Pathfinding

Background

Pathfinding is the ability to guide a user or player through an environment using markers, visual cues, or navigational aids that assist in determining the most efficient or necessary route. This mechanic is primarily used in video games to provide direction, simplify navigation, and help players find their way through complex or open-world environments. The system often highlights objectives, key locations, or critical paths to reduce confusion, making exploration and quest completion more streamlined. Pathfinding may involve dynamic elements that adjust as the game progresses, allowing it to adapt to the player’s actions and choices.

In many cases, pathfinding systems are designed to enhance the overall player experience by eliminating frustration that might arise from getting lost or unsure of where to go next. They can range from basic markers that point in the general direction of an objective to sophisticated systems that account for obstacles, player choices, and environmental factors. In modern games, pathfinding is often integral to mission-based or open-world exploration gameplay, helping guide the player toward their next goal without disrupting the immersion.

Also Called

• Waypoint System
• Guided Navigation
• Path Marker
• Route Assistance
• Quest Tracking

Possible Applications

• Objective Markers: A simple and widely used form of pathfinding, this feature displays a marker on the screen or map that directs the player to specific goals or objectives. These markers can be static (always pointing to the same location) or dynamic (adapting to changing conditions). The marker may also change in style or size to reflect the importance or urgency of the objective.
• Environmental Cues: This form of pathfinding uses the environment to guide the player, whether through visual elements like glowing objects, illuminated paths, or other landmarks that indicate the right direction. It may include natural or artificial elements, such as signs, arrows, or lights, to create a sense of immersion.
• Dynamic Path Adjustment: In games with large, open worlds or nonlinear objectives, pathfinding systems may dynamically change the route or markers based on the player’s actions or decisions. If the player goes off-track, the system will update the path accordingly. This includes providing new waypoints when an objective is completed, or altering directions if the environment changes due to gameplay mechanics or events.
• Exploration Assistance: In open-world games, pathfinding systems are used to guide players to new and unexplored areas, often by creating a series of markers that suggest potential areas of interest. This allows players to focus on exploration without feeling lost or uncertain about where to go next.
• Route Optimization: Some games implement pathfinding systems that offer the best or most efficient route to a destination, factoring in obstacles, time constraints, or the most direct path. This can be especially important in missions with time limits or races against other in-game characters.
• Quest Tracking: Games that involve multiple quests or objectives often use pathfinding to track and organize tasks. The system helps players keep track of where to go next and often displays progress through a quest or series of quests, such as side missions or objectives within a larger storyline.
• Combat Pathfinding: Pathfinding can also be applied to combat situations, where players are guided to the most strategic positions for attack or defense. This could include navigating through a battlefield, determining optimal paths for dodging attacks, or guiding the player to safe zones during combat sequences.

Example Variations

• Static Pathfinding: This form of pathfinding creates a predetermined route or waypoints for the player to follow. Once set, the path is unchanged regardless of player actions or decisions. This can be used in more linear games where exploration is limited or the player needs clear directions toward a singular goal.
• Dynamic Pathfinding: More complex than static systems, dynamic pathfinding adjusts as the player progresses. This may include modifying the path if the player deviates, completes objectives, or encounters obstacles. In some cases, this system may even prioritize certain routes or create detours to avoid in-game hazards or blockers.
• Adaptive Pathfinding: An advanced form of pathfinding that responds to the player’s actions and the evolving game world. The system learns from player behavior, dynamically adjusting markers, objectives, and routes based on previous actions, preferences, or explored locations. It’s often found in games that have player-driven open worlds or systems that adapt to the player’s level of progress.
• Autonomous Pathfinding: This type of system is largely automated, offering markers, directions, and advice without the player needing to interact. It is typically used in games with a more hands-off approach to navigation, such as those that focus on exploration with minimal decision-making for the player regarding routes. It may also include AI-guided assistance in combat, adventure, and quest-based gameplay.
• AI-Based Pathfinding: Using artificial intelligence, these systems can offer incredibly sophisticated and adaptive routes. These systems are often employed in games with complex ecosystems, where the pathfinding responds to a variety of real-time game variables, such as enemy movement, player position, environmental changes, and the presence of hazards or obstacles.
• Real-Time Pathfinding: A real-time system constantly recalculates and displays the optimal route based on the player’s immediate surroundings. This is often used in real-time strategy games or action RPGs, where the player may need to adjust their course based on enemies or moving targets.

Possible Limitations

• Limited Range: Some pathfinding systems can only function within a set range or area. For example, if the player ventures too far from an objective or outside a defined map zone, markers and guidance may disappear or become less effective.
• Over-reliance: Excessive reliance on pathfinding systems can detract from the game’s challenge or exploration aspects. Some players may begin to rely too heavily on these markers, reducing the thrill of discovery or the sense of immersion. This is particularly noticeable in open-world games where players should rely more on their senses and exploration than on automatic markers.
• Inaccurate Guidance: Sometimes, pathfinding systems may lead the player astray, especially in games with complex worlds or many possible routes. If the system doesn’t account for certain environmental changes, obstacles, or player actions, it may result in confusing or misleading directions, frustrating the player.
• Cluttered Interface: Too many markers on the screen or map can overwhelm the player, creating clutter and confusion. When a game uses too many indicators, objectives, and other forms of guidance, it can detract from the focus of the gameplay and lead to an unnecessarily busy interface.
• Obsolescence in Later Stages: In longer games, pathfinding might become less helpful as the player progresses and becomes more familiar with the world. Overuse of guidance tools could make late-stage exploration feel mechanical and less rewarding. At some points, players may prefer to explore on their own rather than having constant reminders of where to go.
• Pathfinding Interruptions: In fast-paced environments or combat, the system may be disrupted by combat actions, environmental changes, or AI behavior. Players may experience sudden shifts in the available path or lose track of their objective markers due to these interruptions.

User

• Hazel Flood (South of Midnight): Weavers can activate the Guiding Strand, an ability that shows them a strand that reveals the path to their next objective.