I would like an NPC to constantly move in a predetermined path back and forth on patrol, however the NPC does not do this. He will stop periodically and stand, how can a avoid this? Is there an AI package setting I can use?

http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Tutorials.Detail&id=55#ArtificialIntelligence (specifically the path-grid editing part, obviously)

Ive never done it myself, but..

Goodluck :thumbsup:

Edit: I believe Fargoth has some pathgrid-ding assigned to him for *that* mission of his in Seyda Neen. Might wana check that out.

Keep in mind that (say your trying to get the NPC to walk down a corridor) setting its walk range really high and 'constant' (basically) he'll probably walk the path you want him to anyway But youve probably got something more elaborate in mind hey.. :hubbahubba:

You may not require a pathgrid, but it will make travel more reliable. Find the coordinates of each end of the patrol and use AITravel to move the NPC from one end to the other and back again. I think a brief pause at each end is appropriate, but of course it is your call.

Begin PatrolScript; Attached to patrolling NPCshort stateSetHello 0 ; prevent idle greetings as player approachesif ( state == 0 )    SetHello 0 ; prevents idle greetings as player approaches    set state to 10    AITravel x1 y1 z1 ; coordinates of one endelseif ( state == 10 )    if ( GetAIPackageDone == 1 ) ; arrived at end of patrol        set state to 20    endifelseif ( state == 20 )    set state to 30    AITravel x2 y2 z2 ; coordinates of other endelseif ( state == 30 )    if ( GetAIPackageDone == 1 ) ; arrived at other end of patrol        set state to 0    endifendifEnd

There is nothing in this code to reset the script if the NPC's travel is disrupted by the player resting for fast traveling in the cell with the NPC. It is possible such actions by the player could suspend travel. If the patrol distance is too great or interrupted by obstacles, a pathgrid will help or you may require multiple waypoints.

Double post

Oh yea.. dont know why i didnt even think about scripting it :facepalm:

Just a word of warning: The entire patroll path must be in one cell. I the start and end point of any segement of the patrol path cross an exterior cells boundry the AITravel command will not work. It's easy to add multiple way points along the route with the same framework in cyranO's example.

Hmm, that will work wonders, I just want my NPC to move from one end of a field to another, how would I find the coordinates?

I prefer to get them in-game, but you could find them in the construction set as well. When in-game I move the player to the desired position and use the console to grab the player's coordinates: player->GetPos x and repeat for 'y' and 'z'. For the latter approach, place your NPC at the desired position and the coordinates of the object will be displayed in the lower left corner of the construction set window.

Nicholaithan is correct: pathgrids cannot cross cell boundaries, however AITravel can. If you have to hop from one path grid to that in an adjacent cell it might require separate AITravel instructions. I remember having to get creative for a quest in LGNPC Khuul.

To get coordinates in the CS, you can just put a placeholder NPC at the point, and select it. The coordinates are shown in the status bar of the CS (bottom of the screen).

For some reason, I have found that the coordinates gotten from the CS are sometimes not reliable. I've found the easiest way is to go to the spot in game, open the console, select the PC, and enter a beta comment. This automatically gets you all the co-ordinates.