| name | ss14-npc-ai |
| description | Work with SS14 NPC systems, HTN behavior, pathfinding, steering, AI debug overlays, mindless mobs, hostile or friendly mob behavior, and NPC-related prototypes. |
SS14 NPC And AI
Use this skill when a change affects non-player decision making, pathing, steering, or NPC debug tools.
NPC behavior is server-authoritative gameplay with client debug presentation. Keep AI decisions data-driven where possible and avoid per-tick scans that scale with every mob.
Workflow
- Locate the AI layer.
- Server systems own decisions, targeting, path requests, and authoritative movement intents.
- Shared code owns shared components, events, and debug/network contracts.
- Client code owns overlays, EUI/debug windows, and visualization.
- Prefer data-driven behavior.
- Use existing HTN, prototype, component, and action patterns before adding special-case code.
- Keep tunable behavior in prototypes or component fields.
- Avoid hardcoded entity IDs, faction names, or role assumptions in generic AI systems.
- Respect pathfinding and steering costs.
- Avoid broad entity queries, allocations, and expensive path recalculation in frequent updates.
- Reuse existing steering/pathfinding systems and throttling patterns.
- Load
ss14-standard-optimizations for update-heavy AI work.
- Keep prediction expectations realistic.
- NPC decisions are server-authoritative.
- Client visuals/debug overlays should consume replicated or explicit debug state, not run their own gameplay AI.
- Validate behavior in context.
- Build affected projects.
- Prefer an in-game test with multiple NPCs when behavior or performance changes.
- For debug overlays or EUI, test cleanup when toggled off.
Reference Map
../ss14-standard-optimizations/SKILL.md../ss14-transform-physics/SKILL.md../ss14-ui-eui/SKILL.md../ss14-sprite-overlays-shaders/SKILL.md../ss14-netcode/SKILL.md
Good File Anchors
Content.Shared/NPC/**Content.Server/NPC/**Content.Client/NPC/**Resources/Prototypes/**/NPC/**
Common Pitfalls
- Running expensive target/path logic every tick for every NPC.
- Putting server AI decisions in client debug systems.
- Hardcoding one mob or faction into a generic AI path.
- Forgetting to remove debug overlays or network subscriptions when toggles close.
