AI Pilots

[CptTrips]

I think Eagler was referring to AI missions in the MA. Hitech said the tools are there to do it. I would think they would be long range bombing missions to enemy strats

I understood that.

Based on my previous experience with the AI ME and the WWIWF arena, I would assume some Arena logic would also be needed.  I'm not sure how the scheduling work without some work.

But, I haven't looked at it in a long time, I could be wrong.

This thread has been around quite a while.  No one is bothering with it or it was harder than expected.

[Slade]

You could vary the skill level of the AI pilots so egos will not be bruised maybe.

[Slade]

I mean I've been flying for a few hours and only action I've seen is chasing a plane into their ACK only to get killed by ACK.

I'll take flying against AI any day over this!

[hazmatt]

You could vary the skill level of the AI pilots so egos will not be bruised maybe.

That would be interesting. You wouldn't know if this ai your attacking was a crack shot or some amateur spraying lead.
In the game I currently play they have this variable too but you have to be careful because if you get too close and in the field of fire of one of those "crack shots" they will end your life right quick.

[AKKuya]

Nothing is going to happen about this.

1) Dwindling players
2) Aging of players
3) Better competition
4) Owner getting older
5) No player or players willing to create AI missions in MA


I'm completely open to being proved wrong.  Who's up for the task?

[DmonSlyr]

Why do we we need AI in the MA when we already have Match Play with AI and other offline missions with AI?

[Eagler]

Why do we we need AI in the MA when we already have Match Play with AI and other offline missions with AI?

For targets, to get real pilots to protect ai bomber streams, for a battle on every front so there's a choice how to spend your limited time in ma, for the off peak hour folks and the empty base stealers to have something to fight against..

Eagler

[DmonSlyr]

For targets, to get real pilots to protect ai bomber streams, for a battle on every front so there's a choice how to spend your limited time in ma, for the off peak hour folks and the empty base stealers to have something to fight against..

Eagler

I know you and others probably dont care about it, but it would completely ruin the scoring trends for over 25 years. I think the major problem is maps not providing the action by condensing the fights. BowlMA and Oceania are a perfect example of a map that cannot sustain off hours action and makes the off hours extremely boring leading to less players logging in before prime time.

[CptTrips]

I know you and others probably don't care about it, but it would completely ruin the scoring trends for over 25 years.

I would just exclude all scoring events involving AI.

Think of the AI as a side-quest to pad some action when numbers are low.  But AI is invisible to stats.  Or split the stats involving AI so you can see it included or not.

And no, you don't want them to leave and go somewhere else.  When someone leaves the arena they might not come back.  Numbers breed numbers.  You want their count showing in the numbers to drive momentum, not chase them off somewhere else just making the Melee look empty.

[DmonSlyr]

I would just exclude all scoring events involving AI.

Think of the AI as a side-quest to pad some action when numbers are low.  But AI is invisible to stats.  Or split the stats involving AI so you can see it included or not.

And no, you don't want them to leave and go somewhere else.  When someone leaves the arena they might not come back.  Numbers breed numbers.  You want their count showing in the numbers to drive momentum, not chase them off somewhere else just making the Melee look empty.

If there was a way not to count them in scores, maybe, however it would also create events on the map that may hinder efforts by customers who are trying to win a map. I just feel like there are many variables not being considered that may impact the player base. What I find that is really killing flight sims for online players is time to action and being in a battle, or knowing even where the battle is. AH has that over the other games however it doesnt have a good plane balance where as some A hole can fly a tempest all day and feel great about themselves BnZing but its really just hurting the players who dont want to deal with that. The Yak3s are becoming a bit tiresome for most players too, but HTC doesnt play the game and cannot see what certain top fighter planes are doing to the game. But further, if you want more action, you condense the maps that's why H2H was becoming more popular. People could simply get to a fight quickly and have some fights. The K/H on huge maps is really not good for the game.
 

[CptTrips]

If there was a way not to count them in scores, maybe, however it would also create events on the map that may hinder efforts by customers who are trying to win a map. I just feel like there are many variables not being considered that may impact the player base. What I find that is really killing flight sims for online players is time to action and being in a battle, or knowing even where the battle is. AH has that over the other games however it doesnt have a good plane balance where as some A hole can fly a tempest all day and feel great about themselves BnZing but its really just hurting the players who dont want to deal with that. The Yak3s are becoming a bit tiresome for most players too, but HTC doesnt play the game and cannot see what certain top fighter planes are doing to the game. But further, if you want more action, you condense the maps that's why H2H was becoming more popular. People could simply get to a fight quickly and have some fights. The K/H on huge maps is really not good for the game.

Don't sweat it.  It's not likely.

[LCADolby]

Wartbirds added AI aircraft to bump things up, but I don't think it enhanced the game at all.

The AH AI is pretty hit and miss... It really isn't ready to be unleashed on the main arena.

[CptTrips]

The AH AI is pretty hit and miss... It really isn't ready to be unleashed on the main arena.

I don't expect you will see it.

But you could just start with AI bomber formations.
If you played any of Nefarious' Fortress Europe events you get the idea.

AI can certainly fly a bomber reasonably.



If you see warping, that is usually a human with drones.  The AI elements didn't seem to do that.

[DmonSlyr]

I find AI great for warming up in Match play before an event or MA, to make sure controls are working and blood is pumping. My only gripe is that the rest of the map is unplayable for free fight in the canyons and there is no place to free fight without AI in Match play.

[hazmatt]

In the game I currently play it has integrated  in the form of attack aircraft. Anything from FW190F8's to stuff like A26s. The points for an AI kill are about 25% of what a normal player kill is. It gives new players something to attack to hone their gunnery skills and learn about fields of fire if they're not so strong on the ACM. I think something like this in AH3 would give new players some why of accomplishing something while they're still a fish in a pool of sharks.

For AH3 I think the ground attack implementation would take some doing and since there's no AI gvs I don't think it would work well. I do think that bombers would work fine. Maybe some strat runs with B17s or some A20s attacking bases or towns? I think the upside would outweigh the downside because those that don't like AI could just ignore them.