Pathfinding

In RTS games a basic technique required to get the game working is pathfinding. Everyone knows what A star is. However when we talk about realistic AI the process of getting a task achieved could be labeled “pathfinding” as well. For example if you are using a computer if you need a certain task achieved while working on it you have to mentally find your way through all the menus. like you need to imagine all the windows and dialogs that need to be opened (in the correct succession), all the buttons that need to be clicked until the task is achieved. Only after you have found the path you may actually start clicking the mouse and get the thing done. The same principle applies in the case of a realistic Starcraft AI. When you/AI is attempting to defeat the enemy what takes place is a process of pathfinding through the obstacles found in a particular scenario towards victory.

With normal pathfinding you`re looking for a path between two locations, in the case of the realistic AI pathfinding you`re looking for a path between two situations.