FerBotz (new AI, XCGE release 20)

[Higor]

In BotzDefault.ini

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[FerBotz.Botz]
bSuperAim=True

Change bSuperAim to false and botz's will actually turn instead of snapping.

[UTNerd24]

Loving it so far! I hope one day you'll find a way to replace the botlist so that It could be possible to customize them from the in-game menus rather than having to summon them through the console.

[Old UT Veteran]

I hope as well; I mean hes already played around with HUDs and what not by now.

I hope one day you'll find a way to replace the botlist so that It could be possible to customize them from the in-game menus rather than having to summon them through the console.

I sort of like sektor's way of doing that, where you just pick the mbot class (m male commando) in the botlist to have that specific type of bot join matches regularly without activating any mutators or commands. You can easily play with two different types - mbots and bots - if you care, that is.

[Chamberly]

Loving it so far! I hope one day you'll find a way to replace the botlist so that It could be possible to customize them from the in-game menus rather than having to summon them through the console.

You can also customize it in the botz ini as well, if you didn't check.

[papercoffee]

Loving it so far! I hope one day you'll find a way to replace the botlist so that It could be possible to customize them from the in-game menus rather than having to summon them through the console.

You can also customize it in the botz ini as well, if you didn't check.

That's all cool, but some of us like to see the bots/botz skins and here the voices before we enable them for a bot game.
Like EvilGrins I customize my bots very heavily and give them personality ...so you can really hate them.
To set them up in the ini feels somehow impersonal.

[Higor]

So I decided to rearrange the processing order of navigation points during network mapping, putting 'already checked' navigation points on highest priority.
This means that nodes that have been queried during current mapping will be re-queried ASAP if another node is also connected to it.
This basically makes the route mapper expand 'circularly' instead of a 'amorphously' when calculating (sort of).

The timing (in QueryPerformanceCounter cycles) for MH-LostInTime were... interesting:

Old

Spoiler

Log: Execing routestest.txt
ScriptLog: Single mapping test: 161018
ScriptLog: Multi mapping test: 928420
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New

Spoiler

Log: Execing routestest.txt
ScriptLog: Single mapping test: 8597
ScriptLog: Multi mapping test: 34901
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ScriptLog: Multi mapping test: 36720
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Also ported the route cache builder to native code.
The path node limit for a linear route should be 15000.
Next challenge will be to write a unrealscript version of FindBestInventoryPath using this route mapper.

The goodies of this is that bots may be able to assess when items could be picked up along the route without altering the 'current' route, or even 'weighing' the route in a way that an item inbetween is picked up.

Let's brainstorm:
Bot needs to recover flag after respawning.

Stage one, select objective:
- Map entire network from EFC's perspective.
- Build route between EFC and enemy flag.
- Select as endpoint a path 'X' distance ahead of EFC.
Stage two, find nearest weapons:
- Re-map entire network from Bot's perspective (remap is less expensive, Cost not assigned to paths because already assigned during EFC mapping)
- Measure [VisitedWeight - WeaponWeight*Constant] to InventorySpot paths marking weapons.
- Cache a list of nearest 8 [Weapon+Weight] based on this.
Stage three, get best weapon+route to EFC's endpoint.
- Re-map entire network from each weapon and measure endpoint's VisitedWeight.
- Sum in each case: WeaponWeight + endpoint's VisitedWeight from that weapon.
- Pick weapon where said sum is the lowest.

Additionally I could make it so that Botz's translocation chain directly targets items if the next path is an InventorySpot actor holding an item, so bot can pick up the item during translocation chain.
I was thinking with making a 'reverse' MapRoute function where the weight of all paths INTO a node is calculated if each of these paths were the starting point, that'll simplify stage three tremendously.
It'll be bugged because UpstreamPaths list in NavigationPoint can only hold 16 connections, and it's possible to have more incoming paths than just 16.

In cases like Assault/MH it could be possible to direct a bot to select a few items as his 'kit' before attacking, by already reviewing each of the nearby items in the path network, instead of randomly telling him to find inventory in the middle of attacking.
Network mapping makes coding Bot ai a lot more fun.

[sektor2111]

I would like to know for which reason/s a map is developing areas with 0 navigation - LostInTime is one of maps where I have tested paths sequentially. I really don't get what is wrong there (geometry, number of actors). Area from outside is bugged as hell. very rarely I could see small routes navigable but entire network looks divided in pieces un-linked each other and... I couldn't get it operational. probably I will try someday a full path-Net reconfiguration with Nodes at 1000-1500 distances linked with XC_PathBuilder - for me is the only solution at this moment. I'm not so convinced that I can move Bot there...

[UTNerd24]

To further elaborate my previous suggestion, you should make Ferbotz a Player Class like M_Bots.
Other than that, Im not too sure how else you could improve such an awesome mod.

[sektor2111]

MBot is a Bot child not a Player, btw...
Else last version released if I well recall contains a more enhanced INT file allowing some BOT access in "Preferences" which UT doesn't have in default config.

[UTNerd24]

MBot is a Bot child not a Player, btw...
Else last version released if I well recall contains a more enhanced INT file allowing some BOT access in "Preferences" which UT doesn't have in default config.

Child Bot. That's what I meant. Thanks for the correction.

[demoix]

Hi, I'm really impressed with this AI mod. I remember I played 3 years ago. Now, I came back and noticed an update so I install it again. But now it doesn't work. Install instructions is not clear. Could you explain what should I do with ''Classes'' folder and other ones? Like inc, src, XBotzQuery.u ? Also even I follow instructions right after I put ''ActivatorBotz'' mutator in my list console commands for bots doesn't work. I noticed that I need a custom engine called XC_Engine v19. But I tried to find it over all internet but can't find it. Could anyone provide me download link for this ''XC_Engine''?

[OjitroC]

It's in a thread on this forum - viewtopic.php?f=34&t=5624&hilit=xc+engine

[sektor2111]

I noticed that I need a custom engine called XC_Engine v19. But I tried to find it over all internet but can't find it.

VERY False
You did not even search it. Look how do looks a G00gle search:

[attachment=0]A_G_Search_Tute.PNG[/attachment]

It shows even which version is being currently released.

Maybe your Internet ISP is a fagitron or... you have forgot to plug those cables properly .

[demoix]

Thanks it works now!

[Higor]

I've noticed that during the transition to XC_Engine dependancy and the new route mapper a few things in AI and navigation got seriously broken.
Been doing some serious changes to movement and AI code because of that.

Unifying the movement code into a single system to prevent weird AI state switches, detecting when a path has been 'reached' gets a lot better.
Botz aggresion values have an actual effect into how they push or not.
With the new route mapper botz can do pathfinding while mid-air so they can traverse zones with negative/null gravity.
And the most important change goes to the default gametype profile, it's been structured in a way modders can VERY easily alter the bot behaviour.

First, we can defer attraction from one objective into something else, ForceTarget means that all PathFinding is skipped and the bot will go straight to this point.

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//Change where the bot is attracted to based on objective (good for Defering to navigation points)
function Actor ModifyAttraction( Botz Seeker, Actor PathTarget, out byte ForceTarget)
{
	return PathTarget;
}

This can be used to alter the cost of individual navigation points during pathfinding, just to customize even more.

Code: Select all

function ModifyPathCosts( Botz Seeker); //Called during route-mapping, allows modification of 'Cost' in order to modify route weights

The SuggestAttack method doesn't necessarily need to be redefined in a subclass anymore, this format works quite fine with ANY gametype if properly coded.
The path network is pre-mapped before validation/objective seeking allowing the modder to even double-check if a hypothetical objective is reachable (or which one is the nearest).

Code: Select all

function Actor SuggestAttack( Botz CheckFor, optional bool bOnlyTest)
{
	local bool bJustSpawned;

	//This is set to a low value everytime the bot respawns, used to detect respawns
	if ( CheckFor.RespawnTime < 5 )
	{
		CheckFor.RespawnTime = Level.TimeSeconds;
		bJustSpawned = true;
	}

	//********* Attempt to map the path network - ModifyPathCosts called during MapRoutes
	if ( !CheckFor.LocateStartAnchor() )
		return None;
	CheckFor.MapRoutes( CheckFor.StartAnchor, CheckFor.CollisionRadius, CheckFor.CollisionHeight, 0, 'GlobalModifyCost');

	//********* Validate this objective - can be modified here (kept if True)
	//********* If primary objective isn't valid, attempt to use ALT objective if there is one
	while ( CheckFor.GameTarget != None )
	{
		if ( ValidateObjective( CheckFor) )
			return CheckFor.GameTarget;
		CheckFor.GameTarget = CheckFor.GameTargetAlt;
		CheckFor.GameTargetAlt = None;
	}
		
	//********* Find new objectives
	return SelectObjective( CheckFor, bJustSpawned);
}

Objective validation is a step that verifies that a bot's objective can continue to be followed.
If an indifivual validation function returns false, the validation fails and the bot will seek a new objective.

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function bool ValidateObjective( Botz CheckFor)
{
	local Inventory Inv;
	local NavigationPoint N;
	local Pawn P;
	
	if ( CheckFor.GameTarget == None || CheckFor.bDeleteMe )
		return false;

	if ( Inventory(CheckFor.GameTarget) != None )		return ValidateObjInventory( CheckFor, Inventory(CheckFor.GameTarget) );
	if ( NavigationPoint(CheckFor.GameTarget) != None )	return ValidateObjNavigation( CheckFor, NavigationPoint(CheckFor.GameTarget) );
	if ( Pawn(CheckFor.GameTarget) != None )			return ValidateObjPawn( CheckFor, Pawn(CheckFor.GameTarget) );

	return false; //Don't validate other objectives
}

Objective selector, notice the 'OR' operator.
You may subclass the individual objective selectors to make them fail based on % chance too.
The OR operator is a good substitution to big chunks of IF-ELSEIF checks and since it's a SKIP operator there's no unnecesary processing.
As you can see there's a lot of premade utilitary objective seekers in the base profile.

Code: Select all

/* Precaucion: the higher this is the more likely the bot is to take detours to find items
 - 1.0 is normal-ish behaviour
 - 0.0 means the bot will almost ignore all items 
 - 2.0 or above mean the bot will try to reach the objective with armor and more than one weapon
  */
function Actor SelectObjective( Botz CheckFor, bool bJustSpawned)
{
	local Actor Result;
	
	if ( bJustSpawned )
	{
		CheckFor.Precaucion = 1 - CheckFor.Aggresiveness * FRand();
		Result = FindNearbyWeapon( CheckFor, 1500);
		if ( Result != None )
			return Result;
	}
	
	//'Or' is a skip operator, if parameter 1 exists, paramater 2 code isn't executed so don't worry about execution speed
	if ( CheckFor.Orders == 'Attack' )
	{
		CheckFor.Precaucion = 0.6 + FRand() * 0.3;
		Result = FindNewItem(CheckFor) Or FindRandomDest(CheckFor);
	}
	else if ( CheckFor.Orders == 'Defend' )
	{
		CheckFor.Precaucion = 1.0 + FRand() - int(CheckFor.Weapon != None && CheckFor.Weapon.AiRating > 0.5);
		if ( (CheckFor.ArmaFavorita != None) && (FRand() < 0.1) && (CheckFor.FindInventoryType(CheckFor.ArmaFavorita) == None) )
			Result = FindNearestItemFamily( CheckFor, CheckFor.ArmaFavorita, 5000);
		Result = Result Or FindAmbushPoint(CheckFor) Or FindNearbyWeapon(CheckFor) Or FindNewItem(CheckFor);
	}
	else
	{
		CheckFor.Precaucion = 1.0 + FRand();
		Result = FindNewItem(CheckFor) Or FindAmbushPoint(CheckFor) Or FindRandomDest(CheckFor); 
	}
	
	return Result;
}