Don't get me wrong - what you've done is simply superb. I just want you to do more . I'd imagine that if a charcter can't go forward (blocked by a slower figure) it'd be an idea to make it move left or right - side-step - if at all possible. Perhaps if there were "near" and "far" boundaries set you might have time to make figures turn before they get so close tha they have to stop or side-step. I'd base which way to turn on what side of the figure in front the "stopped" figure is (e.g. if left on center, move left). This is where I see potential speed problems coming in (and the possibility for endless loops) where you have numerous "Low-Res Vicky 1 in a temple with a sword" running after a frightened Michael 2... it'd be possible for a character to get "trapped" amongst other figures, unable to go forward or to either side (and probably with another Vicky coming up from behind). Greater minds than I can probably come up with realistic approaches, perhaps the best one being to limit the number of checks and tell animators not to be so lazy but "get in there" and do some of the work themselves . Cheers, Cliff