# Fix bot mount behavior when master dismounts
## Summary
Improves bot mount/dismount logic to ensure better coordination with the
master player. The bot now remains mounted when closing distance to a
recently dismounted master and mounts up to assist the master in combat.
The changes have been tested using the testcases described in the second
half of the PR description, which provide some directions on how this PR
can be tested and verified.
Closes: #1660
## Changes
- Add masterInCombat variable to track master combat state
- Modify target-based logic to consider master combat state
- Change mount priority when bot is not in combat to favor
master-following
- Remove combatReach from distance calculations (duplicate)
## Implementation
Added two methods:
- `StayMountedToCloseDistance()` - prevents premature dismounting when
the master dismounts
- `ShouldMountToCloseDistance()` - determines when to mount for master
assistance, even if master is not mounted at this time
Modified Execute() method:
- Target-based shouldMount/shouldDismount considers the master's combat
state
- Combat assistance logic separated from general following
- Mount when master in combat, but the bot is not
Distance logic:
- Combat: dismount at CalculateDismountDistance() (18-25 yards)
- Non-combat: dismount at 10 yards
- Mount threshold: 21+ yards
## Result
- Bots mount to assist masters in combat
- Bots stay mounted longer during travel
- Different dismount distances based on context
- Existing mount selection logic unchanged
# Mount Behavior Testing
## Prerequisites
1. Add a test bot: `.playerbots bot add <charactername>` or `.playerbots
bot addclass <class>`
2. Test in a level-appropriate outdoor area (mobs should not die with
one hit, as this makes testing combat assistance impossible)
3. Both master and bot must have mounts available
## Test 1: Combat Assistance Mounting
**Objective**: Verify bot mounts to assist the master in combat
**Detailed Steps**:
1. Position both master and bot dismounted
2. Command bot to stay: `/w <botname> stay`
3. Move master 35+ yards away from bot
4. Target a nearby mob and attack the mob
5. Command bot to assist: `/w <botname> follow`
**Expected Results**:
- Bot immediately mounts up (within 1-2 seconds cast time)
- Bot rides toward master while mounted
- Bot dismounts at ~18-25 yards from master/mob
- Bot engages in combat to assist
**Failure Indicators**:
- Bot runs dismounted (old behavior)
- Bot never mounts despite distance
- Bot mounts but doesn't dismount at proper assist range
## Test 2: Non-Combat Dismount Distance
**Objective**: Verify bot stays mounted longer during peaceful travel
**Detailed Steps**:
1. Both master and bot start dismounted
2. Mount up: use any mount
3. Verify bot also mounts: `/w <botname> follow`
4. Travel together for 10+ seconds to establish following
5. While moving, dismount master but continue running
6. Observe bot behavior as you move away
**Expected Results**:
- Bot stays mounted while master runs dismounted
- Bot only dismounts when within ~10 yards of master
## Test 3: Target Interference Prevention
**Objective**: Verify target selection doesn't prevent mounting when
master needs help
**Detailed Steps**:
1. Position bot 35+ yards from master: `/w <botname> stay` then move
away
2. Find a mob visible to both master and bot
3. Target the mob (do not attack): click on mob to select it
4. Verify bot can see the target: `/w <botname> attack` (bot should
respond about target)
5. Cancel bot attack: `/w <botname> follow`
6. Now attack the mob yourself (master enters combat)
7. Observe bot behavior immediately after master engages
**Expected Results**:
- Bot mounts up despite having the same target selected
- Bot rides toward combat area while mounted
- Bot dismounts at assist range (~18-25 yards)
- Target selection does not prevent proper mount behavior
**Failure Indicators**:
- Bot runs dismounted toward target (target interference)
- Bot doesn't mount because it's "focused on target"
## Test 4: Basic Mount Following
**Objective**: Verify fundamental mount matching still works
**Detailed Steps**:
1. Start both master and bot dismounted
2. Ensure bot is following: `/w <botname> follow`
3. Mount up on any available mount
4. Wait 2-3 seconds and observe bot
5. Test different mount speeds if available (60%, 100%, 280% speed)
6. Test dismounting and remounting
**Expected Results**:
- Bot mounts within 2-3 seconds of master mounting
- Bot uses appropriate mount speed to match master
- Bot dismounts when master dismounts (basic following)
- No regression in basic mount following behavior
## Test 5: Distance-Based Mounting Threshold
**Objective**: Verify bot mounts at efficient distance threshold (21+
yards)
**Detailed Steps**:
1. Both master and bot start dismounted in safe area (no mobs)
2. Command bot to stay: `/w <botname> stay`
3. Record starting position: `.gps`
4. Walk exactly 15 yards away (short distance)
5. Command bot to follow: `/w <botname> follow`
6. Observe: bot should run dismounted (distance too short)
7. Command bot to stay again: `/w <botname> stay`
8. Walk to 25+ yards away from bot
9. Record new position: `.gps`
10. Command bot to follow: `/w <botname> follow`
**Expected Results**:
- At 15 yards: Bot runs dismounted (inefficient to mount)
- At 25+ yards: Bot mounts up immediately (efficient distance)
- Distance threshold should be ~21 yards based on mount cast time
efficiency
**Distance Calculation**: Use coordinates from `.gps` to verify exact
distances
## Test 6: Druid Form Integration (Druid Master Required)
**Objective**: Verify druid form compatibility with mount system
**Detailed Steps**:
1. Master must be druid with travel form available
2. Start both dismounted: `/w <botname> follow`
3. Shift master to travel form
4. Observe bot response (should mount or shift if druid)
5. Travel together for 10+ seconds
6. Shift master to normal form while moving
7. Observe bot dismount behavior
8. If available, test flight form in appropriate zones
**Expected Results**:
- Druid bot: matches master's form (travel form)
- Non-druid bot: uses equivalent mount speed
- Form changes trigger appropriate bot responses
- Speed matching works between forms and mounts
## Test 7: Battleground Mount Behavior
**Objective**: Verify mount behavior works in PvP environments
**Detailed Steps**:
1. Queue for battleground with bot in party
2. Enter battleground together
3. Test basic mount following in BG
4. Test flag-carrying restrictions (WSG/EotS)
5. Test mounting during BG combat scenarios
**Expected Results**:
- Bot mounts appropriately in battlegrounds
- Flag carrying prevents mounting
- Combat assistance mounting still works in PvP
Closer the original solution, i dont wanna drift to much away without
really good reason. At this point i still see NPC and bots moving
through the levels or even falling out the levels here and there. I
verified whether the MovePoint signature changes and related params
itself in playerbots has anything todo with it, even when params are
hardcoded the behavior remains. It could be deeper problem, but for now
it seems core problem. Therefore i dont wanna change to much until the
dust has settled a bit in core itself.
I havent implemented moveTakeOff or moveLand which are basically
responsible for the transitions phases between ground and air visa
versa. I have version where i use takeOff for the animation, which means
moving vertical. For now i am gonna leave for what it is.
PS: also includes additional movement fix for AreaTriggerAction which we
missed first time after the core update on movements.
@Wishmaster117 Been testing and trying a lot in the background on find
solutions and causes. The general solutions remains removed some tweaks,
altered code here and there. With the general idea to keep closer to the
original code for now at least.
Testing:
- Class abilities: Slow fall (priest), Flight Form (druid) : Green
- BG: Green
- Swimming and walking shallow waters: Green
- Takeoff and land when following master: Green
- Boat and zeppelins: Green
- Flymount and ground walking: Green
- Water Walking (shaman), Path of Frost (DK): Green
- Water Walking (shaman), Path of Frost (DK) transisions; flying,
swimming, water walking: Green
Skipping pets when group water walking, path of frost, once core pathing
changes has settled more i will add it. Which is easy but i dont wanna
add more edge cases and code branches for now.
- Refactored BattleGroundTactics.cpp
- Bots choose strategies to determine if they are more aggressive or defensive in objectives
- Largely improved bots tactics in WSG, AB, AV and EY
- Improved how bots chase flag carriers
- Fixed some bots stuck in action loops - especially in WSG and AV
- Fixed several other Bugs
* Optimize Mountaction: Movement Logic with Early Return for Matching Forms or Speed
Added a missing check, so if both master and bot are in matching forms or master is mounted with corresponding speed, early return as there is nothing to do.
This improves logic, actions, and prevents some strange movement behavior when both master and bot already are in travel form.
- Fix for the issue that bots occasionally moved awkward when mounted inside BG's
- Removed redundant mount data retrieval
- Removed redundant extra check on if carrying a flag (already covered in isUseful)
- Removed no longer necessary code
- Combined some conditions as having them separate made little sense anymore
- Moved checking carrying flag into the BG logic
Resolved issue where bots are transformed (e.g Deathbringer's Will trinket) and would stand still attempting to mount, still allows mounting when the transform allows it (e.g Pirate Costume, Transporter Malfunction)
Added a new table to store user-specified mount ids.
Can specify flying and ground mounts for a character which will prioritise that mount. If multiple entries, a random entry will be selected from that list.
Currently no way to add entries other than manual DB editing, but can be developed into a whisper command pretty easily.
This should gracefully fail (if no entries exist for the character, or the db table does not exist) and fallback to the default random selection as usual.
Winged Steed of the Ebon Blade gets incorrectly categorised as a ground mount, causes issues and bots will not be able to ground mount if they have this mount in the account spellbook.
There may by other scaling mounts that have the same issue, either we blacklist them all or figure out a way to correctly read them as flyers.
