Experimental Code: Stop mobs hopping when pathing - FindBestZ tweaks

[moydock]

Very nice, does this also fix mobs going under the world while attempting to path over hills? If so, you are my hero! If not, still very nice .

[Diuretic]

Aye, this is fascinating work! The problem's obviously less easy to solve than I originally thought.

Thanks again for the eye opener.

[Derision]

Originally Posted by moydock

Does this also fix mobs going under the world while attempting to path over hills?

I hope so, however I can't say for sure that it fixes all such occurrences as I only checked a limited number of mobs in a limited number of zones.

If you can give me some specific examples of where this occurs, I can check those out for you.

[Zandig]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

I've wanted to see some solid work on this for quite a while.
Excellent job.

Now we need some Windows binaries

[Derision]

Originally Posted by Zandig

Now we need some Windows binaries

I have yet to have any feedback from anyone who has actually said they have compiled and tried this code. If I find time over the weekend, I'll install the necessary software on a Windows box to make some binaries for you to try it out.

[KLS]

Do you have any idea where the crash in question occurs in the code?

Corrupt or not there's probably safe-checks that can be put in place to prevent it if we know where it's at.

[Derision]

Originally Posted by KLS

Do you have any idea where the crash in question occurs in the code?

Corrupt or not there's probably safe-checks that can be put in place to prevent it if we know where it's at.

Hi KLS,

No crashes occur because I copied the check from:

bool Map::LineIntersectsNode( NodeRef node_r, VERTEX p1, VERTEX p2, VERTEX *result, FACE **on)

which is called by the LOS checking code

  unsigned long *cfl = mFaceLists + _node->faces.offset;

        for(i = 0; i < _node->faces.count; i++) {
                if(*cfl > m_Faces)
                        continue;       //watch for invalid lists, they seem to happen

The if(*cfl > m_Faces) checks for the corrupt data that I saw in the eastwastes.map file. I assume this check was put in by FNW when that code was written.

I put the same check in the FindBestZ code to avoid the crash there, so there is nothing else required (other than maybe fixing the program that generates the .map files (azone?).

[rojadruid]

if this does work and stops the mobs from hopping all we need now is the actuallt pathing in "apath" figured out. I have been looking at it for awhile now and I am not making any heads or tails on it and I gave up about a mnth ago figuring it was hopeless.

[Rogean]

Http://www.rogean.com/Zone-BestZ.exe

Haven't tested it myself. Test it out and let me know how it works out. If it looks good I'll commit to code.

[Zandig]

Originally Posted by Rogean

Http://www.rogean.com/Zone-BestZ.exe

Haven't tested it myself. Test it out and let me know how it works out. If it looks good I'll commit to code.

Tested various zones and it looks really good so far.
Hopping is gone.
What a sweet fix!

[krusher]

I have created a wiki page listing the new rules required for the pathing Z fix.

Krusher