190 NPCs followers for a level 7 party.

[Dogbrain]

This is exactly right. Just introduce an NPC who is disdainful of the PCs. He complains about being sent into dangerous areas. If "redshirts" die, he gives them the evil eye and mutters under his breath.

"You'll swing from the highest yardarm in Southampton for this day's work, Mr. Christian!"

 

[Threedub]

I've done this in the past (like 10 years or so ago) where it was the PC's ship and they enlisted a crew. I can't remember how many crew members there were, I think around 30. I auto stated them using the old 2nd edition generator and gave them random names. If the party ever interacted with one specifically then I created something memorable about them and jotted it down by their stats.

I also made three unique crew members from the start, ones that were a bit deeper and closer to the PCs. What I found was that almost all of their interaction was through the ones I had made and that by seeing these few NPCs as valuable and real, they seemed to treat the rest of the unknown 'red-shirts' as real too.

 

[Threedub]

Dang double posts.