PS_AI_Behavior: freeze movement during conversation + manual lever

Auto pause now triggers as soon as a conversation is genuinely active (agent greeting included) instead of waiting for the user to speak — the NPC no longer walks away during its opening line.

Add DisableBehaviorMovement()/EnableBehaviorMovement() (BlueprintCallable): freeze the NPC's autonomous movement while keeping the Behavior Tree running (perception, threat, gaze, reactions). Movement is paused when EITHER manually disabled OR a conversation is active. Both drive the ConversationPaused Blackboard flag read by the movement-branch decorators; leave the Flee branch un-decorated so fleeing still works.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

Unreal/PS_AI_Agent/Plugins/PS_AI_Behavior/Source/PS_AI_Behavior/Private/BT/PS_AI_Behavior_BTTask_FindAndFollowSpline.cpp

@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@ EBTNodeResult::Type UPS_AI_Behavior_BTTask_FindAndFollowSpline::ExecuteTask(
 		return EBTNodeResult::Failed;
 	}
 
+	// Respect a manual StopFollowing(): do not search for or resume a spline until
+	// the caller explicitly StartFollowing() again. Without this, the task would
+	// resume any CurrentSpline and override the stop on the very next tick.
+	if (Follower->bManuallyStopped)
+	{
+		return EBTNodeResult::Failed;
+	}
+
 	// Debug: log state on entry
 	if (UPS_AI_Behavior_Statics::IsDebugEnabled(AIC->GetPawn()))
 	{
@@ -268,6 +276,18 @@ void UPS_AI_Behavior_BTTask_FindAndFollowSpline::TickTask(
 		return;
 	}
 
+	// Manual StopFollowing() requested mid-approach: cancel the move-to-spline and bail.
+	if (UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent* StopCheck =
+			AIC->GetPawn()->FindComponentByClass<UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent>())
+	{
+		if (StopCheck->bManuallyStopped)
+		{
+			AIC->StopMovement();
+			FinishLatentTask(OwnerComp, EBTNodeResult::Failed);
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Check if we've reached the spline
 	if (AIC->GetMoveStatus() == EPathFollowingStatus::Idle)
 	{

Unreal/PS_AI_Agent/Plugins/PS_AI_Behavior/Source/PS_AI_Behavior/Private/BT/PS_AI_Behavior_BTTask_FollowSpline.cpp

@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ EBTNodeResult::Type UPS_AI_Behavior_BTTask_FollowSpline::ExecuteTask(
 		AIC->GetPawn()->FindComponentByClass<UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent>();
 	if (!Follower) return EBTNodeResult::Failed;
 
+	// Respect a manual StopFollowing(): refuse to resume until an explicit restart.
+	if (Follower->bManuallyStopped)
+	{
+		return EBTNodeResult::Failed;
+	}
+
 	if (!Follower->CurrentSpline)
 	{
 		UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Warning, TEXT("[%s] FollowSpline: no current spline set."),

Unreal/PS_AI_Agent/Plugins/PS_AI_Behavior/Source/PS_AI_Behavior/Private/PS_AI_Behavior_AIController.cpp

@@ -802,6 +802,53 @@ bool APS_AI_Behavior_AIController::IsConversationActiveOnPawn() const
 	return ConvProp_bNetIsConversing->GetPropertyValue_InContainer(ConvComp);
 }
 
+void APS_AI_Behavior_AIController::ApplyMovementPaused(bool bPaused)
+{
+	if (bPaused == bConversationPaused)
+	{
+		return; // no change — idempotent
+	}
+	bConversationPaused = bPaused;
+
+	// Blackboard flag read by the movement-branch decorators (Patrol / Spline).
+	if (Blackboard)
+	{
+		Blackboard->SetValueAsBool(PS_AI_Behavior_BB::ConversationPaused, bPaused);
+	}
+
+	if (bPaused)
+	{
+		StopMovement(); // cancel any in-flight MoveTo immediately
+	}
+
+	if (APawn* MyPawn = GetPawn())
+	{
+		if (auto* Spline = MyPawn->FindComponentByClass<UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent>())
+		{
+			if (bPaused) { Spline->PauseFollowing(); }
+			else         { Spline->ResumeFollowing(); }
+		}
+	}
+
+	UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Log, TEXT("[%s] Movement %s."),
+		*GetName(), bPaused ? TEXT("paused") : TEXT("resumed"));
+}
+
+void APS_AI_Behavior_AIController::DisableBehaviorMovement()
+{
+	bMovementManuallyDisabled = true;
+	ApplyMovementPaused(true);
+	UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Log, TEXT("[%s] DisableBehaviorMovement — manual freeze (BT keeps running)."), *GetName());
+}
+
+void APS_AI_Behavior_AIController::EnableBehaviorMovement()
+{
+	bMovementManuallyDisabled = false;
+	// Stay paused if a conversation is still active; otherwise resume.
+	ApplyMovementPaused(IsConversationActiveOnPawn());
+	UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Log, TEXT("[%s] EnableBehaviorMovement — manual freeze released."), *GetName());
+}
+
 void APS_AI_Behavior_AIController::UpdateGazeTarget(float DeltaSeconds)
 {
 	if (!CachedGazeComponent.IsValid()) return;
@@ -842,117 +889,26 @@ void APS_AI_Behavior_AIController::UpdateGazeTarget(float DeltaSeconds)
 		}
 	}
 
-	// ── Priority 2: Conversation active → manage movement pause via local VAD
+	// ── Priority 2: Conversation active OR manual freeze → pause movement ──
+	// The BT keeps running; a "ConversationPaused" Blackboard decorator blocks the
+	// movement branches (Patrol / Spline). Leave the Flee branch un-decorated so
+	// fleeing still works. Movement pauses as soon as the conversation is genuinely
+	// active (agent greeting included) — it no longer waits for the user to speak —
+	// or whenever DisableBehaviorMovement() was called.
 	{
 		const bool bConversing = IsConversationActiveOnPawn();
 
-
+		ApplyMovementPaused(bMovementManuallyDisabled || bConversing);
-		// Check local VAD: is the user actually speaking?
-		// The mic is on the PLAYER's Pawn — find it dynamically
-		bool bUserSpeaking = false;
-		if (MicProp_bIsUserSpeaking)
-		{
-			// Try cached mic first
-			UActorComponent* MicComp = CachedMicComponent.Get();
-			if (!MicComp)
-			{
-				// Find mic on any player pawn
-				static UClass* MicClass = LoadClass<UActorComponent>(nullptr,
-					TEXT("/Script/PS_AI_ConvAgent.PS_AI_ConvAgent_MicrophoneCaptureComponent"));
-				if (MicClass)
-				{
-					for (FConstPlayerControllerIterator It = GetWorld()->GetPlayerControllerIterator(); It; ++It)
-					{
-						if (APlayerController* PC = It->Get())
-						{
-							if (APawn* PlayerPawn = PC->GetPawn())
-							{
-								MicComp = PlayerPawn->FindComponentByClass(MicClass);
-								if (MicComp)
-								{
-									CachedMicComponent = MicComp;
-									break;
-								}
-							}
-						}
-					}
-				}
-			}
-
-			if (MicComp)
-			{
-				bUserSpeaking = MicProp_bIsUserSpeaking->GetPropertyValue_InContainer(MicComp);
-			}
-		}
-
-		// Once user has spoken during this conversation, stay paused until conversation ends
-		if (bConversing && bUserSpeaking)
-		{
-			bUserHasSpokenInConversation = true;
-		}
-
-		if (bConversing && bUserHasSpokenInConversation)
-		{
-			// Set BB flag to block movement branches via decorator
-			if (!bConversationPaused)
-			{
-				bConversationPaused = true;
-
-				if (Blackboard)
-				{
-					Blackboard->SetValueAsBool(PS_AI_Behavior_BB::ConversationPaused, true);
-				}
-
-				StopMovement();
-
-				APawn* ConvPawn = GetPawn();
-				if (ConvPawn)
-				{
-					auto* Spline = ConvPawn->FindComponentByClass<UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent>();
-					if (Spline)
-					{
-						Spline->PauseFollowing();
-					}
-				}
-
-				UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Log, TEXT("[%s] User speaking — conversation pause."), *GetName());
-			}
-
-			ProximityGazeTarget = nullptr;
-			ProximityGazeDuration = 0.0f;
-			return; // Gaze managed by ConvAgent
-		}
 
 		if (bConversing)
 		{
-			// Connected but user hasn't spoken yet — don't touch gaze, don't pause
+			// Gaze is driven by the ConvAgent during conversation.
 			ProximityGazeTarget = nullptr;
 			ProximityGazeDuration = 0.0f;
 			return;
 		}
-
+		// Manual-only freeze (no active conversation): movement stays paused above,
-		// Conversation ended — clear BB flag, resume movement
+		// but proximity gaze below still runs so the NPC can look around.
-		if (bConversationPaused)
-		{
-			bConversationPaused = false;
-			bUserHasSpokenInConversation = false;
-
-			if (Blackboard)
-			{
-				Blackboard->SetValueAsBool(PS_AI_Behavior_BB::ConversationPaused, false);
-			}
-
-			APawn* ConvPawn = GetPawn();
-			if (ConvPawn)
-			{
-				if (auto* Spline = ConvPawn->FindComponentByClass<UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent>())
-				{
-					Spline->ResumeFollowing();
-				}
-			}
-
-			UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Log, TEXT("[%s] Conversation ended — resumed."), *GetName());
-		}
 	}
 
 	// ── Priority 3/4: Proximity gaze ────────────────────────────────

Unreal/PS_AI_Agent/Plugins/PS_AI_Behavior/Source/PS_AI_Behavior/Private/PS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent.cpp

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ bool UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent::StartFollowingAtDistance(
 	CurrentDistance = FMath::Clamp(StartDistance, 0.0f, Spline->GetSplineLength());
 	bMovingForward = bForward;
 	bIsFollowing = true;
+	bManuallyStopped = false; // an explicit Start lifts any previous manual stop
 	LastHandledJunctionIndex = -1;
 
 	UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Warning,
@@ -82,18 +83,23 @@ bool UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent::StartFollowingAtDistance(
 void UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent::StopFollowing()
 {
 	bIsFollowing = false;
-	UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Verbose, TEXT("[%s] Stopped following spline."),
+	// Firm, manual stop: the Behavior Tree spline tasks will refuse to re-start
+	// following until StartFollowing()/StartFollowingAtDistance() is called again.
+	bManuallyStopped = true;
+	UE_LOG(LogPS_AI_Behavior, Log, TEXT("[%s] StopFollowing: manual stop (BT will not auto-resume)."),
 		GetOwner() ? *GetOwner()->GetName() : TEXT("?"));
 }
 
 void UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent::PauseFollowing()
 {
+	// Pause is NOT a manual stop — the BT is allowed to resume it.
 	bIsFollowing = false;
 }
 
 void UPS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent::ResumeFollowing()
 {
-	if (CurrentSpline)
+	// Do not resume over a manual stop — only an explicit Start lifts that.
+	if (CurrentSpline && !bManuallyStopped)
 	{
 		bIsFollowing = true;
 	}

Unreal/PS_AI_Agent/Plugins/PS_AI_Behavior/Source/PS_AI_Behavior/Public/PS_AI_Behavior_AIController.h

@@ -134,6 +134,22 @@ public:
 	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "ASTERION|PS_AI_Behavior")
 	void ResetBehavior();
 
+	/**
+	 * Freeze the NPC's autonomous movement WITHOUT stopping the Behavior Tree.
+	 * The BT keeps running (perception, threat, gaze, reactions) but movement
+	 * branches are blocked via the ConversationPaused Blackboard flag, and any
+	 * in-flight move is cancelled. Fleeing is NOT blocked (leave the Flee branch
+	 * un-decorated). Use this to keep an NPC in place during a scripted moment
+	 * (e.g. dialogue) regardless of the automatic conversation pause.
+	 */
+	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "ASTERION|PS_AI_Behavior")
+	void DisableBehaviorMovement();
+
+	/** Release the manual movement freeze set by DisableBehaviorMovement().
+	 *  Movement stays paused if a conversation is still active. */
+	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "ASTERION|PS_AI_Behavior")
+	void EnableBehaviorMovement();
+
 protected:
 	virtual void OnPossess(APawn* InPawn) override;
 	virtual void OnUnPossess() override;
@@ -176,6 +192,11 @@ private:
 	/** Check if a conversation is active on the Pawn (via reflection on ElevenLabsComponent). */
 	bool IsConversationActiveOnPawn() const;
 
+	/** Apply (or release) the movement pause: syncs the ConversationPaused Blackboard
+	 *  flag, stops in-flight movement, and pauses/resumes the spline follower.
+	 *  No-op if the state is unchanged. */
+	void ApplyMovementPaused(bool bPaused);
+
 	// Cached reflection pointers (null if PS_AI_ConvAgent not loaded)
 	TWeakObjectPtr<UActorComponent> CachedGazeComponent;
 	FObjectProperty* GazeProp_TargetActor = nullptr;
@@ -194,6 +215,11 @@ private:
 	bool bConversationPaused = false;
 	bool bUserHasSpokenInConversation = false;
 
+	// True while movement is frozen by an explicit DisableBehaviorMovement() call.
+	// Combined with the automatic conversation pause: movement is paused when
+	// either this is set OR a conversation is active.
+	bool bMovementManuallyDisabled = false;
+
 	// Proximity gaze state
 	TWeakObjectPtr<AActor> ProximityGazeTarget;
 	float ProximityGazeDuration = 0.0f;

Unreal/PS_AI_Agent/Plugins/PS_AI_Behavior/Source/PS_AI_Behavior/Public/PS_AI_Behavior_SplineFollowerComponent.h

@@ -106,6 +106,13 @@ public:
 	UPROPERTY(VisibleAnywhere, BlueprintReadOnly, Replicated, Category = "Spline Follower|Runtime")
 	bool bIsFollowing = false;
 
+	/** Set by StopFollowing(): a firm, manual stop. While true, the Behavior Tree
+	 *  spline tasks refuse to (re)start following — only an explicit StartFollowing()
+	 *  / StartFollowingAtDistance() clears it. This is what distinguishes a deliberate
+	 *  stop from PauseFollowing() (which the BT is allowed to auto-resume). */
+	UPROPERTY(VisibleAnywhere, BlueprintReadOnly, Category = "Spline Follower|Runtime")
+	bool bManuallyStopped = false;
+
 	// ─── Delegates ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 	/** Fired when approaching a junction. Use to make custom spline selection. */