Legacy AI Order Primitive Reference

Legacy AI Order Primitive Reference (AIMoveTo / AIPatrol / AIWPAdd family)

Source-verified 2026-06-21 against master 0139a346. Paths relative to Missions/[55-2hc]warfarev2_073v48co.chernarus/ unless noted. Arma 2 OA 1.64.

This page documents the legacy AI order primitive family — the bare-named global functions AIMoveTo, AIPatrol, AITownPatrol, AITownResitance, AIWPAdd, and AIWPRemove. These are compiled server-side from Server/AI/Orders/*.sqf (plus Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf) and drive paradrop egress, AI-commander team movement, the wildcard/guerrilla system, and resistance defence. They are a separate system from the documented WFBE_CO_FNC_Waypoint* helper family (compiled in Init_Common.sqf from Common/Functions/Common_Waypoint*.sqf); see Waypoint Helper Function Reference for that parallel family and the section below for how the two differ.

Five globals are compiled in one block in Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:19-23:

Global	Source file	Init_Server line
AIMoveTo	Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:13
AIPatrol	Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:14
AITownPatrol	Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf	Removed from Chernarus master; compile line commented out with note 'NOT WIRED'; file absent from Server/AI/Orders/
AITownResitance	Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:16
AIWPAdd	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:17
AIWPRemove	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPRemove.sqf	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:18

All are compiled with Compile preprocessFile and run server-side only. They mutate group waypoints and posture directly, so callers must already hold a server-local group.

The shared 6-element waypoint tuple

Every order in this family ultimately funnels into AIWPAdd, which consumes an array of 6-element waypoint tuples. The element order is fixed by AI_WPAdd.sqf:22-27:

Index	Field	Type	Consumed at	Notes
0	position	Array or Object	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:22	If an Object is passed, it is resolved via getPos (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:28)
1	type	String	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:23	Waypoint type, e.g. 'MOVE', 'SAD', 'CYCLE', 'HOLD', 'SCRIPTED'
2	radius	Number	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:24	Passed to addWaypoint [position, radius] (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:32)
3	completionRadius	Number	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:25	Passed to setWaypointCompletionRadius (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:34)
4	scripted	String	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:26	Only applied when type == 'SCRIPTED' (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:35)
5	statements	Array	Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:27	When non-empty, applied as setWaypointStatements [condition, statement] (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:36)

This 6-tuple is the distinguishing contract of the legacy family. The newer WFBE_CO_FNC_WaypointsAdd family uses a 7-element tuple (see Waypoint Helper Function Reference). Mixing the two will mis-index — a 7-tuple fed to AIWPAdd would read garbage at indices 4-5.

AIWPAdd — the waypoint writer

AIWPAdd (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf) is the low-level primitive every other order delegates to. It clears (optionally) then appends a list of waypoints to a group.

Aspect	Detail
Parameters	[_team, _clear, _waypoints] — group, Boolean clear flag, array of 6-tuples (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:15-17)
Returns	Nothing meaningful; mutates the group's waypoint list in place
Clear behaviour	When _clear is true, calls _team Call AIWPRemove first (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:19)
Per-waypoint write	_team addWaypoint [_position, _radius] (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:32), then setWaypointType / setWaypointCompletionRadius (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:33-34)
Conditional fields	setWaypointScript only for 'SCRIPTED' type (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:35); setWaypointStatements only when count _statements > 0 (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:36)
First-waypoint activation	When _WPCount == 0 (the first waypoint just added), it calls _team setCurrentWaypoint [_team, _WPCount] to make the group act on it immediately (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:38)
Index bookkeeping	_WPCount = count (waypoints _team) is re-read each iteration before the add (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:30), so the new waypoint's index is the pre-add count

The header docstring at Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:1-12 (author Benny) gives the canonical example tuple with a 'SAD' waypoint carrying statements ["canComplete", "this sidechat 'lets roll'"].

AIWPRemove — the waypoint clearer

AIWPRemove (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPRemove.sqf) deletes every waypoint on a group.

Aspect	Detail
Parameter	_team = _this — the group is passed bare, not wrapped in an array (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPRemove.sqf:2)
Loop	Reverse-index for from (count (waypoints _team))-1 down to 0 (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPRemove.sqf:4)
Delete	deleteWaypoint [_team, _z] per index (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPRemove.sqf:5)

The reverse iteration is deliberate: deleting low indices first would re-number the remaining waypoints and skip entries. The only caller is AIWPAdd itself (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:19); no other site invokes AIWPRemove directly.

AIMoveTo — aggressive single-destination order

AIMoveTo (Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf) sets an aggressive march posture and gives the group a single waypoint to a destination. It is the most heavily used member of the family.

Aspect	Detail
Parameters	[_team, _destination, _mission, _radius] (Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:2-5); _radius defaults to 30 when fewer than 4 args (Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:5)
Posture set	setCombatMode "RED", setBehaviour "AWARE", setFormation "COLUMN", setSpeedMode "FULL" (Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:6-9)
Waypoint emitted	One 6-tuple [_destination, _mission, _radius, 20, "", []] via AIWPAdd with clear=true (Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:32) — completion radius hard-coded to 20
Update gate	_update starts true; for WEST/EAST it is overwritten by _team Call CanUpdateTeam (Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:11-14)

The AICOM posture-preservation guard

Lines Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:16-28 are the most consequential logic in this file. The shared UpdateTeam routine re-stamps AWARE/NORMAL/YELLOW plus a random formation, which would clobber the aggressive RED/FULL/COLUMN set at lines 6-9. To preserve posture for AI-commander teams, AIMoveTo reads two group variables and skips UpdateTeam when either is set:

Variable	Read at	Meaning
wfbe_aicom_hc	Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:23	AI-commander headless-delegated team
wfbe_aicom_founded	Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:24	AI-commander-founded team

The guard if ((!isNil "_aicomHc" && {_aicomHc}) || {!isNil "_aicomFnd" && {_aicomFnd}}) then {_update = false} (Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:25) is written with 1-arg getVariable + isNil for a documented A2-OA reason recorded in the comment at lines 19-22: under Arma 2 OA the 2-arg group getVariable [name, default] returns nil (not the default) when the variable is unset. For non-AICOM groups (paradrop, para-ammo, para-vehicle, town, patrol) these variables are unset, so the old 2-arg form returned nil, and nil || {nil} threw "Type Nothing" — aborting AIMoveTo before the AIWPAdd call at line 32, leaving those groups with no waypoint. The 1-arg-plus-isNil form treats an unset variable as false and lets non-AICOM groups proceed. UpdateTeam is finally applied (when still permitted) at Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:28.

AIPatrol — scattered MOVE+CYCLE loop

AIPatrol (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf) builds a multi-waypoint patrol loop scattered around a destination.

Aspect	Detail
Parameters	[_team, _destination, _radius] (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:2-4); _radius defaults to 30 (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:4)
Object resolve	If _destination is an Object it is resolved with getPos (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:5)
Posture	setCombatMode "YELLOW", setBehaviour "AWARE", setFormation "COLUMN", setSpeedMode "NORMAL" (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:7-10)
Update gate	Same WEST/EAST CanUpdateTeam pattern, then UpdateTeam unconditionally for permitted groups (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:12-18) — no AICOM posture guard here
Waypoint count	_maxWaypoints = 8; loop runs _z = 0 to _z <= 8 inclusive (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:20-22) = 9 waypoints
Scatter	Each position offset by random _radius - random _radius on X and Y (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:23-25)
Water resample	while {surfaceIsWater _pos && _wtr < 20} re-rolls up to 20 times; if still water, falls back to the bare destination (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:27-33)
Types	All 'MOVE' except the final index _z == _maxWaypoints, which is 'CYCLE' to loop the patrol (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:34)
Tuple	[_pos, _type, 35, 40, "", []] — radius 35, completion 40 (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:35)
Emit	[_team, true, _wps] Call AIWPAdd (Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:40)

AITownPatrol — camp/depot-interleaved town patrol

AITownPatrol (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf) is a richer town-patrol generator that interleaves the town's camps and depots into the waypoint chain and randomizes per-group behaviour.

Aspect	Detail
Parameters	[_team, _town, _radius]; _radius defaults to 30 (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:13-15)
Guards	exitWith ERROR if _town is not an Object (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:16) or _team is null (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:17)
Insert set	_usable = [_town] + _camps, where _camps = _town getVariable 'camps' (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:20-22)
Waypoint count	WFBE_C_TOWNS_PATROL_HOPS + count(_usable) (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:23); WFBE_C_TOWNS_PATROL_HOPS = 5 at Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:508
Randomized posture	Per-group coin-flips: formation DIAMOND/STAG COLUMN, combat YELLOW/RED, behaviour AWARE/COMBAT, speed NORMAL/LIMITED (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:27-30)
Dynamic insert	_insertStep = floor(_maxWaypoints / count(_usable)); at each multiple a random unused camp/depot is consumed (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:33-44)
Dual completion radii	Scatter waypoints use radius 32 / completion 44; insert-object (camp/depot) waypoints use radius 35 / completion 68 (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:58-63)
Water resample	Same 20-try surfaceIsWater resample as AIPatrol, only on scatter waypoints (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:51-57)
Types	'MOVE' except final 'CYCLE' (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:66)
Emit	[_team, true, _wps] Call AIWPAdd (Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:72)

Dormancy note: AITownPatrol is compiled at Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:21 but has no live caller anywhere in master — a tree-wide search finds only the compile line itself. It is a dormant primitive available to be wired up, not an active path.

AITownResitance — resistance action dispatcher

AITownResitance (Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf; note the misspelled global name preserved from source) dispatches a resistance group into one of three behaviours by action string.

Aspect	Detail
Parameters	[_team, _position, _range, _action] (Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf:2-5)
"Patrol"	[_team, _position, _range] Call BIS_fnc_taskPatrol — engine task-patrol generator (Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf:8)
"Defend"	Sets STAG COLUMN / AWARE / NORMAL, then one 'SAD' waypoint [_position, 'SAD', 40, 30, "", []] via AIWPAdd (Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf:9-15)
"CPatrol"	[_team, _position, _range] Spawn AIPatrol — delegates to the scattered AIPatrol loop (Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf:16)

Dormancy note: like AITownPatrol, AITownResitance is compiled (Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:22) but has no live caller in master. It is dormant.

Live caller map

Verified callers of the family across the mission tree (excluding internal delegation):

Caller site	Order called	Argument shape
Server/Support/Support_Paratroopers.sqf:92	AIMoveTo	[_grp, _destination, "MOVE", 10] (drop egress)
Server/Support/Support_Paratroopers.sqf:122	AIMoveTo	[_grp, (_ranPos select _ran), "MOVE", 10] (post-drop scatter)
Server/Support/Support_ParaAmmo.sqf:38	AIMoveTo	[_grp, (_args select 2), "MOVE", 10]
Server/Support/Support_ParaAmmo.sqf:96	AIMoveTo	[_grp, (_ranPos select _ran), "MOVE", 10]
Server/Support/Support_ParaVehicles.sqf:39	AIMoveTo	[_grp, (_args select 2), "MOVE", 10]
Server/Support/Support_ParaVehicles.sqf:78	AIMoveTo	[_grp, (_ranPos select _ran), "MOVE", 10]
Server/AI/Commander/AI_Commander_Execute.sqf:46	AIMoveTo	[_team, _goto, _wpType, _radius] (MOVE/SAD/HOLD by mode)
Server/AI/Commander/AI_Commander_AssignTowns.sqf:377	AIMoveTo	[_team, getPos _target, "SAD", 200] (non-arc fallback)
Server/Functions/AI_Commander_Wildcard.sqf:776	AIPatrol	[_guerGrp, _guerPos, 200]
Server/Functions/AI_Commander_Wildcard.sqf:870	AIPatrol	[_w13Grp, _w13TargetPos, 200]
Server/Functions/AI_Commander_Wildcard.sqf:985	AIPatrol	[_w17Grp, _w17TargetPos, 100]
Server/Functions/AI_Commander_Wildcard.sqf:1034	AIPatrol	[_w18Grp, _w18Pos, 120]
Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf:16	AIPatrol (via AITownResitance "CPatrol")	[_team, _position, _range] Spawn
Server/AI/Orders/AI_MoveTo.sqf:32	AIWPAdd	internal (single MOVE waypoint)
Server/AI/Orders/AI_Patrol.sqf:40	AIWPAdd	internal (patrol loop)
Server/AI/Orders/AI_TownPatrol.sqf:72	AIWPAdd	internal (town loop)
Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf:14	AIWPAdd	[_team, true, [[_position, 'SAD', 40, 30, "", []]]] (Defend)
Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:19	AIWPRemove	internal (clear-before-add)

Note that the AI commander's preferred path at AI_Commander_AssignTowns.sqf:374-375 (the if (_useArc) then { guard at 374, then [_team, _target] Call WFBE_SE_FNC_AI_SetTownAttackPath; at 375) is WFBE_SE_FNC_AI_SetTownAttackPath; AIMoveTo at line 377 is only the non-arc fallback (_useArc == false).

Distinction from the Waypoint-Helper family

This legacy family and the WFBE_CO_FNC_Waypoint* helper family are independent, with non-overlapping function names and incompatible tuple shapes:

	Legacy AI order family (this page)	Waypoint-Helper family
Globals	AIMoveTo, AIPatrol, AITownPatrol, AITownResitance, AIWPAdd, AIWPRemove	WFBE_CO_FNC_WaypointsAdd, WaypointsRemove, WaypointPatrol, WaypointPatrolTown, WaypointSimple
Compiled in	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:19-24 (server-only)	Init_Common.sqf (common) — see Waypoint Helper Function Reference
Source	Server/AI/Orders/*.sqf, Server/AI/AI_Resistance.sqf	Common/Functions/Common_Waypoint*.sqf
Waypoint tuple	6 elements [position, type, radius, completionRadius, scripted, statements] (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf:22-27)	7 elements

When porting or extending AI movement, pick one family and keep its tuple shape; do not feed a 7-tuple into AIWPAdd (Server/AI/Orders/AI_WPAdd.sqf reads only indices 0-5).

Continue Reading

• Waypoint Helper Function Reference — the parallel WFBE_CO_FNC_Waypoint* family and its 7-element tuple
• AI Commander Autonomy Audit — how the AI commander drives AIMoveTo for team movement
• Support Specials And Tactical Modules Atlas — the paradrop modules that call AIMoveTo for egress
• Resistance Supply Scaffold — the resistance/GUER side that AITownResitance was built for
• AI Runtime And HC Loop Map — server-side AI loops and headless delegation context