I am currently in the planning stages of a game for google app engine, but cannot wrap my head around how I am going to handle AI. I intend to have persistant NPCs that will move about the map, but short of writing a program that generates the same XML requests I use to control player actions, than run it on another server I am stuck on how to do it. I have looked at the Task Queue feature, but due to long running processes not being an option on the App engine, I am a little stuck.

I intend to run multiple server instances with 200+ persistant NPC entities that I will need to update. Most action is slowly roaming around based on player movements/concentrations, and attacking close range players...(you can probably guess the type of game im developing)