I am trying to prototype some NPC behavior for a videogame using the crowd solver and am a little stuck on a simple task.

The behavior is this, like patrolling:

Monster is spawned at spawn point spawn_point
Monster picks a random patrol_spot r units away (on a circle)
Monster walks to patrol_spot
Monster gets to patrol_spot, it hangs out for a sec, then returns to spawn_point
Monster picks a new, different, random patrol_spot r units away (on a circle)
Monster walks to patrol_spot
Etc...

Using the simulate template on the shelf, I wired up the states triggers and transitions... but I am a little stuck on what I should be using for spawn_point and patrol_spot. The options are SOP and DOP Object.

If the patrol_spot is a SOP, wouldn't I have to animate that SOP? How would I know when to animate it? Would I do my own tests, in SOPs, for agent proximity to the patrol_spot?

And if the patrol_spot is a DOP Object, what does that even mean? What kind of object would that be?

If anybody could point me in a direction (ha) or let me know if there is an existing example that does this I would be very greatful. I am very much looking forward to prototyping NPC behavior in Houdini instead of hopping in-engine.