Ai Improvements

posted on February 29th, 2004, 3:17 pm

Can anyone say what new will bring Beta3 regarding the AI?

In my opinion Ai has one relatively big flaw. Let me describe where is the problem.
I observed the AI playing against another Ai for many times, both on hard, on big maps (6-8 players). With scout ships they discover enemy base, build big fleet then send that fleet towards the enemy base. That's all OK. But, Ai uses line formation for the fleet and IGNORES (like that it goes to green alert) all enemy vessels in path until it reaches the target and that's allready too late because it's fleet is heavely damaged by ignored enemy ships. I even saw too frequently that two enemy fleets pass each other in "line formation" without attacking each other.

I think that i managed to decribe the problem. Can it be solved in Beta3?

posted on February 29th, 2004, 3:57 pm

yep, the ai will be improved in beta3. its not completly tested yet, but it should behave more intelligent.
By the way, Fleet Operations is designed to have all playerslots filled - therefore the AI can't use the full potential on a map with less players.

Greetings,
Optec

posted on February 29th, 2004, 4:07 pm

Uh-Oh. If the AI gets any better, it might start beating me. EEEK!!!

Just kidding. Can't wait for a better AI.

posted on February 29th, 2004, 10:51 pm

It would be great to play against an AI that has some machine learning algorythms
in it so that it can learn enemy tactics, predict enemy's next move, to adjust to your type of playing, smarter placement of defences that could conclude from previous enemy attacks and so on...
But that is very very big steep for AI programming.

posted on March 1st, 2004, 12:11 am

although ai improvment packs every so often woulendt be that bad.

posted on March 1st, 2004, 12:54 am

That's very good idea cts, but real question is what our modders think about this suggestion (frequently releasing of ai improvments when needed).

posted on March 1st, 2004, 2:56 am

ive been petitioning this for about 4 months now.

posted on March 1st, 2004, 5:30 am

we would realy like to create a learning ai or release ai improvemens, but there are 2 problems:
1) only time will tell. yep it needs much time to organize and program these new ai's and release the patches. time we can't spend on creating the next beta. perhaps this will be an option for the final release
2) version numbers. if you have a different ai file then another person, armada will think your versions are different. this would kill multiplayer. as fleet operations is ment to be a multiplayer mod in the first place this is a very big problem.. there are a few - very complicated - ideas to solve this problem.. but this needs time, too

posted on March 1st, 2004, 11:09 pm

How about adaptive AI... Just a thought.. hehe, betcha it will be real hard to do taht..

posted on March 2nd, 2004, 12:25 am

But for the AI updates, It eould be nice stleast at every patch that comes out with fixes and every once and a while just to keep things interesting between beta's

posted on March 2nd, 2004, 12:40 am

How about an AI which switches between different scripts. Let's say that the AI's base is under attack. It switches to a defensive AIP. When the attack is over, it becomes a "Nuetral" AI again - Not focusing on attack or defence specifically. Then the AI runs out of resources. It switches to an AIP that madly seeks out moons and gathers resources. Then when the AI has, say, 1000 of each resource, it switches to neutral. Then, when it finds the enemy base, it switches to insane offense. This would be nice if it was possible.

posted on March 2nd, 2004, 12:45 am

Thatd be cool.

posted on March 2nd, 2004, 12:51 am

And perhaps AIs that cooperate. For example: AI 1's Base is under attack by AI 2. AI 1 Asks AI 3, who is AI 1's Ally, for assistance. AI 3 will then send several ships to help AI 1. Then, AIs 1 and 3 will pool their ships to attack AI 2.

posted on March 2nd, 2004, 12:54 am

I dont get what u said, but smart AI would be nice, although this is better than A2's AI.

posted on March 2nd, 2004, 12:57 am

Oh. Well, I was speaking in Tech Speak, wasn't I . Well, I meant that 2 AIs which are on the same team should help one another.