The Individual Advanced Entity Instance
What is an Individual Advanced Entity Instance?
An Individual Advanced Entity Instance is a type of Entity Instance that allows customized activity calculations for each player.
Unlike a traditional NPC Instance (or more broadly a Shared Entity Instance), where a single activity is shared among all players, an individual instance generates a separate activity for each player.
Key Differences from an NPC Instance
| Characteristic | NPC Instance | Individual Advanced Entity Instance |
|---|---|---|
| Activity Calculation | A single shared activity | An activity calculated per player |
| Entity Position | Same for all players | Customized based on the player |
| Recommended Use Case | Generic or global behavior | Individualized behavior |
Example: Patrolling NPC
Consider an NPC with a patrol activity using a Patrol Activity.
-
NPC Instance: If 200 players can see this NPC, only one patrol activity is calculated. All players see the NPC moving along the same path. -
Individual Advanced Entity Instance: Here, 200 patrol activities are calculated — one per player. The path taken by the NPC can therefore differ from player to player, but this comes with a very high performance cost.
When should you use an Individual Advanced Entity Instance?
Use this type of instance only if you need a behavior or position that differs per player, such as having the NPC follow the player or show them a path without being seen moving by other players.
Do not use this type of instance for standard NPCs or those visible to many players. Always prefer using a default NPC Instance, unless truly individualized behavior is necessary.