diff --git a/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp b/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp
index f8ad5711..e5990bf3 100644
--- a/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp
+++ b/tools/editor/editor_ui.cpp
@@ -1961,6 +1961,13 @@ void EditorUI::renderNpcPanel(EditorApp& app) {
             int bIdx = static_cast<int>(tmpl.behavior);
             if (ImGui::Combo("Behavior", &bIdx, behaviors, 4))
                 tmpl.behavior = static_cast<CreatureBehavior>(bIdx);
+            if (ImGui::IsItemHovered())
+                ImGui::SetTooltip(
+                    "Runtime AI mode (not editor preview).\n"
+                    "Stationary: stay put.\n"
+                    "Patrol: walk waypoints (W to add at cursor on selected NPC).\n"
+                    "Wander: random walk within radius — common default.\n"
+                    "Scripted: handled by server-side script.");
 
             if (tmpl.behavior == CreatureBehavior::Wander)
                 ImGui::SliderFloat("Wander Dist", &tmpl.wanderRadius, 1.0f, 100.0f);
diff --git a/tools/editor/npc_spawner.hpp b/tools/editor/npc_spawner.hpp
index ca369bc3..47217099 100644
--- a/tools/editor/npc_spawner.hpp
+++ b/tools/editor/npc_spawner.hpp
@@ -43,8 +43,11 @@ struct CreatureSpawn {
     // Templates can be scaled higher per-NPC if needed.
     float scale = 1.0f;
 
-    // Behavior
-    CreatureBehavior behavior = CreatureBehavior::Stationary;
+    // Behavior. Default is Wander with a small radius so newly-placed
+    // creatures actually move at runtime — Stationary was the old
+    // default and was a frequent "my NPCs don't patrol" complaint.
+    // Editor preview doesn't run AI; this kicks in once the zone ships.
+    CreatureBehavior behavior = CreatureBehavior::Wander;
     float wanderRadius = 10.0f;
     float aggroRadius = 20.0f;
     float leashRadius = 40.0f;