Miscellaneous: Mobs spinning in place when rooted and at low health

[Sorn]

Noticed this last night in Eastern Wastes while I was root-rotting stuff. When the mob is at under 20% health (typically when they start fleeing) while rooted, they start spinning in place.

This was not happening a few days ago. Previous behavior had the mobs stop turning towards me at that point. I can't remember what the original behavior should have been, but the old rusty bit of my brain that remembers those things thinks they should always point towards me while rooted, no matter what their health is.

I also noticed they would be running somewhere, either in hot pursuit or because they've been feared, and there are brief hiccups where they appear to stop running, only to warp a few feet ahead and continue running. This is also new, though it may just be desyncs/lag on my part. Usually my connection is very good unless there's a big event going on.

[Haynar]

Strange. But I will see if I can reproduce it and see what is going on.

H

[Thulack]

i was just sitting in CS and pretty sure a wyvern that was rooted by someone but was full health was spinning in place for like 10 seconds.

[Haynar]

Likely related to the changes on how some of the rooted mobs behave. I need to adjust the integration of those changes with mob movement and rotation code.

H

[kaev]

Prior to last patch (but after Velious release) when a rooted mob went low health it would turn to the direction it wanted to flee towards, now they spin in place instead. The mobs do attack nearest target in melee range regardless of their facing when this happens, and they do this without changing facing. I don't know if/how backstab is affected, haven't been grouped with a rogue when it has happened.

I have observed this in Velious zones and also in Old Sebilis.

[Sorn]

Thanks for looking into it, Haynar! And thanks to Thulack and kaev for contributing. I spent some time in Najena today without seeing any spinning but didn't root very many things either.

Here's a video of the bug. You can see Ensnare working normally in the same clip.

[Sorn]

This bug still occurs, but only about half the time. I'm still trying to figure out consistencies to see what parameters are the most likely triggers. It's not obvious. Right now I'm in Thurgadin Mines killing stuff. What the mobs usually do without root is turn 180 degrees to run away down the corridor. Sometimes they stick around a little longer to beat on me. That may be a factor in determining whether or not they spin.

It does happen in old world zones. I had a few cyclopses (sp?) twirl like hideous music box dancers in Rathe Mountains.

Also, the head GM of the server appears to be passed out in front of Thurgadin Bank. I'm worried. Maybe someone should drive him home before someone steals his wallet. A gnome has already died on top of him. That doesn't seem very comfortable.

[planarity]

Can confirm this is happening. Also at low/flee hp, mobs and pets that are fighting each other can turn to be facing away from each other, back to back. The spinning may be new to the recent root changes, but I believe the latter bug has been occurring for some time.

[ergo]

Well this is classic. When a mob is dotted and they cant run, the spin.

I think of this everytime I see it and often go play it.

(scary swear words on screen warning in link)

[maximum]

I've noticed the "twirling mob" bug when feigning off mobs. Usually after multiple feigns. Mobs are not rooted or dotted at all.