How to make specific paths in UE4?

Question

I have a project where I have 1 character (playable) and 2 NPC's (AI).

The NPC's are programmed to meet 2 target points.

Below is an image to facilitate understanding:

As you can see, this green path is the full extent of the terrain that both my character and NPC's can walk through.

I know that in order for my character to traverse the full extent of the terrain, it is only necessary to add a nav mesh bound that covers the entire length of the terrain, but doing so the NPC's would cut their path:

CODE NPC'S:

I've made the target variable editable, so I can choose the target in the level editor.

I would like to know the simplest way to make the playable character go all over the terrain and the NPC's to follow the green route.

Answer 1

Since you want to have a nav mesh over the whole level but make the AI only move to the location in the direction and angle you want them to, you need to switch from SimpleMoveTo and AIMoveTo.

You'll also need to add extra target points and set the AI on a path to one target point then, On Success, move it to the next.

The target points do not have to be an actual Unreal Target Point, they can be any actor you'd like them to be.

Answer 2

Creating two volumes of motion is impractical, in theory it is possible, but it is much more laborious, less practical and less fluid (worst performance).

Much better (for the situation) just define in more detail the path of the NPC. And for that, just add more target points (in the case of the question, just add 1 more).

The nave mesh bound would cover the entire extent of the map, so the controllable character can go anywhere.

Look the image:

Purple Square => controllable character

Red Circle = NPC

Blue X = target point 1

Black X = target point 2

Note that this way the NPC will make the desired path without affecting the controllable character.

In the answer to this question, you have a very easy way to do this:

How do one NPC follow a succession of target points?

There are numerous ways to do the same thing, it's up to you to decide which one to use. You could use the AIMoveTo instead of using the Simple Move. Even use navigation filters (refer to this in Stephen's answer)