NPC Navmesh Navigation Simple Edition

NPC Navmesh Navigation Simple

Lets HL2 and Half-Life: Source NPCs move and fight on maps with a navmesh but no ai_nodes, as close as possible to how they act on a node map - by answering the moves the NPC's own AI asks for and nothing more.

Expansion of NPC Navmesh Navigation by Zenlenafelex and [2]-Brainless-[4] (re-uploads allowed with credit). Made with AI (Claude, Anthropic), tested in-game by the uploader.

How it works

Every decision stays the NPC's own HL2 code (or another NPC addon's). This addon only steps in when a move that AI asked for fails because there are no ai_nodes: the same HL2 SDK search that the node graph would have done (cover, firing position, flank, chase, random path, back away) runs over navmesh points spaced like HL2 map nodes, and the NPC is walked there by the navigator. Nothing is read from an NPC that merely stands still. Rules are generic (schedules, conditions and capabilities by their SDK names), not a class list.

• Engine routes up to 600 (ai_strong_optimizations 0, the HL2 PC default): short moves need no help at all
• Z_Navigator (the original, improved): navmesh paths in legs the engine can walk
• Answers: a failed chase (SCHED_CHASE_ENEMY and the NPCs' own ones - antlion guard, zombies, hunter, metrocop, stalker, houndeye), line of fire and its flank variants, cover from the enemy / a grenade / where it stands, a move into weapon range, a random-node walk, wander and patrol, going to a sound

Features

• Ranged NPCs: firing positions, cover, the line-of-fire fallback chase, Combine tactical variants (engine keyvalue)
• Melee NPCs: the HL2 chase runs untouched in engine range; when it fails for want of nodes the navmesh chases, and the chase is handed back to the engine once in its own range
• Every navmesh move ends the moment HL2's own interrupt comes (can attack, new enemy, danger) and the NPC's AI picks the next action
• Grenades: when the NPC's cover from the sound finds no node, the same search runs over the navmesh; nothing found = its own fail schedule, as on a node map
• Wander / patrol and sound investigation when their own move fails without nodes
• Half-Life: Source NPCs by their HL1 SDK schedules (not flying / swimming ones)
• ZBase and VJ Base: their own moves are left to them; the navmesh only helps when one fails without nodes
• Other NPC addons: a move or chase they give that needs nodes and their "can it get there?" tests are answered over the navmesh, walked or run as asked - tested with Realistic Combine Soldier AI and Combat Intelligence AI. Speed is never changed
• Walk / run: every move walks or runs as its HL2 schedule does. "NPCs Run", "Run In Combat" and "Walk Near Goal" only apply to a move that doesn't say walk or run itself

Settings

Spawn menu > Options > NPC Navmesh Navigation Simple > Main Settings: Mod Enabled (one switch for the whole addon), Skip Maps With AI Nodes, Debug, Debug NPC. Also: Tactics (Ranged Answers, Take Cover, Melee Chase, tactical variant), Lua AI NPCs, VJ Base Movement. Debug (z_npc_tac_debug 1, 2 = orders only) also works with the mod off, to compare with a node map. z_npc_tac_debug_npc <number> = one NPC only.

Notes

• The map needs a navmesh; maps with ai_nodes don't need this addon
• Search distances follow node spacing: on the navmesh they match the HL2 campaign (nodes ~100 apart). On a sparse node map (gm_flatgrass, gm_construct) the real nodes are far apart, so there the same NPCs run further
• Don't run two copies (or with the original / the Tactics Edition): a red console warning appears and this copy rests
• After an update, press "Reset Tactics Settings" once. Mainly tested in singleplayer

Credits

Zenlenafelex and [2]-Brainless-[4] - original NPC Navmesh Navigation. Claude (Anthropic's AI) - code for this version, directed and tested by the uploader. Also in Options > NPC Navmesh Navigation Simple > About And Credits.

한국어 요약

ai_node 없이 navmesh 만 있는 맵에서 HL2 / HL:S NPC 가 노드 맵과 최대한 같게 움직이고 싸우게 합니다. 원작 NPC Navmesh Navigation (Zenlenafelex, [2]-Brainless-[4]) 의 확장판이며 Claude (Anthropic 의 AI) 로 만들었습니다.

• 판단은 전부 NPC 자신의 HL2 코드 (또는 다른 NPC 애드온) 가 하고, 이 애드온은 그 AI 가 건 이동이 노드가 없어 실패할 때만 같은 HL2 SDK 검색 (추격, 사선, 엄폐, 무작위 경로, 물러나기) 을 navmesh 위에서 해서 그 자리로 보냅니다. 서 있는 NPC 에서 무엇을 읽어내지는 않습니다
• 원거리 / 근접 NPC, 수류탄 회피, 배회, 소리 조사, HL:S, ZBase / VJ, 다른 NPC 애드온 (Realistic Combine, Combat Intelligence AI 등) 지원
• 설정: Options > NPC Navmesh Navigation Simple > Main Settings (Mod Enabled 하나로 전체 켜고 끄기, Debug 는 애드온을 꺼도 작동)
• 걷기 / 달리기는 HL2 스케줄대로. "NPCs Run", "Run In Combat", "Walk Near Goal" 은 걷기 / 달리기가 정해지지 않은 이동에만 적용
• navmesh 가 필요합니다. 두 벌을 같이 돌리지 마세요. 업데이트 후 "Reset Tactics Settings" 를 한 번 눌러 주세요