FixBots mutator

[Buggie]

Tiny and easy mutator.
Periodically check all bots movement and correct it if possible.

As result:
- bots move on paths more "humanly" - less "as train".
- bots less predictable.
- bots faster reach goals.
- bots less stuck on obstacles.
- bots can skip some PathNodes - usually this not matter.

Correction work only when travel on exactly Botpack.PathNode (not subclass).

Mutator targeted only to stock UT bots.

Install:
Add to mutator list FixBots.FixBots (or to ServerActors - preferred way)

Not need add it into ServerPackages.

Settings:
CheckInterval - time in seconds for check all bots and fix movement. Too low can cause lags.

On screenshot you can see what it do:

Shot00001 (2).jpg

Bot instead of follow weird messy way, simple run to someone point inside, with skip 5 PathNodes.
In fact bot always travel to latest reachable point if able skip some PathNodes.
Bot not skip any other NavigationPoint, so this change must be safe.

FixBots.zip

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Automatically merged

Small update:

New option:

; allow use jump ways for shortcuts. Sometimes cause miss jumps, sometimes create very awesome shortcuts.
bCanJump=true

reupload at first post: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=15052

[Deepu]

Nice

[Buggie]

Known side effects:

1. If used bCanJump - bot able fall on some travel and try again do same (loop). it is not mutator fault, it is UT fault. call Bot.actorReachable(Actor) say "hey, this actor reachable with current locomotion method". But later bot not able reach it. Which is weird.

2. Bot able end internal movement on middle, decide turn little for go back, but return to old way. this happen because Movement timer ended, bot again calculate way to goal, found entry point behind back and start be train again.
Mutator come, but with gap CheckInterval (which by default 100 ms) and fix this stuff. Possible can be fixed by correct value of MoveTimer, but I am not sure if it be for good. Maybe later after some investigate.

3. Bot able skip some inventory which collect before, or return to it little after he almost skip it. reason almost same as for previous item. bot after each point make stop and search local inventory near, just in case. If bot no more train, then he skip such stops, and stop when timer outs. So this stops now in different places, and from this places inventory maybe not found.
But if bot really goes for some inventory - he really reach it.
Problem consist in fact, bot almost not do that. he run near, saw something and goes for it.
If we correct MoveTimer make it big, no stop here, no run for items.
If we correct MoveTimer for be proportional depends from old way... well be same like that. And some map contain nodes really for "train" bots.

So you need test it with your fav maps for decide, use it or no. There can not be silver bullet.

For example for stock DM-Deck16][ bots start do very awesome jump from low flak if use bCanJump, and jump to shield faster, but almost always fail in acid near sniper at lifts. And fall down with make some loop if decide jump from central middle part to big box behind which is heal.

Without bCanJump no such awesome shortcuts, but no falls too. Less changes in movement, but 2 and 3 issue still in place and bot able goes for rocket launcher in side hole little after, when almost walk it.

Maybe some calls to PickupLocalInventory can fix (or mask) it, but again this doubtful changes from outside bots code. So we not know exactly what bot do and on which distance allowed search inventory and so on.
Because it is internal fix and not able fix stuff which need internally rework bot.

[TankBeef]

Looks like an awesome mutator. I can't wait to try it tonight.

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Automatically merged

Hmmm...I will keep testing, but it seems the mutator makes the bots "easier" to kill. I tried a few maps where the bots tend to be tougher, particularly DM-LastCrusader]|[ is my usual measure, and they suddenly became "soft".

[Buggie]

Weird. Reasons? Bots less equipped?

[Gadavre]

this mutator works only in Practice Session? Is it possible to make a version that would make bots just as smart in a tournament?

[Buggie]

This mutator work where loaded. AFAIK you able load custom mutators for Practice session and all kind of MP servers.
Ladder game AFAIK not allow specify mutators.

> make a version that would make bots just as smart in a tournament?
Not get it. You want use this mutator in ratted game for ladder?
Or you want same smart bots as in rated ladder game? They already same is ladder. AFAIK bots is same in ladder game and in practice session.

[Old UT Veteran]

You could try to load the mutator in unreadED and place it on the map. It could work regardless if its a rated match or practice session, but you are modifying the original map.

[yarow12]

How compatible is this and FixCTFBots with other bot fixing mods like MBots and FerBotz? Is there anything it probably won't be compatible with?
Any plans to upload your work to other sites like ModDB so more people can find it?

[sektor2111]

For MBot probably will do some twice tweaking - because MBot.ISA('Bot'), as for FerBotz it might be out of subject because FerBotz are Pawns not Bots, unless has something to tell them.

[Buggie]

How compatible is this and FixCTFBots with other bot fixing mods like MBots and FerBotz? Is there anything it probably won't be compatible with?

All targeted to stock bots. Custom bots need be compatible with it.
If it is not, I suspect they not need such fixes.
Fixes not always good. In fact fix target to specific problem in specific environment. It is not silver bullet. So it can harm for other bots, expect stock. need test for be sure.

Any plans to upload your work to other sites like ModDB so more people can find it?

Upload - no. Maybe I make item on it with link to this forum. I really don't like make few point of download. it is all need manual work for update each if new version out.

[yarow12]

Was hoping I wouldn't need to run spectator matches. >.>
I get the manual work problem, and it can be mostly averted by making it blatantly clear that the file will rarely be updated on alternate host sites.
My comment on the discord from 40 minutes ago:

Why dahell are there so many files being hosted on a single site? The PlanetElderscrolls Trevesty and Desura Befallment have surely left me jaded, but still. The digital loss is inevitable when you roll like that.

[Buggie]

Medor, upload most files to http://medor.no-ip.org

Some files goes to UnrealArchive with many mirrors.

Some files hosted on github too, like XVehicles. Chance of disappear github is very low.

[yarow12]

In the case of files that do get mirrored, there's still the question of "do (new) players even know those databases exist?" I've been planning on making a post on multiple sites to point people in the right directions, so that'll help I suppose.
Interestingly enough, UnrealArchive works in searches, but medor doesn't. Fun fact: searching "choas" (instead of "chaos ut") for UnrealArchive won't pull up anything.

edit: fixed medor link