Overview

Off-Mesh Navigation implies AI traversing inside the game world which is not using the Multilayer Navigation Mesh system. There are two main methods of this, Smart Objects and AI Paths.

Navigational Smart Objects can be used on top of navigation meshes. This helps AI characters transition from one object to another which would be otherwise impossible to navigate and plays a custom animation during the traversal.

For example, a Crysis 3 Stalker running alongside the wall of a building and then leaping onto a lamp post... this is done with Smart Objects.

AI Paths are simpler to setup and don't require any additional animations, but both options have their pros and cons.

Smart Objects

When adding a Smart Object, make sure its entry and exit points are within the navigation mesh area. An incorrectly placed Smart Object will flash red.

For an AI character to be able to use the Smart Object, its agent type definition should list one or more Smart Object User Classes which the Smart Object has.

For example, if a Smart Object has class Human and an AI character is of agent type MediumSizedCharacters, the following lines should present in the Scripts/AI/Navigation.xml file, within tag <AgentType name="MediumSizedCharacters" ... >:

<SmartObjectUserClasses>
  <class name="Human"/>
  ...
</SmartObjectUserClasses>

The usual debug draw for the Smart Object will show if it is properly connected to the navigation mesh.

Also, you can set ai_DebugDrawNavigation to 3 to display the linked triangles (the ones with red edges).

AI Paths

It is also possible to use AI Paths for off-mesh navigation. This can be useful for intersecting multiple separate MNM areas, if AI need to traverse between them.

Care should be taken when using AI Paths in this manner however. If an AI manages to get into combat during the AI Path travels, they can become stuck as they have no freedom of movement like they would inside an MNM area.

Unless your level markup ensures it, off-mesh navigation should be done as non-interruptible in the AISequence:Start node.