NPC Pathing Getting Worse

[Rudra]

Of the last 3 escort missions I had, at least 1 NPC in each mission I had to escort got lost after I took more than 2 steps. I was playing my Ninja/Dark MM, but Shadowfall was turned off. And each time there were stairs or a turn, the NPC immediately gave the 'I am lost' comment for the mission. Half the time, with my character still standing next to him! All 3 missions were from Psimon Omega, but were 2 different arcs as I was doing them through Ouroboros.

[schitzo]

I have been having some of the same issues. It does not matter what Hero I am playing, their level, or the zone. In order to complete the escort mission I have had to resort to walking, literally! It gets very frustrating when you have to walk to the front door from the 3rd floor!! and you have to do it for every person you are trying to rescue! I have had this happen, as I said, no matter which of my toons I am playing, from level 5 PB to level 32 MM. The problem with walking is that it shuts off your powers and you have the "only affecting yourself" alert. Meaning that if you have ambush spawn you have to shut off walk, and turn your powers back on and hope that the mobs don't kill you before you can start fighting them, which bring up the next problem i have run into.... enemies in most missions have been over and above my mission difficulty selection. (i.e.: red and purple mobs when they should not be, bosses that are 2 levels above me, and so on)

 

I apologize for my choice of words but ... What the Hell is going on?

[Glacier Peak]

9 minutes ago, schitzo said:

I have been having some of the same issues. It does not matter what Hero I am playing, their level, or the zone. In order to complete the escort mission I have had to resort to walking, literally! It gets very frustrating when you have to walk to the front door from the 3rd floor!! and you have to do it for every person you are trying to rescue! I have had this happen, as I said, no matter which of my toons I am playing, from level 5 PB to level 32 MM. The problem with walking is that it shuts off your powers and you have the "only affecting yourself" alert. Meaning that if you have ambush spawn you have to shut off walk, and turn your powers back on and hope that the mobs don't kill you before you can start fighting them, which bring up the next problem i have run into.... enemies in most missions have been over and above my mission difficulty selection. (i.e.: red and purple mobs when they should not be, bosses that are 2 levels above me, and so on)

 

I apologize for my choice of words but ... What the Hell is going on?

Pathing for NPCs during escort missions designed during a time when players did not have inherent Fitness pool and travel powers were HUGE endurance drainers that made players turn them off when not actively moving about a zone or cleared instance map. Basically things were slower back then, so NPCs moved slower. No change to that formula since legacy introduction, but many changes to player movement since then. 

[Saiyajinzoningen]

17 hours ago, Glacier Peak said:

Pathing for NPCs during escort missions designed during a time when players did not have inherent Fitness pool and travel powers were HUGE endurance drainers that made players turn them off when not actively moving about a zone or cleared instance map. Basically things were slower back then, so NPCs moved slower. No change to that formula since legacy introduction, but many changes to player movement since then. 

 

nope even when I turn off sprint and/or ninja whatever, NPC's still get stuck on 

 

stairs

corners

walls

sconces

torches

each other!

 

This one time on a rularuu stage (floating island thing) I guess the ground wasn't perfectly level and the NPC got stuck on

The ground!

from my perspective they were caught on a tiny invisible 90 degree corner of nothingness.

 

[Rudra]

2 hours ago, Saiyajinzoningen said:

20 hours ago, Glacier Peak said:

Pathing for NPCs during escort missions designed during a time when players did not have inherent Fitness pool and travel powers were HUGE endurance drainers that made players turn them off when not actively moving about a zone or cleared instance map. Basically things were slower back then, so NPCs moved slower. No change to that formula since legacy introduction, but many changes to player movement since then. 

 

nope even when I turn off sprint and/or ninja whatever, NPC's still get stuck on 

 

stairs

corners

walls

sconces

torches

each other!

 

This one time on a rularuu stage (floating island thing) I guess the ground wasn't perfectly level and the NPC got stuck on

The ground!

from my perspective they were caught on a tiny invisible 90 degree corner of nothingness.

But you can't turn off inherent fitness. So you still have Swift active. Which the NPC escortees lack. As for the Shadow Shard maps, yeah, there are invisible 'breaks' or whatever you call those obstacles and the NPCs can get stuck on them. Akarist likes to do so on the Shadow Shard map all the time. Your character can get stuck on them too. Leaving you looking at the screen wondering you you are moving in place unable to proceed until you take a step back and go around the invisible obstacle.

 

(Edit: So basically, NPCs need Swift and Hurdle given to them, better PC tracking, and a better pathfinding AI.)

Edited October 30, 2023 by Rudra

[Saiyajinzoningen]

2 hours ago, Rudra said:

But you can't turn off inherent fitness. So you still have Swift active. Which the NPC escortees lack. As for the Shadow Shard maps, yeah, there are invisible 'breaks' or whatever you call those obstacles and the NPCs can get stuck on them. Akarist likes to do so on the Shadow Shard map all the time. Your character can get stuck on them too. Leaving you looking at the screen wondering you you are moving in place unable to proceed until you take a step back and go around the invisible obstacle.

 

(Edit: So basically, NPCs need Swift and Hurdle given to them, better PC tracking, and a better pathfinding AI.)

 

I've also noticed that these issues rarely occur when the npcs are active participants.

they can see through stealth and easily navigate ummm invisible objects lol

I get that they are coded differently just pointing out that not all NPC escorts are equally frustrating.

I seem to remember long ago and far away, this might be a false memory but:

In olden times you could select the NPC,

turn invisible (keep NPC Selected),

run back to the start of the stage (keep npc selected)

then use teleport friend on the npc

where was I going with this?

I have no idea, getting old sucks

If I remember later ill edit this post.............sorry

[Rudra]

2 hours ago, Saiyajinzoningen said:

 

I've also noticed that these issues rarely occur when the npcs are active participants.

they can see through stealth and easily navigate ummm invisible objects lol

I get that they are coded differently just pointing out that not all NPC escorts are equally frustrating.

I seem to remember long ago and far away, this might be a false memory but:

In olden times you could select the NPC,

turn invisible (keep NPC Selected),

run back to the start of the stage (keep npc selected)

then use teleport friend on the npc

where was I going with this?

I have no idea, getting old sucks

If I remember later ill edit this post.............sorry

Which was probably disabled specifically to ensure players had to escort their targets. Notable exception being Penelope Yin on the TF. (Edit: Just like how before Stalkers were introduced, stealthy characters could sneak to the end of a mission, grab the glowie or kill the boss without needing to drop the boss' support, and be done with the mission. Then Stalkers were introduced and except for the odd mission that still allows that, all missions require to get the glowie or defeat the boss, and clear the room as well at a minimum.)

Edited October 30, 2023 by Rudra

[TimesSeven]

I noticed this too. The frustrating part is what was said earlier... when you DON'T want them to follow you (an active NPC that can die), they will pursue you to the Ends of the Earth. You can't lose them for all the tea in China! But if it's someone you are escorting... shoot. The first set of stairs of boxes causes them to lag behind ridiculously. 

 

If it weren't so backwards, it would be funny.