Find path to an actor

Connect your quest, interaction, or marker system to Find Path to Actor on BP_WaypointComponent. This tutorial mirrors the shipped ThirdPersonCharacter pattern with a minimal standalone example.

Goal

When the player accepts a quest or selects an objective, draw a nav path to that actor.

Data flow

flowchart TD
  Quest[Quest / interaction system] --> SetTarget[Store target Actor reference]
  SetTarget --> Call[Find Path to Actor on BP_WaypointComponent]
  Call --> Internal[Internal_StartPathFinding]
  Internal --> Spawn[Spawn or spline visuals]

Example — key press to current objective

This matches the demo project’s F key binding.

1. Add the component

On your player character:

1. Add BP_WaypointComponent (see Getting started).
2. Add a Spline Component on the same actor if you plan to use SplineMesh mode later (optional for Spawn mode).

2. Store the target actor

Add an Actor variable on your character, for example Current Objective:

Variable	Type	Default
Current Objective	Actor (or BP_ObjectiveActor)	None

Set it from your quest Blueprint when the player accepts a task:

sequenceDiagram
  participant Quest as BP_QuestGiver
  participant PC as Your character
  participant WC as BP_WaypointComponent
  Quest->>PC: Set Current Objective = self
  PC->>WC: Find Path to Actor (Current Objective, Spline)

3. Call Find Path to Actor

Create a function Update Objective Path (or copy from ThirdPersonCharacter → Find Path to Actor):

Step	Blueprint node
Validate target	Is Valid on Current Objective
Fallback (optional)	Get All Actors of Class → BP_ObjectiveActor → index 0
Pathfind	BP_WaypointComponent → Find Path to Actor
Inputs	Actor = objective, Spline Component = pawn spline (can be None in Spawn mode)

Minimal graph (Spawn mode, no HUD):

[Input Action or Custom Event]
  → Is Valid (Current Objective)
    → Find Path to Actor (Current Objective, None)

4. Handle moving targets

If the objective actor moves (patrol NPC, moving platform):

Setting	Value	Effect
Tick Time	0.25 – 1.0	Re-queries path automatically
Mesh Distance	250 – 350	Wider spacing reduces spawn cost

Leave Tick Time at 0 if the target is static and you only path once.

Example — interact to set objective

Alternative pattern without a global quest variable:

1. BP_ObjectiveActor (or your interactable) fires On Interacted.
2. Cast to player → get BP_WaypointComponent.
3. Call Find Path to Actor with self as the actor input.

sequenceDiagram
  participant Obj as BP_ObjectiveActor
  participant PC as Player character
  participant WC as BP_WaypointComponent
  Obj->>PC: On overlap / interact
  PC->>WC: Find Path to Actor (Obj, Spline)

Place BP_ObjectiveActor in the level for a visible billboard marker (T_Objective texture on Material Billboard).

Example preset — escort quest

Setting	Value	Reason
Tick Time	0.5	Escort NPC moves
Max Number Of Meshes	40	Limit spawn count on long paths
Mesh Distance	300	Slightly sparser trail
Nav Filter Class	Your custom filter	Optional — restrict to walkable areas only

Apply on BP_WaypointComponent class defaults on the player pawn.

Clear or disable the path

Action	How
Toggle off	Set Enable Waypoint (false)
New target	Call Find Path to Actor again with the new actor
Location switch	Find Path to Location clears actor mode internally

Reference implementation

Study the full demo wiring (HUD toggle, fallback actor search):

• ThirdPersonCharacter → Find Path to Actor
• ThirdPersonCharacter → EventGraph — F key binding

You do not need to migrate ThirdPersonCharacter — only BP_WaypointComponent and its dependencies.

Next

• Switch navigation modes
• Blueprint reference — BP_WaypointComponent