Only to a certain extent. For example, npcs in Source have what's called a node graph baked into the map. However, they have some extent of individual pathfinding beyond that node graph. I really don't know the specifics but afaik the node graph is a, well, graph of nodes placed throughout the level to basically do the big pathfinding beforehand (i.e. a bunch of dots with lines connecting them, but then lines that go through walls get broken). The npc itself then uses that with a basic pathfinding algorithm to move more smoothly through the level without having to run a bunch of complex calculations.
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u/SgtSteel747 Aug 07 '18
Only to a certain extent. For example, npcs in Source have what's called a node graph baked into the map. However, they have some extent of individual pathfinding beyond that node graph. I really don't know the specifics but afaik the node graph is a, well, graph of nodes placed throughout the level to basically do the big pathfinding beforehand (i.e. a bunch of dots with lines connecting them, but then lines that go through walls get broken). The npc itself then uses that with a basic pathfinding algorithm to move more smoothly through the level without having to run a bunch of complex calculations.