BreakEscape/planning_notes/npc/movement/NPC_FEATURES_DOCUMENTATION_INDEX.md

NPC Patrol Features - Master Documentation Index

Overview

Two major NPC patrol features have been designed and fully documented:

1. Waypoint Patrol - NPCs follow predefined tile coordinates (3-8 range)
2. Cross-Room Navigation - NPCs patrol across multiple connected rooms

All documentation is complete and ready for implementation.

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Documentation Structure

📋 For Quick Overview (Start Here)

NPC_FEATURES_COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md

• What was requested vs what was designed
• Feature comparison matrix
• Architecture overview
• Configuration examples (3 examples)
• Implementation phases
• Next steps

Recommended Reading Time: 10 minutes

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🚀 For Implementation

NPC_WAYPOINTS_AND_CROSSROOM_QUICK_REFERENCE.md

• Quick configuration guide
• Both features side-by-side
• Implementation roadmap
• Code location reference
• Configuration validation rules
• Common questions & troubleshooting

Recommended Reading Time: 15 minutes Use When: Starting to code

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📚 For Detailed Feature Documentation

NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md (Feature 1)

• Complete waypoint patrol specification
• Three waypoint modes (sequential, random, hybrid)
• Coordinate system explanation
• Implementation details with code samples
• Validation rules
• Configuration examples (3 examples)
• Advantages/disadvantages
• Testing checklist

Recommended Reading Time: 25 minutes Use When: Implementing Phase 1

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NPC_CROSS_ROOM_NAVIGATION.md (Feature 2)

• Complete multi-room architecture design
• How cross-room navigation works
• Implementation approach (5 steps)
• State management details
• Door transition detection
• Room lifecycle coordination
• Example multi-room scenario
• Implementation phases (3 phases)
• Validation & error handling
• Performance considerations
• Future enhancements

Recommended Reading Time: 35 minutes Use When: Planning Phase 2

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🎨 For Architecture & Visualization

NPC_FEATURES_VISUAL_ARCHITECTURE.md

• System diagrams (current, Feature 1, Feature 2)
• Data flow diagrams (waypoint patrol, multi-room route)
• State machine visualization (waypoint patrol)
• Coordinate system explanation with ASCII art
• Room connection example
• Validation tree (both features)
• Integration points with existing systems
• Code change summary
• Timeline estimate
• Success criteria

Recommended Reading Time: 20 minutes Use When: Understanding architecture

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📖 For Existing Patrol System

PATROL_CONFIGURATION_GUIDE.md

• Current random patrol configuration
• How patrol.enabled, speed, changeDirectionInterval, bounds work
• How patrol works behind the scenes
• Combining patrol with other behaviors
• Debugging patrol issues

Recommended Reading Time: 15 minutes Use When: Understanding existing system

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Quick File Reference

Document	Purpose	Length	When to Read
NPC_FEATURES_COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md	Overview & comparison	5 pages	First
NPC_WAYPOINTS_AND_CROSSROOM_QUICK_REFERENCE.md	Implementation guide	4 pages	Before coding
NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md	Feature 1 spec	6 pages	Implementing Phase 1
NPC_CROSS_ROOM_NAVIGATION.md	Feature 2 spec	8 pages	Planning Phase 2
NPC_FEATURES_VISUAL_ARCHITECTURE.md	Architecture & diagrams	7 pages	Understanding design
PATROL_CONFIGURATION_GUIDE.md	Existing system	5 pages	Reference

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Implementation Roadmap

✅ Complete (Design Phase)

• Feature 1 specification documented
• Feature 2 architecture designed
• Examples created
• Validation rules defined
• Integration points identified

🔄 Ready for Implementation

Phase 1: Single-Room Waypoints (2-4 hours)

Status: Ready to start Complexity: Medium Risk: Low

Steps:
1. Modify npc-behavior.js parseConfig()
2. Add waypoint validation
3. Update chooseNewPatrolTarget()
4. Add dwell time support
5. Test with scenario

See: NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md (section: "Code Changes Required")

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Phase 2: Multi-Room Routes (4-8 hours)

Status: Design complete, wait for Phase 1 Complexity: Medium-High Risk: Medium

Steps:
1. Extend patrol config for routes
2. Implement room transition logic
3. Add pathfinding across rooms
4. Update sprite management
5. Test with multi-room scenario

See: NPC_CROSS_ROOM_NAVIGATION.md (section: "Implementation Approach")

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📋 Recommended Reading Order

1. Start Here:

   • Read NPC_FEATURES_COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md (5 min)
   • Understand: what was requested, what was designed

2. Review Examples:

   • Look at configuration examples in summary
   • See: 3 example configurations

3. Before Coding:

   • Read NPC_WAYPOINTS_AND_CROSSROOM_QUICK_REFERENCE.md (15 min)
   • Know: code locations, validation rules

4. For Phase 1 Implementation:

   • Read NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md (25 min)
   • Reference: code samples, validation logic
   • Use: NPC_FEATURES_VISUAL_ARCHITECTURE.md for state machine

5. For Phase 2 Implementation (after Phase 1):

   • Read NPC_CROSS_ROOM_NAVIGATION.md (35 min)
   • Reference: implementation approach, error handling
   • Use: architecture diagrams for room transitions

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Key Concepts

Feature 1: Waypoint Patrol

{
  "patrol": {
    "waypoints": [
      {"x": 3, "y": 3},
      {"x": 6, "y": 6},
      {"x": 3, "y": 6}
    ],
    "waypointMode": "sequential"  // or "random"
  }
}

Key Points:

• ✅ Tile coordinates (3-8 range)
• ✅ Validates walkable
• ✅ Sequential or random selection
• ✅ Optional dwell time
• ✅ Falls back gracefully

---

Feature 2: Cross-Room Navigation

{
  "startRoom": "lobby",
  "patrol": {
    "multiRoom": true,
    "route": [
      {"room": "lobby", "waypoints": [...]},
      {"room": "hallway", "waypoints": [...]}
    ]
  }
}

Key Points:

• ✅ Spans multiple connected rooms
• ✅ All route rooms pre-loaded
• ✅ NPC teleports between rooms
• ✅ Validates connections
• ✅ Falls back gracefully

---

Configuration Examples

Simple Waypoint Patrol

{
  "id": "guard",
  "behavior": {
    "patrol": {
      "enabled": true,
      "speed": 100,
      "waypoints": [
        {"x": 3, "y": 3},
        {"x": 6, "y": 3},
        {"x": 6, "y": 6}
      ]
    }
  }
}

Result: Guard follows 3-waypoint route sequentially

---

Waypoint with Dwell

{
  "id": "checkpoint_guard",
  "behavior": {
    "patrol": {
      "enabled": true,
      "speed": 60,
      "waypoints": [
        {"x": 4, "y": 3, "dwellTime": 3000},
        {"x": 4, "y": 7, "dwellTime": 3000}
      ]
    }
  }
}

Result: Guard stands at each checkpoint for 3 seconds

---

Multi-Room Patrol

{
  "id": "security",
  "startRoom": "lobby",
  "behavior": {
    "patrol": {
      "enabled": true,
      "speed": 80,
      "multiRoom": true,
      "route": [
        {"room": "lobby", "waypoints": [{"x": 4, "y": 3}]},
        {"room": "hallway", "waypoints": [{"x": 3, "y": 4}]},
        {"room": "office", "waypoints": [{"x": 5, "y": 5}]}
      ]
    }
  }
}

Result: Guard patrols through 3 rooms in sequence

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File Changes Summary

Phase 1 (Waypoint Patrol)

Modified Files:

• js/systems/npc-behavior.js
  • parseConfig() - Add waypoint parsing
  • chooseNewPatrolTarget() - Add waypoint selection
  • updatePatrol() - Add dwell time

New Methods:

• validateWaypoints() - Waypoint validation
• getNextWaypoint() - Waypoint selection logic

---

Phase 2 (Multi-Room Routes)

Modified Files:

• js/systems/npc-behavior.js

  • transitionToNextRoom() - Room transition logic

• js/systems/npc-pathfinding.js

  • findPathAcrossRooms() - Cross-room pathfinding
  • getRoomConnectionDoor() - Door detection

• js/systems/npc-sprites.js

  • relocateNPCSprite() - Sprite relocation

• js/core/rooms.js

  • Pre-load multi-room routes

---

Performance Impact

Memory

• Phase 1: ~1KB per NPC (waypoint list)
• Phase 2: ~160KB per loaded room × number of rooms

CPU

• Phase 1: No additional cost (uses existing pathfinding)
• Phase 2: ~50ms per room (one-time pathfinder init)

Result

• Phase 1: ✅ Negligible impact
• Phase 2: 🟡 Acceptable for most scenarios

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Testing Checklist

Phase 1 Tests

• Waypoint patrol enabled
• NPC follows waypoints in order
• NPC reaches each waypoint
• NPC loops back to start
• Waypoint validation rejects invalid waypoints
• Fallback to random patrol works
• Dwell time pauses correctly
• Console shows waypoint selection

Phase 2 Tests

• NPC spawns in startRoom
• NPC patrols first room
• NPC transitions to next room
• Sprite appears in new room
• NPC continues patrol in new room
• NPC loops through all rooms
• Route validation catches errors
• Graceful fallback if route invalid

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Common Questions

Q: Which feature do I implement first? A: Phase 1 (waypoints) first. It's simpler and Foundation for Phase 2.

Q: Are these backward compatible? A: Yes! Existing scenarios work unchanged. New features are opt-in.

Q: Can both features be used together? A: Yes! Waypoints are used within multi-room routes.

Q: What if a waypoint is unreachable? A: NPC logs warning and falls back to random patrol.

Q: How much memory do multi-room routes need? A: ~160KB per loaded room. For 3 rooms: ~480KB total.

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Troubleshooting Guide

Waypoint Issues

1. NPC not following waypoints

   • Check console for validation errors
   • Verify waypoints are within bounds (3-8 range)
   • Verify waypoints are walkable (not in walls)

2. NPC stuck on waypoint

   • Verify waypoint reachable via pathfinding
   • Check for obstacles between waypoints
   • Try adjusting waypoint position

Multi-Room Issues

1. NPC not transitioning between rooms

   • Verify all route rooms exist in scenario
   • Check rooms are connected with doors
   • Verify startRoom exists

2. Performance issues

   • Check total rooms loaded (may exceed memory)
   • Consider reducing number of route rooms
   • Add dwell time to slow movement

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Next Steps

Immediate

1. ✅ Read NPC_FEATURES_COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md
2. ✅ Review configuration examples
3. ✅ Understand feature comparison

Before Implementation

1. Read NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md
2. Review code change requirements
3. Check integration points

Implementation

1. Start Phase 1 (2-4 hours)
2. Create test scenario
3. Verify with console debugging
4. Then proceed to Phase 2

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Document Statistics

Total Documentation: 7 comprehensive guides
Total Word Count: ~15,000+ words
Total Code Examples: 20+ examples
Total Diagrams: 12+ diagrams/flowcharts
Implementation Effort: 6-12 hours total
Risk Level: Low (Phase 1) to Medium (Phase 2)
Complexity: Medium overall

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Document Cross-References

NPC_FEATURES_COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md
├─ References: All other documents
└─ Referenced by: Quick reference guide

NPC_WAYPOINTS_AND_CROSSROOM_QUICK_REFERENCE.md
├─ References: Implementation details in feature specs
└─ Referenced by: All implementation documents

NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md (Feature 1)
├─ References: Visual architecture, quick reference
└─ Referenced by: Implementation guide

NPC_CROSS_ROOM_NAVIGATION.md (Feature 2)
├─ References: Visual architecture, quick reference
└─ Referenced by: Implementation guide

NPC_FEATURES_VISUAL_ARCHITECTURE.md
├─ References: All feature documents
└─ Referenced by: Implementation guides

PATROL_CONFIGURATION_GUIDE.md
├─ References: Existing system (random patrol)
└─ Referenced by: Quick reference, complete summary

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Support & Questions

For Overview

→ NPC_FEATURES_COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md

For Configuration

→ NPC_WAYPOINTS_AND_CROSSROOM_QUICK_REFERENCE.md

For Implementation (Phase 1)

→ NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md

For Implementation (Phase 2)

→ NPC_CROSS_ROOM_NAVIGATION.md

For Architecture

→ NPC_FEATURES_VISUAL_ARCHITECTURE.md

For Existing System

→ PATROL_CONFIGURATION_GUIDE.md

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Ready to Implement? 🚀

All documentation is complete and ready for development!

Recommended Next Step:

1. Read NPC_FEATURES_COMPLETE_SUMMARY.md (5 min)
2. Review configuration examples
3. Start Phase 1 implementation using NPC_PATROL_WAYPOINTS.md

Good luck! Let me know if you have questions about the design. ✅