PingDrivenRobots

PingDrivenRobots

PingDrivenRobots is a PEAK BepInEx mod that lets the host spawn ping-driven computer zombie companions. They follow the latest valid ping placed by any player, plan a route locally, and try to move with player-like actions such as walking, running, jumping, climbing, and controlled drop-downs.

Highlights

• Press J to spawn a controlled zombie robot.
• Press K to remove the nearest controlled zombie.
• Press B to carry the nearest backpack.
• Robots always follow the latest valid ping from any real player.
• Local route planning for direct travel, detours, climbing, jump-grab attempts, gap jumps, and safer drop-downs.
• Stamina is not simulated or overwritten by the mod; the original game handles consumption, while the AI only plans movement around current stamina.
• If a climb attempt fails after starting with near-full stamina, the robot waits until stamina recovers and retries that climb point once before giving up.
• Defensive handling for destroyed objects, invalid network references, missing components, carried/dragged states, and abnormal runtime conditions.

Controls

| Key | Action |

| --- | --- |

| J | Spawn a ping-driven zombie robot near the local player |

| K | Delete the nearest controlled robot |

| B | Carry the nearest backpack |

| Player ping | Set the newest destination for all controlled robots |

How it works

When a robot is spawned, the mod creates a networked MushroomZombie and attaches a custom controller. The controller records ping positions generated by real players and always selects the newest valid ping as its active destination.

The robot does not use a full map-wide NavMesh. Instead, it performs local terrain probes and route scoring, then chooses an action such as:

• Direct: move straight toward the target when the path looks clear.
• Detour: steer around local obstacles or approach from a better angle.
• Climb: try a climb when the target is above and the wall appears usable.
• JumpGrab: attempt a jump-grab for reachable raised surfaces.
• GapJump: jump across a small gap when a viable landing area is detected.
• DropDown: descend when the drop appears acceptable.
• Hold: pause when no safe movement choice is available.

The controller replans while moving. Failed segments are remembered briefly so the robot is less likely to repeat the same bad local route immediately.

Navigation notes

PingDrivenRobots is designed for short-to-medium player-guided travel, especially when pings are placed on or near reasonable ground targets.

It performs best when:

• The destination is on walkable terrain or a reachable platform.
• The route requires normal movement, a small detour, a jump, or a climb.
• Players use pings as clear movement targets rather than vague directional hints.

It can still struggle when:

• A ping is placed on a wall, cliff face, unsupported ledge, or inaccessible geometry.
• The correct human route requires moving far away from the target first.
• The area requires long global path reasoning rather than local terrain decisions.
• Network ownership or room state changes unexpectedly during movement.

Multiplayer behavior

The AI logic is driven by the client that owns the spawned robot object. Other clients receive replicated network state and visuals. For the most stable behavior, spawning and cleanup should be performed by the host or master client.

Installation

• Install BepInEx for PEAK.
• Put the compiled PingDrivenRobots.dll into:

BepInEx/plugins/

• Launch the game and enter a room.
• Press J to spawn a robot.
• Use any player's ping to direct it.
• Press K to delete the nearest controlled robot.

Configuration

The mod creates a BepInEx config file after first launch. Common options include:

| Setting | Purpose |

| --- | --- |

| SpawnZombieKey | Key used to spawn a robot |

| DeleteZombieKey | Key used to delete the nearest controlled robot |

| ZombiePrefabName | Photon prefab used for the robot object |

| SpawnForwardOffset | Spawn distance in front