Daily Routines (TA_)

Daily routines are Daedalus functions prefixed with TA_ (German Tagesablauf — daily schedule). They define what an NPC does during a given time slot — where they go, what activity they perform, and for how long.

All TA_ functions are defined in Content/AI/Human/TA.d, and the corresponding ZS_ states in Content/AI/Human/TA_Human/.

How the routine system works

Every TA_ function is a wrapper around the engine function TA_Min, which registers an NPC activity for a specific time slot:

func void TA_Sleep(var int start_h, var int start_m, var int stop_h, var int stop_m, var string waypoint)
{
    TA_Min(self, start_h, start_m, stop_h, stop_m, "ZS_GotoBed", waypoint);
};

Parameters

All TA_ functions share the same signature:

Parameter	Type	Description
start_h	int	Start hour (24h format)
start_m	int	Start minute
stop_h	int	End hour
stop_m	int	End minute
waypoint	string	Target waypoint (WP_) or freepoint (FP_) name

Rtn_ functions (daily schedules)

Routines are assigned to NPCs via the daily_routine variable pointing to an Rtn_ function:

instance Blacksmith(Npc_Default)
{
    name        = "Blacksmith";
    // ...
    daily_routine = Rtn_Start_Blacksmith;
};

func void Rtn_Start_Blacksmith()
{
    TA_Smith_Anvil  (08,00, 12,00, "FORGE_SMITH");
    TA_Stand_Eating (12,00, 13,00, "FP_SMITH_EAT");
    TA_Smith_Anvil  (13,00, 18,00, "FORGE_SMITH");
    TA_Smalltalk    (18,00, 20,00, "FP_SMITH_TALK");
    TA_Sleep        (20,00, 08,00, "BED_SMITH");
};

tip

A daily schedule should cover the full 24 hours without gaps. If the end time of one routine doesn't match the start time of the next, the NPC will stand idle during the gap.

warning

The end time of one block must equal the start time of the next block. Blocks must not overlap.

ZS_ states (Zustand)

Each TA_ routine references a ZS_ state (Zustand — state), which consists of three functions:

1. ZS_<Name>() — Init: NPC walks to the waypoint, prepares items, sets perception.
2. ZS_<Name>_Loop() — Loop: Repeated behavior (animations, mob interactions). Returns LOOP_CONTINUE.
3. ZS_<Name>_End() — End: Cleanup when the time slot ends.

Waypoints and freepoints

• WP_ (Waypoint) — a fixed, named point in the game world. The NPC walks exactly to this point.
• FP_ (Freepoint) — a flexible point near a waypoint. Many ZS_ states automatically search for available freepoints nearby (e.g., Wld_IsFPAvailable(self, "STAND")).
• Mobs — interactive world objects (e.g., anvil, bed, bench) that the NPC interacts with via AI_UseMob().

---

Human routine list

Standing / idle

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Stand_ArmsCrossed	ZS_Stand_ArmsCrossed	FP "STAND"	Stands with arms crossed. Random idle animations: scratching, stretching, shifting legs.
TA_Stand_WP	ZS_Stand_WP	— (waypoint)	Stands idle exactly at the waypoint (no FP search). Arms-crossed pose + idle.
TA_Stand_Guarding	ZS_Stand_Guarding	FP "STAND"	Stands on guard — hands on hips, randomly looks around.
TA_Stand_Sweeping	ZS_Stand_Sweeping	FP "SWEEP"	Stands and sweeps with a broom. Creates ItMi_Broom if not owned.
TA_Stand_Dementor	ZS_Stand_Dementor	FP "STAND"	Dementor (Seeker) pose. Non-standard perception — senses like a monster.
TA_Stand_RangerMeeting	ZS_Stand_RangerMeeting	FP "STAND"	Ranger meeting. Minimal perception. Lares stands in guard pose, others with arms crossed.

Drinking

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Stand_Drinking	ZS_Stand_Drinking	FP "STAND"	Stands and drinks booze (ItFo_Booze). Creates item if not owned. Random drinking animations.

Eating

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Stand_Eating	ZS_Stand_Eating	FP "STAND"	Stands and eats a random food (apple, cheese, bacon, or mutton). Animation matches the food type.

Sitting

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Sit_Bench	ZS_Sit_Bench	Mob "BENCH"	Sits on a bench. Random sitting idle animations.
TA_Sit_Campfire	ZS_Sit_Campfire	FP "CAMPFIRE"	Sits on the ground at a campfire (no mob — uses FP).
TA_Sit_Chair	ZS_Sit_Chair	Mob "CHAIR"	Sits on a chair. Random sitting idle animations.
TA_Sit_Throne	ZS_Sit_Throne	Mob "THRONE"	Sits on a throne.

Sleeping

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Sleep	ZS_GotoBed	Mob "BEDHIGH"	Goes to bed and sleeps. Limited perception — reacts to quiet sounds, damage, and talk (wakes up).
TA_Sleep_Deep	ZS_Sleep_Deep	Mob "BEDHIGH"	Deep sleep — does not react to quiet sounds. Only damage and talk can wake the NPC.

Cooking

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Cook_Cauldron	ZS_Cook_Cauldron	Mob "CAULDRON"	Cooks in a cauldron. Creates ItMi_Scoop (ladle) if not owned.
TA_Cook_Pan	ZS_Cook_Pan	Mob "PAN"	Cooks in a pan. Creates raw mutton; eats cooked mutton when finishing.
TA_Cook_Stove	ZS_Cook_Stove	Mob "STOVE"	Cooks on a stove. Creates raw mutton if not owned.
TA_Roast_Scavenger	ZS_Roast_Scavenger	Mob "BARBQ"	Roasts a scavenger on a spit.

Smithing / crafting

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Smith_Anvil	ZS_Smith_Anvil	Mob "BSANVIL"	Hammers on an anvil.
TA_Smith_Cool	ZS_Smith_Cool	Mob "BSCOOL"	Cools metal in a water trough.
TA_Smith_Fire	ZS_Smith_Fire	Mob "BSFIRE"	Heats metal at the forge fire.
TA_Smith_Sharp	ZS_Smith_Sharp	Mob "BSSHARP"	Sharpens a weapon on a grindstone.
TA_Make_Rune	ZS_Make_Rune	—	Creates runes at a rune table.
TA_Potion_Alchemy	ZS_Potion_Alchemy	Mob "LAB"	Brews potions at an alchemy table. Creates ItMi_Flask if not owned.

Physical labor

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Pick_FP	ZS_Pick_FP	FP "PICK"	Picks / digs — moves between PICK freepoints, changes position every ~7s.
TA_Pick_Ore	ZS_Pick_Ore	Mob "ORE"	Mines ore. Creates and equips a two-handed axe (ItMw_2h_Axe_L_01) if not owned.
TA_Repair_Hut	ZS_Repair_Hut	Mob "REPAIR"	Repairs a hut — hammers nails. Random repair animation.
TA_Sweep_FP	ZS_Sweep_FP	FP "SWEEP"	Scrubs with a brush (ItMi_Brush) at a freepoint.
TA_Wash_FP	ZS_Wash_FP	FP "WASH"	Washes / does laundry at a freepoint. Kneeling wash animation.
TA_Rake_FP	ZS_Rake_FP	FP "PICK"	Rakes with a rake (ItMi_Rake) at a freepoint.
TA_Saw	ZS_Saw	Mob "BAUMSAEGE"	Saws wood on a tree saw.
TA_Stomp_Herb	ZS_Stomp_Herb	Mob "HERB"	Stomps herbs — alchemy preparation.

Study / writing

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Read_Bookstand	ZS_Read_Bookstand	Mob "BOOK"	Reads at a bookstand.
TA_Study_WP	ZS_Study_WP	— (waypoint)	Studies at a waypoint — stands with arms crossed and reads a fake scroll (FakeScroll_Addon).

Social / communication

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Smalltalk	ZS_Smalltalk	FP "SMALLTALK"	Stands at a freepoint and every ~8s chats with a nearby NPC in the same state.

Prayer

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Pray_Innos	ZS_Pray_Innos	Mob "INNOS"	Prays to Innos at an altar (mob interaction).
TA_Pray_Innos_FP	ZS_Pray_Innos_FP	FP "PRAY"	Kneels and prays to Innos at a freepoint.
TA_Pray_Sleeper	ZS_Pray_Sleeper	Mob "IDOL"	Prays to the Sleeper at an idol (mob interaction).
TA_Pray_Sleeper_FP	ZS_Pray_Sleeper_FP	FP "PRAY"	Kneels and prays to the Sleeper at a freepoint.

Speeches

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Preach_Vatras	ZS_Preach_Vatras	—	Delivers Vatras-style sermons. Cycles through 21 sermons, changing every ~13s.
TA_Announce_Herold	ZS_Announce_Herold	—	Herald makes announcements. Every ~70s interrupts guard pose to deliver a message.

Movement

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_RunToWP	ZS_RunToWP	—	Runs to a waypoint, then stands in guard pose looking around.
TA_FleeToWp	ZS_FleeToWp	—	Flees to a waypoint (running + HUMANS_FLEE.MDS animation overlay).
TA_Follow_Player	ZS_Follow_Player	—	Follows the player.
TA_Guide_Player	ZS_Guide_Player	—	Guides the player to a destination.
TA_Guard_Passage	ZS_Guard_Passage	—	Guards a passage — blocks the player's path. Perception every 0.1s.
TA_Guard_Hammer	ZS_Guard_Hammer	FP "STAND"	Stands on guard. Handles the quest Holy Hammer — returns it to the monastery if near the sanctum.
TA_Circle	ZS_Circle	—	Ritual circle magic. Effects depend on guild (dementor / KDW / mage).

Music / performances

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Play_Lute	ZS_Play_Lute	FP "STAND"	Plays a lute. Creates ItMi_Lute if not owned.
TA_Concert	ZS_Concert	—	In Extremo band concert. Each band member equips their instrument.
TA_Dance	ZS_Dance	—	Dances a random style (9 variants: T_DANCE_01 through T_DANCE_09).
TA_Spit_Fire	ZS_Spit_Fire	FP "STAND"	Fire breathing (fire-eater). Creates ItLsTorchFireSpit if not owned.

Training

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Practice_Magic	ZS_Practice_Magic	FP "STAND"	Practices magic. Random animations: T_PRACTICEMAGIC through T_PRACTICEMAGIC4, R_SCRATCHHEAD.
TA_Practice_Sword	ZS_Practice_Sword	—	Practices swordfighting. Equips best melee weapon; if none — creates ItMw_1h_Bau_Mace.

Smoking

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Smoke_Joint	ZS_Smoke_Joint	FP "STAND"	Smokes a joint (swampweed). Creates ItMi_Joint if not owned.
TA_Smoke_Waterpipe	ZS_Smoke_Waterpipe	Mob "SMOKE"	Smokes a waterpipe.

Miscellaneous

Function	ZS_ State	FP / Mob	Description
TA_Pee	ZS_Pee	FP "PEE"	Relieves themselves.
TA_Ghost	ZS_Ghost	—	Ghost behavior — non-standard perception (only talk and damage).
TA_GhostWusel	ZS_GhostWusel	FP "FP_ROAM"	Wandering ghost — moves between freepoints.

---

Monster routines

Monsters use simpler routines managed by the central scheduler ZS_MM_AllScheduler, which routes the monster to the appropriate state based on the time of day.

Function	ZS_ State	FP	Description
TA_Roam	ZS_MM_Rtn_Roam	"FP_ROAM"	Monster roams between FP_ROAM freepoints. Random wait time (0–5s) at each point.
TA_Rest	ZS_MM_Rtn_Rest	"FP_ROAM"	Monster rests — stands in place with random idle animations.
TA_SleepMonster	ZS_MM_Rtn_Sleep	"FP_ROAM"	Monster sleeps (lies down). Limited perception — quiet sounds from hostile guilds wake it to combat.
TA_Wusel	ZS_MM_Rtn_Wusel	"FP_ROAM"	Monster runs restlessly between freepoints (changes point every 1s).

Special monster routines

Function	ZS_ State	Description
TA_MM_Rtn_EatGround	ZS_MM_Rtn_EatGround	Monster eats from the ground — random head-lifting animations while eating.
TA_MM_Rtn_DragonRest	ZS_MM_Rtn_DragonRest	Dragon rests — regenerates HP (1 HP every 2 ticks) if it's a dragon.
TA_MM_Rtn_FollowSheep	ZS_MM_Rtn_FollowSheep	Sheep (or animal) follows the hero if it's a party member.
TA_MM_Rtn_OrcSit	ZS_MM_Rtn_OrcSit	Orc sits at a campfire (FP "FP_CAMPFIRE") in a guard-sleep pose.
TA_MM_Rtn_Summoned	ZS_MM_Rtn_Summoned	Summoned creature — follows the hero, has a limited lifetime (MONSTER_SUMMON_TIME).

---

Mobs — interactive object reference

Routines that use mobs require the corresponding interactive object to be placed near the waypoint.

Mob Name	Used By
BSANVIL	TA_Smith_Anvil
BSCOOL	TA_Smith_Cool
BSFIRE	TA_Smith_Fire
BSSHARP	TA_Smith_Sharp
BARBQ	TA_Roast_Scavenger
BAUMSAEGE	TA_Saw
BEDHIGH	TA_Sleep, TA_Sleep_Deep
BENCH	TA_Sit_Bench
BOOK	TA_Read_Bookstand
CAULDRON	TA_Cook_Cauldron
CHAIR	TA_Sit_Chair
HERB	TA_Stomp_Herb
IDOL	TA_Pray_Sleeper
INNOS	TA_Pray_Innos
LAB	TA_Potion_Alchemy
ORE	TA_Pick_Ore
PAN	TA_Cook_Pan
REPAIR	TA_Repair_Hut
SMOKE	TA_Smoke_Waterpipe
STOVE	TA_Cook_Stove
THRONE	TA_Sit_Throne

Freepoints — type reference

FP Type	Used By
CAMPFIRE	TA_Sit_Campfire
FP_CAMPFIRE	TA_MM_Rtn_OrcSit
FP_ROAM	TA_GhostWusel, TA_Roam, TA_Rest, TA_SleepMonster, TA_Wusel and other monster routines
PEE	TA_Pee
PICK	TA_Pick_FP, TA_Rake_FP
PRAY	TA_Pray_Innos_FP, TA_Pray_Sleeper_FP
SMALLTALK	TA_Smalltalk
STAND	TA_Stand_ArmsCrossed, TA_Stand_Guarding, TA_Stand_Drinking, TA_Stand_Eating, TA_Stand_Dementor, TA_Play_Lute, TA_Practice_Magic, TA_Smoke_Joint, TA_Spit_Fire
SWEEP	TA_Stand_Sweeping, TA_Sweep_FP
WASH	TA_Wash_FP

---

Complete daily schedule example

// City blacksmith — full day
func void Rtn_Start_CitySmith()
{
    TA_Sleep           (22,00, 06,00, "BED_SMITH_01");
    TA_Stand_Eating    (06,00, 07,00, "FP_SMITH_EAT");
    TA_Smith_Fire      (07,00, 08,00, "FORGE_SMITH_01");
    TA_Smith_Anvil     (08,00, 12,00, "FORGE_SMITH_01");
    TA_Smith_Cool      (12,00, 12,30, "FORGE_SMITH_01");
    TA_Stand_Eating    (12,30, 13,00, "FP_SMITH_EAT");
    TA_Smith_Anvil     (13,00, 17,00, "FORGE_SMITH_01");
    TA_Smith_Sharp     (17,00, 18,00, "FORGE_SMITH_01");
    TA_Smalltalk       (18,00, 20,00, "FP_SMITH_TALK");
    TA_Stand_Drinking  (20,00, 22,00, "FP_TAVERN_SMITH");
};

info

TA_ functions called inside an Rtn_ function don't need to be in chronological order — the engine sorts the time blocks automatically. However, keeping them in order is recommended for code readability.

Changing routines at runtime

You can dynamically change an NPC's daily schedule using Npc_ExchangeRoutine:

// Changes the NPC's routine to a new schedule
Npc_ExchangeRoutine(self, "NIGHT_GUARD");

This requires a corresponding Rtn_NightGuard_<NPC_ID>() function to be defined.

To revert to the default routine:

// Restores the default daily schedule
Npc_ExchangeRoutine(self, "START");