How critical is it that navmesh physically covers the terrain? For example, I have a few raised floor pieces and the monster NPCs seem to be getting caught on them because the navmesh isn't physically covering them like a blanket. So is this issue Navmesh related or something else?

How high is the navmesh off from the ground? Is it an interior cell? Does it have this bug http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1345681-navmesh-bug/

thanks for the response. it is NOT That bug, and the nav mesh is less than 1 foot off the ground. i'm playing around with it right now trying to isolate the problem.

alright, testing a few more things out, it looks like the automatically drawn navmesh svcked and i needed to widen some halls and drag the navmesh above the ground. it seems like navmesh acts like a blanket and stuff will get bugged out if it's not physically covering the ground.

If its an interior cell you'll have to do recast generation and then clean up the navmesh

it is an interior cell. so the nav mesh NEEDS to be above the ground (including stuff like rubble, raised floor, dirt piles) for the NPCs to path over it?

Yes it needs to be above the ground.

okay. thanks for clarifying.

couple more questions. does it matter how far above the ground the nav mesh goes or if the nav mesh goes way off the map?

I've personally just kept it just above the ground, go take a look at it in other caves and places to see how it is done there.

I remember in Fallout I was helping a guy test a mod and his NavMesh was screwed up, there was a cliff and the NPCs in the mod all just casualty walked to their death lol, so be careful!

ok good call. thanks again for the advice!