ss14-npc-ai

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.