Skip to content

Movement-System.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
83 lines (58 loc) · 3.37 KB

Movement-System.md

File metadata and controls

83 lines (58 loc) · 3.37 KB
Raw

Creature Movement System

This page explains how creatures move: the movement_type column, wander behaviour, waypoint paths, and formations. Movement generators live in src/game/Movement/; the default generator for a creature is chosen in FactorySelector::selectMovementGenerator (src/game/AI/CreatureAISelector.cpp).

Default Movement Type

The movement_type column of creature (and creature_template) selects the default movement generator:

Value Generator Behaviour
0 IdleMovementGenerator Creature stays at its spawn point.
1 RandomMovementGenerator Random wandering within wander_distance yards of the spawn point.
2 WaypointMovementGenerator Follows a waypoint path (see Waypoint Movement).

Notes:

  • A player-owned unit defaults to FOLLOW_MOTION_TYPE instead.
  • If the creature belongs to a creature group formation but is not the leader, it is forced into PATROL_MOTION_TYPE so it follows the leader.
  • Combat, flee, fear, confusion and home-movement are handled by additional generators that temporarily override the default (MotionMaster, src/game/Movement/MotionMaster.h).

wander_distance

Maximum radius (yards) around the spawn point used by RandomMovementGenerator. Only meaningful when movement_type = 1.

Waypoint Movement

With movement_type = 2 the creature walks a waypoint path stored either in creature_movement (path bound to a specific spawn guid) or in creature_movement_template (path shared by all spawns of an entry). The guid-specific path takes precedence.

Each waypoint defines position, wait time, movement flags and - via creature_movement_scripts - actions to run when the point is reached (say text, cast spells, start scripts…).

Waypoints can also be started/stopped from DB scripts with the START_WAYPOINTS command (60), see DB Script Tables.

Formation / Group Movement

creature_groups lets several spawns move as one pack:

  • The leader_guid follows its own path; members keep their dist/angle offsets.
  • Members use patrol movement automatically (see selection notes above).
  • Group behaviours on attack/death/respawn (assist together, evade/respawn together…) are controlled by flags bits, documented in the table page; per-spawn limits live in creature_groups_entry_limit.

Runtime Overrides from Scripts

DB scripts can change movement at runtime using these commands (full parameter tables in DB Script Tables):

Command Effect
3 MOVE_TO Walk to coordinates or target
20 MOVEMENT Switch/pause/resume the current generator
60 START_WAYPOINTS Start a waypoint path
67 SET_DEFAULT_MOVEMENT Change idle/wander/waypoint default and wander distance
77 SET_FLY Toggle flying movement

Related Pages