.path files (not currently needed)

[nilbog]

Greetings.

I have placed this particular crowdsourcing project under Technical Discussion as it will require someone to have a server for testing. I know there are several of you with stock peq servers, so this is directed at you.

It would help a lot to have a community test/development server for .path files. It's nothing database, source, or script specific. There are built commands which handle the creation of a .path file. If these are created, they can be submitted to me, or to eqemu in general.

What does a .path file do? Aren't all moving npcs on .paths? - Pathing can be considered two different things. There are individual npc grids*, and then zone paths*. Grids are individual npc waypoints, pauses, etc. (such as a guard walking through a city). A .path file is generated for the total zone and consists of nodes where when aggroed, npcs follow closest nodes until its target is a shorter distance than the nearest node.

Who has a server on the eqemu public login? Who wants to help?



Reference materials:
http://www.eqemulator.org/forums/showthread.php?t=31933
http://www.eqemulator.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28710
http://www.eqemulator.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29180

i.e. commands:

Syntax: #path shownodes: Spawns a npc to represent every npc node.
#path info node_id: Gives information about node info (requires shownode target).
#path dump file_name: Dumps the current zone->pathing to a file of your naming.
#path add [requested_id]: Adds a node at your current location will try to take the requested id if possible.
#path connect connect_to_id [is_teleport] [door_id]: Connects the currently targeted node to connect_to_id's node and connects that node back (requires shownode target).
#path sconnect connect_to_id [is_teleport] [door_id]: Connects the currently targeted node to connect_to_id's node (requires shownode target).
#path qconnect [set]: short cut connect, connects the targeted node to the node you set with #path qconnect set (requires shownode target).
#path disconnect [all]/disconnect_from_id: Disconnects the currently targeted node to disconnect from disconnect from id's node (requires shownode target), if passed all as the second argument it will disconnect this node from every other node.
#path move: Moves your targeted node to your current position
#path process file_name: processes the map file and tries to automatically generate a rudimentary path setup and then dumps the current zone->pathing to a file of your naming.
#path resort [nodes]: resorts the connections/nodes after you've manually altered them so they'll work.Anyone already familiar with .path file creation, please feel free to chime in and help explain this.

Visual representation of how nodes are seen:
http://i46.tinypic.com/1zcg5n8.jpg

[Alarti0001]

Bump.

Anyone willing to help out, I'm pretty sure we will be able to offer a server for those without.

[falkun]

So I know VP is the biggest "pathing clusterfuck", but is there a less high-profile place I could dip my feet into this? I was reading the links Nilbog provided and saw a post to the effect of "LGuk.path added to base EQEmu code (SVN)". Is there a priority list for zones with worse pathing than others? Basically, I'd hate for EVERYONE to be focusing on VP (not that additional scrutiny is inherently bad) and neglecting the other 99% of the zones that most of the server might actually see.

I'll try getting a base EQEmu install up and running and then I'll hit up Alarti/Jeremy for a server...

[Alarti0001]

So I know VP is the biggest "pathing clusterfuck", but is there a less high-profile place I could dip my feet into this? I was reading the links Nilbog provided and saw a post to the effect of "LGuk.path added to base EQEmu code (SVN)". Is there a priority list for zones with worse pathing than others? Basically, I'd hate for EVERYONE to be focusing on VP (not that additional scrutiny is inherently bad) and neglecting the other 99% of the zones that most of the server might actually see.

I'll try getting a base EQEmu install up and running and then I'll hit up Alarti/Jeremy for a server...

This be a velious post.

[falkun]

This be a velious post.

I'm sorry, Nilbog makes no mention of "Velious" in his post. Please point out where Nilbog states he is looking for *.path file assistance for Velious only. I read Nilbog's post as "he is looking for assistance for *.path files for any zone." I'd like to work on Classic and Kunark zones because they are out now, unless the Devs feel they are OK (which is why I asked about a "priority list" in my first post).

[Alarti0001]

I'm sorry, Nilbog makes no mention of "Velious" in his post. Please point out where Nilbog states he is looking for *.path file assistance for Velious only. I read Nilbog's post as "he is looking for assistance for *.path files for any zone." I'd like to work on Classic and Kunark zones because they are out now, unless the Devs feel they are OK (which is why I asked about a "priority list" in my first post).

PMs

[nilbog]

I'm sorry, Nilbog makes no mention of "Velious" in his post. Please point out where Nilbog states he is looking for *.path file assistance for Velious only. I read Nilbog's post as "he is looking for assistance for *.path files for any zone." I'd like to work on Classic and Kunark zones because they are out now, unless the Devs feel they are OK (which is why I asked about a "priority list" in my first post).

While Velious is priority, correcting existing bugs and exploits continues. There are several existing zones which could use work.

I hope someone can host a server for this. It doesn't require much.. I ran p99 beta almost until release on a `08 gaming pc; not even server hardware. I assume most of you could have a base eqemu install running within an hour.

Once a new .path is created, it is dropped into the maps folder on the server i.e. [eqemu/maps/veeshan.path]. Restart world/zones, aggro some npcs and run around.

I believe this would be a great community project because non-exploitable dungeon pathing helps everyone.. and doesn't require server-specific code or database.

[Enygma]

Alarti, you already know I'm down to help just need a quick tutorial... need a server set up for this and get me installed and pathing...

Will be submitting these like a champ to nilbog when I'm set up.

nilbog sir... can you post a list of outstanding velious zones you require pathing to be done asap? I'll focus on those once I'm set up.

Thanks.

[Alarti0001]

Alarti, you already know I'm down to help just need a quick tutorial... need a server set up for this and get me installed and pathing...

Will be submitting these like a champ to nilbog when I'm set up.

nilbog sir... can you post a list of outstanding velious zones you require pathing to be done asap? I'll focus on those once I'm set up.

Thanks.

Bug jeremy to get his server up!

[Sirken]

Jeremy get your server UP!

[Alovia]

OK im down to help out in whatever way possible.... I think i can get ahold of a server as well.

[quido]

I would very much like to, I just hate committing my desktop to linux like that! I will get it up and running on my laptop in the next day or so.

[Amargura]

I'm all in for helping if needed

[Enygma]

I would very much like to, I just hate committing my desktop to linux like that! I will get it up and running on my laptop in the next day or so.

$$$$$$

[Alovia]

ok, So I have a server up and running, if anyone wants to help out with this let me know. I will set you up and let you know what you can do.

[a_gnoll_pup]

I would very much like to, I just hate committing my desktop to linux like that! I will get it up and running on my laptop in the next day or so.

You don't have to use linux for an EQEmulator server. You can set it up on Windows.

http://www.eqemulator.net/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=CMake

[Alarti0001]

ok, So I have a server up and running, if anyone wants to help out with this let me know. I will set you up and let you know what you can do.

bamp!

[quido]

I have brought up my server "Classic Everquest WoW-mod DEATHMATCH 24/7" under eqemu just now since I will be going out for the night soon. It grants instant full GM to all logins for now. Don't do anything dumb please since I'm just going to wipe the DB weekly as it is. Please feel free to use this for pathing development or whatever.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to further assist people in making use of this box.

[quido]

You don't have to use linux for an EQEmulator server. You can set it up on Windows.

http://www.eqemulator.net/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=CMake

blech

[Enygma]

Loggin on now... will have all day to work on pathing when I wake up - hoping Allizar will pick this up with us <3

[Enygma]

Agdros Test server is UP!! NEED GM's to help set up nodes / train us so we can get it done and finished.

PLEASE!

[Alarti0001]

Agdros Test server is UP!! NEED GM's to help set up nodes / train us so we can get it done and finished.

PLEASE!

Jeremy's too take ur pick!

[Alarti0001]

Do you need help with still or not GM's? We are ready if you are. If you no longer need us let us know so we can stop hosting our servers.

[Splorf22]

I'm willing to work on this a bit too. Let me know if/when things are happening

[nilbog]

I hope you're not paying for them?

I guess you can stop. The objective of this community project was to outsource so other people could do the work and then submit. By reading the barren eqemu information regarding them, and/or the public source, you would have the same understanding as I do. Meaning... there isn't a guidebook or training readily available. I was hoping there would be more personal interest involved.

Since the original posting of this thread, we have obtained a dedicated pathing developer who has been correcting outstanding issues as well as developing new .path files. Also, after looking further into it, .path files created elsewhere work fine on my server, but .path files created on my server won't work fine elsewhere. We have proprietary bestZ fixes for npc movement.

We will still need place to test them, but development is in progress. So, they can be tested with Velious beta with everything else I guess.

I am editing the OP to reflect we no longer need this. I will lock the thread, but leave it up so that anyone interested in learning may have a place to start with links.

Thanks for your interest.

[emperorsalty]

The objective of this community project was to outsource so other people could do the work and then submit.

Thank you for contributing pathing to Eqemu Nilbog, really appreciate it...

jackass