[scandum]

That's the main problem people have with implementing intelligent behavior, they focus too much on accomplishing goals, and not at all at solving basic problems. In most muds mobs don't even know how to open doors, when best to attack a player, or how to compare the relative strength of items when wearing scavenged armor.

Then again, players are likely to quit when an assassin NPC stalks them, waiting for them to go to sleep at low health before backstabbing them, and after a kill loots the best item to add to its current set of equipment.

Nor is it particularly helpful if wimpy mobs run to the nearest guard, who will come to their defense if you attack it. AI sounds great in theory, but in practice I doubt it'll appeal to a large audience.