Simple AI patrol between waypoints using spline or array of points

Pattern: Variables PatrolPoints(Array<Vector>), CurrentIndex(int)=0. BeginPlay: SimpleMoveToLocation(PatrolPoints[0]). OnMoveCompleted (or Tick+distance check): SET CurrentIndex = (CurrentIndex+1) % Array_Length → SimpleMoveToLocation(PatrolPoints[CurrentIndex]). Add Delay between moves for wait time. Use AIMoveTo for more control.

FindLookAtRotation — rotation from Start point looking at Target point

Returns the Rotator needed to look from Start toward Target. Common for aiming and facing.

SpawnEmitterAtLocation — spawn a legacy Cascade particle system

Legacy Cascade system. Prefer Niagara (SpawnSystemAtLocation) for new projects.

FindLookAtRotation — get rotation to look from Start toward Target

AI patrol between waypoints using NavMesh

Variables: WaypointLocations (Array<Vector>), CurrentWaypointIndex (int). Pattern: EventBeginPlay → set up WaypointLocations array → MoveToNextWaypoint (custom event). MoveToNextWaypoint: GetController → CastTo<AIController> → MoveToLocation(Dest=WaypointLocations[CurrentWaypointIndex], AcceptanceRadius=100) → Bind OnMoveCompleted delegate → In callback: Increment CurrentWaypointIndex (modulo array length) → call MoveToNextWaypoint again. Alternative: Use SimpleMoveToLocation for simpler cases. Requires NavMeshBoundsVolume in scene. GetRandomReachablePointInRadius for random wander.

SimpleMoveToLocation — move AI pawn to a world location

Requires NavMesh in scene. Get AIController via GetController() on the pawn, cast to AIController.

SpawnEmitterAtLocation — spawn particle effect at world location

UGameplayStatics::SpawnEmitterAtLocation. For Niagara, use SpawnSystemAtLocation.

SpawnSystemAtLocation — spawn a Niagara/Cascade particle system

UNiagaraFunctionLibrary::SpawnSystemAtLocation. bAutoDestroy=true for fire-and-forget. Use SpawnSystemAttached to attach to a component.

MoveToLocation — AI move with full control over acceptance radius etc

Call on AIController directly. AcceptanceRadius: distance at which move is considered complete.

Smooth rotation toward a target location using RInterpTo on Tick

Pattern: EventTick → FindLookAtRotation(Start=GetActorLocation, Target=TargetLocation) → RInterpTo(Current=GetActorRotation, Target=LookAt, DeltaTime=DeltaSeconds, InterpSpeed=5.0) → SetActorRotation(NewRotation=InterpResult). Key pins: FindLookAtRotation inputs are 'Start' and 'Target' (both Vectors). RInterpTo inputs: 'Current' (Rotator), 'Target' (Rotator), 'DeltaTime' (float), 'InterpSpeed' (float). SetActorRotation input: 'NewRotation' (Rotator).