smoother NPC pathing. (credit to Haynar from EQMacEmu)

zone/client.h

@@ -1129,6 +1129,7 @@ public:
 	inline bool IsDraggingCorpse() { return (DraggedCorpses.size() > 0); }
 	void DragCorpses();
 	inline void ClearDraggedCorpses() { DraggedCorpses.clear(); }
+	inline void ResetPositionTimer() { position_timer_counter = 0; }
 	void SendAltCurrencies();
 	void SetAlternateCurrencyValue(uint32 currency_id, uint32 new_amount);
 	void AddAlternateCurrencyValue(uint32 currency_id, int32 amount, int8 method = 0);

zone/map.cpp

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ Map::~Map() {
 
 float Map::FindBestZ(glm::vec3 &start, glm::vec3 *result) const {
 	if (!imp)
-		return false;
+		return BEST_Z_INVALID;
 
 	glm::vec3 tmp;
 	if(!result)
@@ -93,6 +93,41 @@ float Map::FindBestZ(glm::vec3 &start, glm::vec3 *result) const {
 	return BEST_Z_INVALID;
 }
 
+float Map::FindClosestZ(glm::vec3 &start, glm::vec3 *result) const {
+	// Unlike FindBestZ, this method finds the closest Z value above or below the specified point.
+	//
+	if (!imp)
+		return false;
+	
+	float ClosestZ = BEST_Z_INVALID;
+	
+	glm::vec3 tmp;
+	if (!result)
+		result = &tmp;
+	
+	glm::vec3 from(start.x, start.y, start.z);
+	glm::vec3 to(start.x, start.y, BEST_Z_INVALID);
+	float hit_distance;
+	bool hit = false;
+	
+	// first check is below us
+	hit = imp->rm->raycast((const RmReal*)&from, (const RmReal*)&to, (RmReal*)result, nullptr, &hit_distance);
+	if (hit) {
+		ClosestZ = result->z;
+		
+	}
+	
+	// Find nearest Z above us
+	to.z = -BEST_Z_INVALID;
+	hit = imp->rm->raycast((const RmReal*)&from, (const RmReal*)&to, (RmReal*)result, nullptr, &hit_distance);
+	if (hit) {
+		if (abs(from.z - result->z) < abs(ClosestZ - from.z))
+			return result->z;
+	}
+
+	return ClosestZ;
+}
+
 bool Map::LineIntersectsZone(glm::vec3 start, glm::vec3 end, float step, glm::vec3 *result) const {
 	if(!imp)
 		return false;

zone/map.h

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ public:
 	~Map();
 
 	float FindBestZ(glm::vec3 &start, glm::vec3 *result) const;
+	float FindClosestZ(glm::vec3 &start, glm::vec3 *result) const;
 	bool LineIntersectsZone(glm::vec3 start, glm::vec3 end, float step, glm::vec3 *result) const;
 	bool LineIntersectsZoneNoZLeaps(glm::vec3 start, glm::vec3 end, float step_mag, glm::vec3 *result) const;
 	bool CheckLoS(glm::vec3 myloc, glm::vec3 oloc) const;

zone/mob.cpp

@@ -1201,6 +1201,7 @@ void Mob::SendPosition()
 	PlayerPositionUpdateServer_Struct* spu = (PlayerPositionUpdateServer_Struct*)app->pBuffer;
 	MakeSpawnUpdateNoDelta(spu);
 	move_tic_count = 0;
+	tar_ndx = 20;
 	entity_list.QueueClients(this, app, true);
 	safe_delete(app);
 }

zone/mob_ai.cpp

@@ -1666,92 +1666,41 @@ void NPC::AI_DoMovement() {
 
 		if (gridno > 0 || cur_wp==-2) {
 			if (movetimercompleted==true) { // time to pause at wp is over
-
+				AI_SetupNextWaypoint();
-				int32 spawn_id = this->GetSpawnPointID();
-				LinkedListIterator<Spawn2*> iterator(zone->spawn2_list);
-				iterator.Reset();
-				Spawn2 *found_spawn = nullptr;
-
-				while(iterator.MoreElements())
-				{
-					Spawn2* cur = iterator.GetData();
-					iterator.Advance();
-					if(cur->GetID() == spawn_id)
-					{
-						found_spawn = cur;
-						break;
-					}
-				}
-
-				if (wandertype == 4 && cur_wp == CastToNPC()->GetMaxWp()) {
-					CastToNPC()->Depop(true); //depop and resart spawn timer
-					if(found_spawn)
-						found_spawn->SetNPCPointerNull();
-				}
-				else if (wandertype == 6 && cur_wp == CastToNPC()->GetMaxWp()) {
-					CastToNPC()->Depop(false);//depop without spawn timer
-					if(found_spawn)
-						found_spawn->SetNPCPointerNull();
-				}
-				else {
-					movetimercompleted=false;
-
-					Log.Out(Logs::Detail, Logs::Pathing, "We are departing waypoint %d.", cur_wp);
-
-					//if we were under quest control (with no grid), we are done now..
-					if(cur_wp == -2) {
-						Log.Out(Logs::Detail, Logs::Pathing, "Non-grid quest mob has reached its quest ordered waypoint. Leaving pathing mode.");
-						roamer = false;
-						cur_wp = 0;
-					}
-
-					if(GetAppearance() != eaStanding)
-						SetAppearance(eaStanding, false);
-
-					entity_list.OpenDoorsNear(CastToNPC());
-
-					if(!DistractedFromGrid) {
-						//kick off event_waypoint depart
-						char temp[16];
-						sprintf(temp, "%d", cur_wp);
-						parse->EventNPC(EVENT_WAYPOINT_DEPART, CastToNPC(), nullptr, temp, 0);
-
-						//setup our next waypoint, if we are still on our normal grid
-						//remember that the quest event above could have done anything it wanted with our grid
-						if(gridno > 0) {
-							CastToNPC()->CalculateNewWaypoint();
-						}
-					}
-					else {
-						DistractedFromGrid = false;
-					}
-				}
 			}	// endif (movetimercompleted==true)
 			else if (!(AIwalking_timer->Enabled()))
 			{	// currently moving
+				bool doMove = true;
 				if (m_CurrentWayPoint.x == GetX() && m_CurrentWayPoint.y == GetY())
 				{	// are we there yet? then stop
 					Log.Out(Logs::Detail, Logs::AI, "We have reached waypoint %d (%.3f,%.3f,%.3f) on grid %d", cur_wp, GetX(), GetY(), GetZ(), GetGrid());
-					SetWaypointPause();
+					if (cur_wp_pause != 0) {
-					if(GetAppearance() != eaStanding)
+						SetWaypointPause();
-						SetAppearance(eaStanding, false);
+						if (GetAppearance() != eaStanding)
-					SetMoving(false);
+							SetAppearance(eaStanding, false);
-					if (m_CurrentWayPoint.w >= 0.0) {
+						SetMoving(false);
-						SetHeading(m_CurrentWayPoint.w);
+						if (m_CurrentWayPoint.w >= 0.0) {
+							SetHeading(m_CurrentWayPoint.w);
+						}
+						SendPosition();
 					}
-					SendPosition();
 
 					//kick off event_waypoint arrive
 					char temp[16];
 					sprintf(temp, "%d", cur_wp);
 					parse->EventNPC(EVENT_WAYPOINT_ARRIVE, CastToNPC(), nullptr, temp, 0);
+					// start moving directly to next waypoint if we're at a 0 pause waypoint and we didn't get quest halted.
+						if (!AIwalking_timer->Enabled())
+							AI_SetupNextWaypoint();
+						else
+							doMove = false;
 
 					// wipe feign memory since we reached our first waypoint
 					if(cur_wp == 1)
 						ClearFeignMemory();
 				}
-				else
+				if (doMove)
-				{	// not at waypoint yet, so keep moving
+				{	// not at waypoint yet or at 0 pause WP, so keep moving
 					if(!RuleB(Pathing, AggroReturnToGrid) || !zone->pathing || (DistractedFromGrid == 0))
 						CalculateNewPosition2(m_CurrentWayPoint.x, m_CurrentWayPoint.y, m_CurrentWayPoint.z, walksp, true);
 					else
@@ -1829,6 +1778,67 @@ void NPC::AI_DoMovement() {
 		}
 	}
 }
+void NPC::AI_SetupNextWaypoint() {
+	int32 spawn_id = this->GetSpawnPointID();
+	LinkedListIterator<Spawn2*> iterator(zone->spawn2_list);
+	iterator.Reset();
+	Spawn2 *found_spawn = nullptr;
+
+	while (iterator.MoreElements())
+	{
+		Spawn2* cur = iterator.GetData();
+		iterator.Advance();
+		if (cur->GetID() == spawn_id)
+		{
+			found_spawn = cur;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (wandertype == 4 && cur_wp == CastToNPC()->GetMaxWp()) {
+		CastToNPC()->Depop(true); //depop and restart spawn timer
+		if (found_spawn)
+			found_spawn->SetNPCPointerNull();
+	}
+	else if (wandertype == 6 && cur_wp == CastToNPC()->GetMaxWp()) {
+		CastToNPC()->Depop(false);//depop without spawn timer
+		if (found_spawn)
+			found_spawn->SetNPCPointerNull();
+	}
+	else {
+		movetimercompleted = false;
+
+		Log.Out(Logs::Detail, Logs::Pathing, "We are departing waypoint %d.", cur_wp);
+
+		//if we were under quest control (with no grid), we are done now..
+		if (cur_wp == -2) {
+			Log.Out(Logs::Detail, Logs::Pathing, "Non-grid quest mob has reached its quest ordered waypoint. Leaving pathing mode.");
+			roamer = false;
+			cur_wp = 0;
+		}
+
+		if (GetAppearance() != eaStanding)
+			SetAppearance(eaStanding, false);
+
+		entity_list.OpenDoorsNear(CastToNPC());
+
+		if (!DistractedFromGrid) {
+			//kick off event_waypoint depart
+			char temp[16];
+			sprintf(temp, "%d", cur_wp);
+			parse->EventNPC(EVENT_WAYPOINT_DEPART, CastToNPC(), nullptr, temp, 0);
+
+			//setup our next waypoint, if we are still on our normal grid
+			//remember that the quest event above could have done anything it wanted with our grid
+			if (GetGrid() > 0) {
+				CastToNPC()->CalculateNewWaypoint();
+			}
+		}
+		else {
+			DistractedFromGrid = false;
+		}
+	}
+}
 
 // Note: Mob that caused this may not get added to the hate list until after this function call completes
 void Mob::AI_Event_Engaged(Mob* attacker, bool iYellForHelp) {

zone/npc.h

@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void	AI_Start(uint32 iMoveDelay = 0);
 	virtual void	AI_Stop();
 	void			AI_DoMovement();
+	void			AI_SetupNextWaypoint();
 	bool			AI_AddNPCSpells(uint32 iDBSpellsID);
 	bool			AI_AddNPCSpellsEffects(uint32 iDBSpellsEffectsID);
 	virtual bool	AI_EngagedCastCheck();

zone/waypoints.cpp

@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ void NPC::SetWaypointPause()
 
 	if (cur_wp_pause == 0) {
 		AIwalking_timer->Start(100);
+		AIwalking_timer->Trigger();
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -514,7 +515,9 @@ bool Mob::MakeNewPositionAndSendUpdate(float x, float y, float z, float speed, b
 		return true;
 	}
 
+	bool send_update = false;
 	int compare_steps = IsBoat() ? 1 : 20;
+
 	if(tar_ndx < compare_steps && m_TargetLocation.x==x && m_TargetLocation.y==y) {
 
 		float new_x = m_Position.x + m_TargetV.x*tar_vector;
@@ -637,13 +640,14 @@ bool Mob::MakeNewPositionAndSendUpdate(float x, float y, float z, float speed, b
 			m_Position.y = y;
 			m_Position.z = z;
 
+			tar_ndx = 20;
 			Log.Out(Logs::Detail, Logs::AI, "Only a single step to get there... jumping.");
 
 		}
 	}
 
 	else {
-		tar_vector/=20;
+		tar_vector/=20.0f;
 
 		float new_x = m_Position.x + m_TargetV.x*tar_vector;
 		float new_y = m_Position.y + m_TargetV.y*tar_vector;
@@ -699,12 +703,19 @@ bool Mob::MakeNewPositionAndSendUpdate(float x, float y, float z, float speed, b
 	m_Delta = glm::vec4(m_Position.x - nx, m_Position.y - ny, m_Position.z - nz, 0.0f);
 
 	if (IsClient())
+	{
 		SendPosUpdate(1);
+		CastToClient()->ResetPositionTimer();
+	}
 	else
+	{
+		// force an update now
+		move_tic_count = RuleI(Zone, NPCPositonUpdateTicCount);
 		SendPosUpdate();
-
+		SetAppearance(eaStanding, false);
-	SetAppearance(eaStanding, false);
+	}
 	pLastChange = Timer::GetCurrentTime();
+
 	return true;
 }