## Problem
`BaseFamiliar.OnThink` drove its own movement (`WalkMobileRange` toward the master) while the familiar was also a controlled pet running `Obey()`. `Summon → SetControlMaster` issues `Come`; `DoOrderCome` converts it to `Stay` within two tiles and anchors `Home`; from then on `OnThink` walked toward the caster while `DoOrderStay` greedy-stepped back toward the stale post — the backtracking. Combat never approached anything: main only copied `Combatant` while already adjacent to the caster. `CurrentSpeed = 0.01` was a 10 ms think / 50 ms step sprint hack, and `RangeCheck` teleported the familiar to a spot eight tiles *from* the caster.
## Change
A dedicated `FamiliarAI : BaseAI` (registered through `ForcedAI`, like `CloneAI`) owns every familiar decision, for both the controlled (`Obey`) and uncontrolled (`Think`) dispatch:
1. **Lifecycle** — caster gone → drop pack, delete. Caster on another map → stand down and wait for `TeleportPets`.
2. **Herding** (Dark Tides) — stands down, then `CheckHerding()`. Outranks combat.
3. **Assist** — combat-capable familiars (dark wolf, vampire bat, horde minion) engage the caster's target; otherwise anything in a fight with the caster's side — attacked the caster or the familiar, or attacked by the caster (a pet's attack is credited to the caster) — that is still fighting the caster, the familiar, or one of the caster's pets. Leashed to `RangePerception` of the caster; dropped when the caster hides. Shadow wisp and death adder never fight (`AssistsMaster => false`, enforced at the `Combatant` setter so no path can hand them a target).
4. **Follow** — `MoveTo(master, 1)` through the centralized `ApproachTarget` (greedy step / persistent `PathFollower` / stall detection).
5. **Keep-up** — snap to a validated tile beside the caster (on the caster's floor) when outpaced on open ground beyond 10 tiles, or when `ApproachTarget` gave up; never while a detour is working.
**Command immunity** is expressed inside the order machinery rather than around it: `FamiliarAI.IssueOrder` does nothing and rests the order on `Come`, so `TeleportPets` keeps working and no system-issued `Attack` (retaliation on ML's stand-down rule) can strand the familiar. `StandsDownOnCommand => false` so the ML rule never mutes it.
**Visibility** mirrors the caster from the familiar's own state (a step reveals a hidden NPC in `Mobile.OnMove`; the old cache compared the caster's previous state), `RevealingAction` is suppressed while the caster is hidden, and becoming hidden drops Warmode so no swing gives the caster away.
**Speed** is a flat 0.1 (`ReduceSpeedWithDamage => false`).
### Engine-side (all `Projects/UOContent`)
- `ApproachTarget` records which exit it took in `BaseAI.LastApproach` (`ApproachOutcome`: Arrived / Waiting / DirectProgress / Routing / Blocked / GaveUp / InvalidGoal). Callers' booleans are unchanged; keep-up reads this instead of running a second scheduler. `MoveTo`'s arrival return now also clears the move intent, as `ApproachTarget`'s own arrival does.
- `MoveToPoint(goal, range = 1)`; `CheckHerding` passes 0. **Fixes a main regression from #2591:** herding stopped one tile short, never cleared `TargetLocation`, and left the creature pinned to the herding pace — affects the shepherd's crook and the Dark Tides scroll fetch for every herded creature, not just familiars.
- `ChangeAIType` reads `ForcedAI` once. It read it twice, and each `BaseAI` ctor activates its timer for a non-sector-gated creature, so a `ForcedAI` creature with `PlayerRangeSensitive => false` got an orphan AI ticking it.
## Tests
`FamiliarAITests` are timer-wheel driven (the real `AITimer` thinks and moves; `PetPacingTests` style) against live Trammel statics, gated on client map data: follow without backtracking, the five-way assist theory, leash, retaliation, aggressor fallback (caster's own `Combatant` expired; caster's pet in the fight), target dropped when it stops fighting, keep-up on open ground / not while routing / after give-up, hidden mirror across steps, herding priority with a visible fighting caster, stand-down when left behind, no stale move intent. `ApproachOutcomeTests`, `HerdingTests` (fails on main), `ForcedAITests` (fails on main) cover the engine-side pieces.
Against `origin/main` with the familiar tests dropped in: 16/16 fail, including the reported backtracking. On this branch: `UOContent.Tests` 1082 passed / 2 skipped, `Server.Tests` 891/891, solution builds with 0 warnings.
Stacked on #2594. Fixes jerky creature movement (lich / Fast-bucket melee chases) by choosing the client animation flag from the actual step pace instead of a caller-supplied `run` argument, and fixes three step-pacing defects in the move budget found while verifying it with paired server/client traces.
### Why
The `Direction.Running` bit does nothing for creatures server-side (`Mobile.OnMove` reads it only for the player throttle and stealth reveal). Its whole effect is on the client, which animates each step over a fixed time selected by that bit: walk 400 ms / run 200 ms on foot, 200 / 100 ms mounted. ClassicUO queues up to 5 steps and *drops* the sixth, so a creature stepping every 300 ms while flagged as walking backs the queue up until it snaps forward — the observed jerk.
The `run` argument never carried the one fact that matters (the step interval). RunUO passed `true` in combat / `false` for pets and gated it on `dist > 5`; #2271 flipped every combat site to `false`; pets passed `currentDistance > 2`. None of that is a coherent signal.
### What
**Pace-derived run flag**
- `BaseAI.ShouldRun()`: run iff the effective step delay (move clock + badly-hurt inflation) is shorter than `Movement.WalkFootDelay` / `WalkMountDelay` (mounted or flying) — with a continuity rule: an *isolated* step (taken after standing at least a walk interval) goes out as a walk, because the client renders each step alone and a lone run-flagged step is a 200 ms dart. Only a continuing cadence flags run; a true sprinter (pace under the run interpolation) always runs, since a walk-rendered first step would flood the client's 5-step queue. This reproduces RunUO's close-in feel (its `dist > 5` gate) from first principles.
- `DoMoveImpl` stamps the bit; it is the single place the flag is set.
- `run` removed from `MoveTo`, `WalkMobileRange`, `ApproachTarget`, `MoveToPoint`, `MoveToWithGroup`, `MoveToWithCollisionAvoidance`, the move intent, and `PathFollower.Follow`. All 35 call sites updated. **API change** for custom scripts — documented in the RunUO migration docs (`09-items-mobiles-creatures.md`, `11-api-reference.md`) and `content-patterns.md` § Creature Speeds.
**Move-budget pacing fixes** (each confirmed by UTC-aligned server/client step traces)
- A stall no longer banks catch-up steps: the budget's snap-to-now released up to three steps in ~300 ms when a creature resumed chasing after standing beside its target — rendered as a teleport.
- Debt accrual removed entirely: a step landing sub-period late (think-grid vs budget misalignment during reactive mirroring) kept the remainder and fired a follow-up ~100 ms later — a dart pair. `ConsumeMoveBudget` now paces every step from when it was actually taken; in continuous pursuit the move-wake lands within wheel resolution of the deadline, so the cost is single-digit-ms drift.
- Net effect: a creature can never step faster than its pace, verified across a full chase session (zero sub-pace steps; metronomic 350 ms cadence for a 0.3 s lich).
- Test fixture now runs `Movement.Configure()` (the walk delays were 0 in tests).
### Accepted trade-off
Animal (LOW group) bodies without a run animation slide on their stand frames when flagged as running. Most are slow enough to stay flagged as walking; the client-side fallback is in ClassicUO/ClassicUO#1930.
### Tests
`RunFlagTests`: foot thresholds (0.3 / 0.125 run; 0.4 / 0.45 / 1.05 walk), flying uses the mount threshold, badly-hurt inflation flips a 0.35 s creature back to walk, a real `DoMove` stamps the bit, isolated steps drop to walk (sprinters keep running), a stall restarts the cadence with no banked steps, and a late step earns no quicker follow-up. Full suite: 837 Server + 747 UOContent green.
### Summary
Updates all calls to container.EnumerateItems() to properly dispose of the underlying PooledRefQueue so that we are properly recycling pooled arrays.
## Summary
- Removes allocation of a `List<ContextMenuEntry>` every time a context menu is created.
- Moves packet/context menu creation logic out of the core
- Fixes tame entry
## BREAKING CHANGE
> [!Important]
> **Developer Note**
> ```cs
> public virtual void GetContextMenuEntries(Mobile from, List<ContextMenuEntry> list)
> ```
> and similar functions changed to
> ```cs
> public virtual void GetContextMenuEntries(Mobile from, ref PooledRefList<ContextMenuEntry> list)
> ```
### Summary
* Adds `StaticNoticeGump<T>` and `StaticWarningGump<T>`
* Converts NoticeGump/WarningGump to use `DynamicGump`
* Changes various uses of notice gump and warning gump to their static counterpart.
> [!IMPORTANT]
> Please read through these changes, as they changed certain expectations for how the internal AI thinking/movement work.
> Note that some mobs still don't have smooth movement on ClassicUO due to how the client handles animations/movement.
### Summary
- **Important Change**: Mobs will now move at a more regular pace. If the OnThink results in a move, but the cooldown would otherwise prevent the move, then the movement is scheduled on another timer.
- Added a 400ms delay to mobs turning to face a player to attack in order to avoid glitching between moving and turning.
- Reverted AI thinking speeds back to RunUO specific speeds.
- Reverted the AI thinking to moving conversion delays back to RunUO.
- For thinking speeds that are not exactly the predefined speeds from RunUO, there is a new calculation to determine the correct conversion to movement speed. This stops speeds like `0.35` from being faster than `0.3`
> [!NOTE]
> **Developer Note**
> BaseAI.CheckMove() no longer contains the check for whether or not a mob is on movement cooldown. This function can now be overwritten without causing issues to figuring out that cooldown.
### Summary
Eliminates `IPooledEnumerable<T>` and `eable.Free()` from `Map` for mobiles. This drastically simplifies code that iterates in range, for example:
```cs
foreach (var m in m.GetMobilesInRange(5))
{
}
```
The code above no longer requires an eable and calling `Free()`.
- [X] Fixed several locations where an NPC that was damaged would cause a server crash.
- [X] Removed an unnecessary allocation in guard fake calls (NPCs calling guards on you)
- [X] Fixes damage precision loss in Poison Strike Spell
- [X] BogThing no longer attempts to "search" for boglings to eat when it is at full health
### Summary
Eliminates `IPooledEnumerable<T>` and `eable.Free()` from `Map` for items. This drastically simplifies code that iterates in range, for example:
```cs
foreach (var item in m.GetItemsInRange(5))
{
}
```
The code above no longer requires an eable and calling `Free()`.
* Movie ignore mobiles to Mobile class
* Allow necromancer familiars to ignore mobiles
* ChampionSpawn should not quietly fail when creating new spawn
* Fix client party crash bug: 2 people partied, the leader logs out, other client is hung
* Fix spellbooks creating with magery/meditation only and creating magery multiple times
* Fix BaseRunicTool.GetRandomSlayer() creating more undead slayers than intended
* Do not allow players to dismount each other whilst mounted
* Fix AOS onwards damage increase tooltip and wrong formula in AOS
* Fix monsters killing other monster revenants + animate dead should not attack player pets + other animates
* Fix fire steed having loot pack added twice
* Fix oaks spawn not able to create Unicorns + Kirins via Activator.CreateInstace() due to constructor having name as parametr
* Fix ignoreMobiles flag not propagated to client for non-players.
* Fix harrower tents not leeching from players
* Fix boats speedhacking around the map
* Fix bless, agility etc. not renewing duration
* Fix reveal always worked
* Fix empty constructor for steeds so they don't throw now.
* Removes scaled speed by dex for monsters
* Changes scaled speed by dex for pets (HS+ expansion) to be 400ms -> 100ms between 50 -> 200 dex
* Removes speed changes that were broken for various mobs
* Combines "Legacy" speed and renames the class to `NPCSpeeds`
* Creates speed "classes" (slow, medium, fast, very fast)
* Introduces a new overridable property `SpeedClass`. Register a new speed class using `NPCSpeeds.Register()` and then set the speed class to bulk/mass apply speeds.
Order of speed determination:
1. SpeedMod
2. SpeedClass property (not null)
3. SpeedClass entry in Data\npc-speeds.json for that type
4. "Fast" (200ms Active, 400ms Passive)
- [X] Removes several `ToList()` uses with `PooledRefQueue`
- [X] Adds a `PeekRandom` to PooledRefQueue
- [X] Updates EV/BS so they dispel each other in a more efficient manner.
- [X] Fixes Firebomb so it works like a normal firefield.
- [X] Fixes field spells so they aren't unnecessarily using a Point3D ref more than necessary.
- [X] Removes extra allocation in campfire by using reverse loop.
- [X] Removes other LINQ calls that aren't needed.
* Adds the following configurations:
* `movement.delay.npcMinDelay` - 0.1 - Pets or Non-monster NPCs
* `movement.delay.npcMaxDelay` - 0.4 - Pets or Non-monster NPCs
* `movement.delay.monsterMinDelay` - 0.4 - Non-pet Monsters or NPC vs Player Combat
* `movement.delay.monsterMaxDelay` - 0.8 - Non-pet Monsters or NPC vs Player Combat
* `movement.delay.monsterMinDex` - 150 - Dex maximum for delay by dex
* `movement.delay.MinDex` - 190 - Dex maximum for delay by dex
### Changes/Fixes:
* Adds timer pooling.
* Allows pool to be configurable in ModernUO.json
* Pool replenishes itself asynchronously if depleted.
* Fixes an issue with barkeeps and town criers
* Fixes an issue with incognito buff icons not being removed
* Fixes an issue with polymorph name mod not being removed
* Fixes several places where timers go on forever even after an object is deleted, keeping a reference (memory leak)
* Eliminates the timer for MiningCart altogether.
* Deletes `AcidSlime` since it is a duplicate of `PoolOfAcid`
* Fixes HonorableExecution and standardizes the code for other Bushido moves.
## Changes to the Timer API:
```cs
public class Timer
{
// Creates a timer that will be returned to the pool once execution stops.
public static void StartTimer(Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
// Creates a timer and returns a token for more control. Requires manual cancellation in order for the timer to be returned to the pool.
// If the token is dereferenced, the timer will be dereferenced too. While not returning a timer to the pool is not considered hazardous, it does defeat the purpose of pooled timers.
public static void StartTimer(Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
// If you aren't sure how to use the API above, or you don't care about performance, then you can use the old RunUO Timer.DelayCall
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan delay, Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
}
public struct TimerExecutionToken
{
public bool Running { get; }
public int Index { get; }
public int RemainingCount { get; }
public DateTime Next { get; }
}
```
## When to use `TimerExecutionToken`?
Use tokens when you want to gain the performance benefit of using a pooled timer, but you need one of the following:
* Access to the next time the timer will tick:`token.Next`
* Access to which interval, how many intervals there are, or how many are remaining: `token.Index`, `token.Count`, and `token.RemainingCount`
* Stop a timer manually.
* Determine if the timer is running: `timer.Running`
* See notes below about requirements for using tokens!
## Notes about using the TimerExecutionToken:
When you opt-in to receive a token, you must call `Cancel()` to return the timer. This can be done inside of the callback, or outside of the callback at any time.
If this is not called and your timer is an infinite interval, then you will create a potential memory leak, or null pointer exception in your callback.
If the timer ends and is stopped, but cancel is not called, then the timer will never return to the pool and stay referenced until the token is deleted or cancel is called. (Memory leak)
## Is this thread safe?
No. The ModernUO timer system is not thread safe at all. If you require a thread safe timer system, contact me and I'll help adapt this system. Keep in mind that there is a massive performance hit to make this thread safe when there are literally no use cases for it.
If you need to synchronize execution, meaning you want to execute code from another thread on the core thread. Let's say you have a discord bot that is pushing commands to the game server. Then use `EventLoopContext.Post(SendOrPostCallback callback, object state);`.
- [X] Caches DateTime.NowUtc on the game loop (not other threads)
- [X] Replaces all locations where it makes sense
- [X] Adds Min/Max for `IComparable` (TimeSpan, DateTimes, etc)
Closes#261
- [X] Fixes a bug with RunUO where direction is set multiple times and the run flag is not set properly.
TODO: Fix other direction/movement issues and duplicate packets.
Bumps release version
