Character Controller for NPC

[mauro78]

Hi All!
I'm just wondering what is the best way to use Newton as a physic layer for Non Playable Character (NPC) ; right now I use newton for:

collision tree for the level
rigid bodies for objects inside the level
a player controller for the playable character (User Controlled)
a CustomKinematicController for doors, elevators, ecc...

but for NPC like enemies what is the best controller to use? a charachter controller or a custom kinematic controller?

I just need to implement a simple seek behaviour , where enemies always look for the primary player (User Controlled) and seek it.

Regards

[mauro78]

I've decided to use a modified version of PlayerController class (CustomKinematicController was difficult to use with NPC); obviously the NPC character's are not driven by keyboard but I use steering behaviour to control them.

I'll post results and maybe a video later...

[Julio Jerez]

you only need to thanslate the Steering bahavoir to speed, and direction. I do not see how that prevents the current player controller from being use for NPC players.
Basically the hard part of the NPC is not how to drive it but how to Get the Path and is out the scope of the Physics engine.
But if you get it that is good too. I look forward to see the video.

[mauro78]

well Julio I've just "slighty" modified the PlayerController class code just to remove input from keyboard; but PlayerController works great.

Some videos:

http://www.vimeo.com/10695164
http://www.vimeo.com/10695979


First Video: 3 NPC with just a simple level, the AI NPC just seek for "my" position; they've different speed.
Second Video: 1 NPC with a complex level with collision tree; in this complex environment a "obstacle avoidance" or "pathfinding" must be used to avoid NPC "stalling"; but overall the "NPC Controller" works great in collisions terms.

I've also placed an skinned mesh inside capsule (orienting it correctly) and the overall results are not bad.

Like you said now It's time to implement "PathFind", but I'm happy that I can use Newton as "Physics Layer" under the AI.

Cheers, Mauro

[Julio Jerez]

Hey that is not bad.

[mauro78]

Hey that is not bad.

Thanks Julio!

Sorry for bad quality, the level is just a demo of an old build without textures and without HUD active. We're using Newton 2.x as a physics layer

Regards