Instructing NPCs
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 5:44 pm
Whenever I see a quest involving monsters and one or more GM's there is always moments of hilarity as the GM in question fails to adequately direct the monsters in his desired direction. Therefore I'm proposing that more control is given over NPC and particularly Monster behaviour.
This proposal is fairly straightforward, although I'm really unsure about the technical implications/possibilities of implementing it.
Firstly it would be useful for GM's to be able become effectively invisible from monsters. Although they can become invisible to players, monsters inevitably give away their location by running up to them and whacking thin air. Although Im not sure if it would be possible due to the way nature of players/monsters.
Secondly would be a series of commands that could instruct NPC's into certain behaviours. For instance a GM could tell a monster to halt and it would remain on the spot attacking all who come in range. Or they could be told to walk in a certain direction.
This would depend of course on whether this is currently possible, and on the time needed to implement it, but here is a list of what I think might be vaguely possible.
Stop - Stand Still on the spot
Move Normally - Clear all commands / Return to original state
Walk Direction # - Walk # of steps in a certain direction (N/S/E/W)
Wait # - Wait for # seconds (or whatever) before next command
Turn - Turn in specified direction (N/S/E/W)
Attack - Attack anything
Defend - Do not attack anything
Cast - Cast certain spell
Say - Say whatever
Emote - Emote whatever
Etc - Anything else that you can think of
And then a possible number of commands could be given: Walk North 5, Emote "#me charges", Attack. This would allow the GM's to direct the movement of monsters in quests to create things such as formations, charges, guard posts, arrow volleys etc etc.
For your consideration
This proposal is fairly straightforward, although I'm really unsure about the technical implications/possibilities of implementing it.
Firstly it would be useful for GM's to be able become effectively invisible from monsters. Although they can become invisible to players, monsters inevitably give away their location by running up to them and whacking thin air. Although Im not sure if it would be possible due to the way nature of players/monsters.
Secondly would be a series of commands that could instruct NPC's into certain behaviours. For instance a GM could tell a monster to halt and it would remain on the spot attacking all who come in range. Or they could be told to walk in a certain direction.
This would depend of course on whether this is currently possible, and on the time needed to implement it, but here is a list of what I think might be vaguely possible.
Stop - Stand Still on the spot
Move Normally - Clear all commands / Return to original state
Walk Direction # - Walk # of steps in a certain direction (N/S/E/W)
Wait # - Wait for # seconds (or whatever) before next command
Turn - Turn in specified direction (N/S/E/W)
Attack - Attack anything
Defend - Do not attack anything
Cast - Cast certain spell
Say - Say whatever
Emote - Emote whatever
Etc - Anything else that you can think of
And then a possible number of commands could be given: Walk North 5, Emote "#me charges", Attack. This would allow the GM's to direct the movement of monsters in quests to create things such as formations, charges, guard posts, arrow volleys etc etc.
For your consideration