Pre-2006 videos show NPC's only moving cardinally when pathing towards target

[tannerdino]

• Video example 1 (source):

2024-11-13.22-52-26.mp4

• Video example 2 (source):

2024-11-13.22-53-08.mp4

Looks like it moves on the x axis first, until lined up, or blocked, with its target. Then it moves on the z axis. No diagonal movement! Though interestingly npcs can still be safespotted diagonally, so perhaps it doesnt always switch the axis if blocked. Hmmmmm

• Video of npc switching axis when hitting a wall (source):

2024-11-13.23-01-20.mp4

You can see in this video: west is open, move west -> west is blocked by wall, move south -> west is open, move west -> west is blocked by wall, move south. In a sort of zig zag pattern, since the npc is big and the west wall is shaped like this:

• Diagonal safespot:
  

[ultraviolet-jordan]

Not gonna be easy to pull off with basically 0 information and can't test this in the live game. Imo not worth trying to "fix" without risk of breaking parts of the server.

[ultraviolet-jordan]

Let's try getting the server in beta first?

[tannerdino]

I think it should definitely be implemented eventually. Pretty clear-cut proof that npc pathing was different during, and probably before, 2005. Can't call ourselves authentic with out it

I forgot to mention this in the main post but, in the 3rd video shown, the npc moves in a sort of zigzag pattern since the west wall is shaped like this (camera is facing west btw)

[ultraviolet-jordan]

What if it only affected npcs larger than 1 tile? We have no idea. That's just 1 example of not enough information.

[tannerdino]

Thats a good theory. Went ahead and searched for more videos and found some examples, and I think you're right (see video 1)!! Also looks like the change was pinned down to be around September/October of 2005?

• Video 1, April 2005. Skeleton moves diagonally, and right after the scorpion moves cardinally! (source):

2024-11-14.12-01-17.mp4

• Video 2, Sept 11, 2005. Big npc with cardinal pathing, at the top of the screen. (source):

2024-11-14.11-43-48.mp4

• Video 3, Oct 16, 2005. Big npc moving diagonally. (source):

2024-11-14.11-48-31.mp4

[tannerdino]

My theory is that big npcs were changed when fight caves were released. Its probably the biggest update between September 11 and October 16. The blog post for it doesnt seem to mention anything though unfortunately

[ultraviolet-jordan]

so wats da fix??

[tannerdino]

Was thinking something like this would replicate the behavior

If npc.withinOpDistance():
    return

If npc.size > 1:
    // check west/east. to replicate diagonal safespotting, check if within one tile of target
    If not intersectsWithMapBlocked(npc.x + direction.x, npc.z, npc.size) or npc.withinOneTileOfTarget():
        npc.queueWaypoint(npc.x + direction.x, npc.z)
        return
    
    // check north/south
    if not intersectsWithMapBlocked(npc.z + direction.z, npc.z, npc.size):
        npc.queueWaypoint(npc.x, npc.z + direction.z)
        return

[ultraviolet-jordan]

Do it without naive pathfinder used is what it sounds like to me. Wandering and escape mode are very familiar to this.

[tannerdino]

This is probably authentic? idk if we'll ever find a video of this

gf2t5f_1.mp4

[tannerdino]

Found a video from Aug 9, 2006 with big npc pathing! Perhaps big npc pathing was changed in 2006 with the npc graphical reworks? Video (source):

2024-11-14.19-55-49.mp4

I think the video from

Video 3, Oct 16, 2005. Big npc moving diagonally.

Was just west movement + hit anim + south movement next tick.

[tannerdino]

Some more clips.

Sept 21, 2006 (source):

2024-11-14.20-29-30.mp4

Oct 7, 2006 (source):

2024-11-14.20-26-02.mp4