git a/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua b/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua
index 6d51987ac7..aa5b70c4e0 100644
--- a/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua
+++ b/files/lua_api/openmw/types.lua
@@ -861,6 +861,9 @@
 -- @field #boolean canWalk whether the creature can walk
 -- @field #boolean canUseWeapons whether the creature can use weapons and shields
 -- @field #boolean isBiped whether the creature is a biped
+-- @field #boolean isAutocalc If true, the actors stats will be automatically calculated based on level and class.
+-- @field #string primaryFaction Faction ID of the NPCs default faction. Nil if no faction
+-- @field #number primaryFactionRank Faction rank of the NPCs default faction. Nil if no faction
 -- @field #boolean isEssential whether the creature is essential
 -- @field #boolean isRespawning whether the creature respawns after death
 -- @field #number bloodType integer representing the blood type of the Creature. Used to generate the correct blood vfx.
@@ -875,6 +878,13 @@
 -- @field #Actor baseType @{#Actor}
 -- @field [parent=#NPC] #NpcStats stats
 
+---
+-- Creates an @{#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 npc A Lua table with the fields of an NpcRecord, with an optional field `template` that accepts an @{#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.