I'd like to get a "rollcall" from everyone who is interested in specializing in a certain facet of the AI: doing the theories, creating the scripts, testing and debugging, ensuring they work for all races, then finally sharing them once its reproducable.
I know we're all busy with life and such (who isn't) but we need an idea about what everyone wants to bring to the project? We need more focus..
Granted, Relic hasn't been forthcoming with the game's API that deals with terrain.analyser and vectorXf() so we're working on our own currently. We can get much done and hope to do in the next weeks.
I so value your input and expertise and I couldn't make this the best AI player without you fellas! Its not easy doing this by yourself especially when I first started to ensure the research-tree worked (agghhh!). We're a team and together this'll be some shining achievement for the DoW community!
Okiedokes.. here is the objectives all revised..
Updated LIST
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Objectives
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1) Build defensive turrets + 1-2 mines on expansions especially on LPs near the front-line?
2) Create a team of 1-2 builders to either help build OR be on repair duty to heal damaged buildings.
3) Ensure Large Energy Reactor construction + 3-4 defense placements around it (its an important structure after all!) - May need to give AI a one-time Cash Infusion to force him to build it.
4) Similar to 3) when relic is captured and fortified I would like to have AI build more defensive turrets around it than usual due to its significance for getting uber-units.
5) Check to see why independant units (ie. Space Marines' Apothecary or Librarian) sometimes do not attach themselves to squads.
6) NEW ADDITION: Determine why, apart from the SMs, that all other races DO NOT go on the attack if their buildorder is large. Elaboration here: http://forums.relicn...ead.php?t=54814 If we could get the AI to build parts of his base on the closet expansions then this would be rectified.
UPDATE: 6) has been rectified with help from Larkin! All is good now! Better than ever: http://forums.revora...showtopic=16038
Longer term objectives
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1) Rebuilding destroyed Base Defenses at either original main base or second emergency base!
2) If enough surplus cash allows, will create a secondary HQ including minor unit production buildings + defensive turrets all built after Tier3 HQ is achieved at main base.
3) Troop dancing
4) AI could use Cover on maps more effectively to bait players into a situation that leads them to their enemy's disadvantage. Whomever uses their troops in "covered" parts of the map gives those troops a defensive advantage.
5) Better acknowledgement of threats against fellow allied players (will come to the rescue more effectively when an ally, like me, is under heavy attack!)
6) Fix Assassinate Win Condition (AI attaches Commander unit to one of his attacking squads thus greatly increasing his likelihood of losing the game if Commander dies)
7) Apart from the Eldar race, the Space Marines, Chaos Space Marines, and Ork are NOT aggressive enough in the "Control Area" and "Take&Hold" Winning conditions.
8) NEW ADDITION: Ensure when AI is allied with a human player(s) he keeps pace and does not fall behind (continues to build troops, researches, helps defend allies and, most importantly, attacks!!).
Unknowns
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1) When AI's main base is destroyed yet has successfully made a secondary backup one, does he upgrade his HQ to Tier2 (SM, CSM, ORK)? Or when he created defensive turrents does he update them to Tier1 (Ork to Tier2)?
2) Prevent game from crashing when my troops get near to the Mines that AI has built? Wierd.. (still testing this one!)
Objectives Complete
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1) A random script that only upgrades a certain % of those LPs and defensive turrets. LPs I can live with at Tier2 but its pretty dumb to update all turrets to Tier1 (Tier2 for Orks) anti-vehicle especially since DoW is half about infantry!
**THANKS CORSIX! Works great - still need to test saved games AND multiplay to ensure no synch errors. How its done: http://forums.revora...showtopic=15784
Objectives Dropped
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1) Better troop combinations (this may not be a problem as the AI generally is decent at selecting squad-level weapon upgrades) Reason: Not needed! AI has been observed with decent weapon combos and seems to upgrade to suit the situation needed.
2) Look into adding vehicles that Relic removed for the AI to use (ie. SM/CSM Rhino and ORK WarTrukk) Reason: simply not feasible until Relic or a good balance mod can make such vehicles worth their battlefield reputation.
Edited by thudo, 27 January 2005 - 04:47 AM.