perf: harden runtime for weaker hardware

tests/creature_visual_path_retry_test.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+extends SceneTree
+
+var failures: Array[String] = []
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	call_deferred("_run")
+
+
+func _run() -> void:
+	var creature := CreatureVisual.new()
+	root.add_child(creature)
+	creature.global_position = Vector3.ZERO
+	creature.set_sim_position(Vector3.ZERO)
+	for _frame in 12:
+		await physics_frame
+	_check(
+		creature.path_query_count == 0,
+		"A creature already at its authoritative position should not request a path"
+	)
+
+	creature.set_sim_position(Vector3(12.0, 0.0, 0.0))
+	for _frame in 6:
+		await physics_frame
+	var first_query_count := creature.path_query_count
+	_check(first_query_count == 1, "A true retarget should request one navigation path")
+	for _frame in 20:
+		await physics_frame
+	_check(
+		creature.path_query_count == first_query_count,
+		"An unreachable target should not be queried again every physics frame"
+	)
+	for _frame in 120:
+		await physics_frame
+	_check(
+		creature.path_query_count <= 4,
+		"Unreachable navigation retries should follow bounded exponential backoff"
+	)
+
+	var before_retarget := creature.path_query_count
+	creature.set_sim_position(Vector3(24.0, 0.0, 0.0))
+	for _frame in 4:
+		await physics_frame
+	_check(
+		creature.path_query_count == before_retarget + 1,
+		"Moving the authoritative target should bypass stale retry delay once"
+	)
+
+	creature.free()
+	if failures.is_empty():
+		print("[TEST] Creature path retry passed: stationary -> backoff -> retarget")
+		quit(0)
+		return
+	for failure in failures:
+		push_error("[TEST] " + failure)
+	quit(1)
+
+
+func _check(condition: bool, message: String) -> void:
+	if not condition:
+		failures.append(message)