Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: hacksaw1 on October 21, 2006, 10:54:02 AM

Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: hacksaw1 on October 21, 2006, 10:54:02 AM
First of all, I like the arena changes, though in my location low population has an effect.

So, depending on how far along the AI programming for CT is...

Maybe it would be possible during very low population hours to have limited AI missions run automatically in the EW and MW arenas. The LW arena seems fairly well populated most of the time, so I don't imagine AI would add a lot to the LW.

My thought is a moderate AI bombing force, accompanied by a few AI fighters.

I believe I've read that AI fighters have been encountered already in arenas. I also imagine that if CT has been in closed alpha for a while, then AI level bombers would not require an excessive time investment at this stage, but I'm guessing. The only modeling that I think would have to start from scratch would be an AI dive bombing model, which would be used in EW.  

So, a notice appears in the text buffer on the country channel:
2 minutes to Mission - A16 SE to A25.

AI mission code would select a launch base (A16) with no enemy aircraft nearby. Anyone from that country who wants to fly along can move to the mission launch base (A16) and take the runway spawn point (SE). To save the programming investment, there would be no possibility of joining from the Mission Planner. Rather, you simply fly along with the AI mission.

AI missions would rotate between countries. For example, an AI mission for country 1 would run. Then, between 11-14 minutes later, an AI mission for country 2 would run, followed in 11-14 min. by an AI mission for country 3, and so on.

The AI mission would target the country (out of the 2 enemy countries) that currently has the most base captures relative to the mission country. If the numbers are fairly equal, then the targets go around the board. If two are leading closely, and the third trails behind quite a bit, the 2 leading countries could be targeted more often.

The AI mission would target an enemy base that is currently in use (based on something like the Go To function) – preferably the enemy base with the most players operating from it. The exception to this rule would be that no base could be attacked twice in a row (i.e. 2 times in 15 minutes) by AI. So AI would target a nearby base if all players on that enemy side were all located at a recently AI attacked base.

AI bombers would only hit base installations - AA, radar, ord., fuel, barracks, VH, BH.
AI planes could not attack FHs.
AI planes could not attack towns.
Each AI bomber would have a mission target (maybe primary and secondary?), so if those bombers are downed prior to arrival to target, the specific target is not attacked.

AI "pilot competence" would fall along a bell curve. Many would be competent, but a few would be poor, and one or two would be uber. Bombing accuracy could be variable.

I'd suggest that AI missions in EW reach a max alt of ~ 7000 ft and rotated in three variations:
US –  4 Vics of Dauntlesses, 4 Wildcats (or 4 P-40s)
Japanese – 4 Vics of Vals, 4 Zeros
German – 4 Vics of Stukas, 4 Bf 109s

AI missions in MW reach a max alt of ~ 11, 000 ft and rotated in three variations:
US – 3 Vics of B-26s, 4 P-47s
Japanese – 3 Vics of Ki 67s, 4 Ki 61s
German – 3 Vics of Ju 88s, 4 FW 190s

Personally, even if the AI flight, bombing and dive bombing models were not quite tweaked up to AH standards, I'd still be in favor of having the AI missions in the EW and MW during low population hours, so long as they don't crash the system.
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Ball on October 21, 2006, 11:04:51 AM
i am totally against any form of AI aircraft in the EW, MW or LW arenas.

takes away the whole point of paying to play an online game.
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: BlauK on October 21, 2006, 11:56:03 AM
I like the AI idea. It could be used for balacing unbalanced country ratios and especially to fill up the empty arenas sufficiently to reach the limit when real players would be joining the arena.

That would mean that every AI pilot should also show in the roster. This way there could always be at leats some 60 or so players at each arena.. even when no-one was playing :)

Very interesting idea!
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Shuffler on October 21, 2006, 12:03:43 PM
OH NO!!!! Then when 2 AI planes meet on differing teams they will fight and learn from each other.... next they will surpass even the best human pilot and then start making more AI planes to wipe out the human community NOOOOO!  :O
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Rino on October 21, 2006, 12:59:27 PM
You guys are missing the potential of this idea...virtual girlfriends!  
What could be better than having an off switch when you need it :lol
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: FBplmmr on October 21, 2006, 04:27:59 PM
originaly posted by Rino-"You guys are missing the potential of this idea...virtual girlfriends!
What could be better than having an off switch when you need it"


Most of these guys couldn't turn a girl "ON"even if she really did have a switch.:p
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Shuffler on October 21, 2006, 05:04:11 PM
:rofl
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: FiLtH on October 21, 2006, 05:19:22 PM
For a mission type thing related to the CT, I dont mind adding in some AI, but for MA use I wouldnt like it.  "Hey wtg nice fight...oh..you're a robot..yuck!"
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Greebo on October 21, 2006, 05:32:32 PM
Maybe skip the AI fighters, just have AI bombers. If the host announced their mission in advance it would have the effect of drawing defending and escorting fighters together for a fight. We have AI base and fleet AA already and buffs are just flying AA anyway. :)
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: pluck on October 21, 2006, 09:32:04 PM
i might be for AI, but only if it talks smack on 200 and sends you pms...errr private messages that is:)
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Overlag on October 21, 2006, 10:59:40 PM
i never wanted to fly against AI, i wanted to fly against people. thats why i choose AH over IL2......
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Raptor on October 21, 2006, 11:15:14 PM
How about instead of targetting fields, the AI Missions target cities, factories and HQs? How accurate would the AI bombers be?
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Overlag on October 21, 2006, 11:21:12 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Raptor
How about instead of targetting fields, the AI Missions target cities, factories and HQs? How accurate would the AI bombers be?


i always thought AI bombers could be a good thing, but whos going to shoot them down? i mean i would, id get in my 190a8 and ho the bomber stream, but the point still stands is that people are here to fight people :(
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: rogerdee on October 22, 2006, 08:45:58 AM
yes people o fight people but if you get in a rena and theres only 10 guys in it and they are hiding some where u still dont get a fight
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Overlag on October 22, 2006, 08:58:15 AM
Quote
Originally posted by rogerdee
yes people o fight people but if you get in a rena and theres only 10 guys in it and they are hiding some where u still dont get a fight


going back to 1 or 2 arenas would mean that there would be never less than 60 people..........


wow that was a simple idea, instead of coding AI to fill the empty servers:p
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: hacksaw1 on October 23, 2006, 09:30:19 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Overlag
going back to 1 or 2 arenas would mean that there would be never less than 60 people..........


wow that was a simple idea, instead of coding AI to fill the empty servers:p


I don't think the LW arena gets much below 70 or 80, so there would never be a need for any AI help there anyway. Anyone who hates AI could always go there.

Regarding the other two arenas, yeah, HT could just shut down EW and MW until the beginning of US peak hours. Doesn't seem likely to me.

Personally I'd rather not fly against AI if there was enough population to engage with. But yesterday at flying time there were 6 in EW and 9 in MW. Today I just checked, EW 11, MW 9.

If AI is planned to fill up CT anyway, then it might be worth considering for other arenas that are under populated during off peak hours. AI missions would cease when the population increases to a certain threshold. So, if there are enough RP's then there is no need for AI.

And I only suggest limited AI missions every 10 to 15 minutes, not standing AI furballs.
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: indy007 on October 23, 2006, 09:39:08 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Overlag
i always thought AI bombers could be a good thing, but whos going to shoot them down? i mean i would, id get in my 190a8 and ho the bomber stream, but the point still stands is that people are here to fight people :(


To be fair, from what I've seen (only got to watch, didn't get to fight it)... but the AI put up a better fight than alot of players I've run across.
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Kweassa on October 23, 2006, 09:41:59 AM
It might not be such a bad idea after all.

 According to my IL2/FB experience, the AI actually fights a lot better than most dweebs.
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: TexMurphy on October 23, 2006, 12:32:44 PM
Atm HTs AI is alot better then the avg MA pilot.

Tex
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: FiLtH on October 23, 2006, 02:51:53 PM
If thats the case, God help the new guys. If I wanted to fight robots I'd find a great looking offline game. It won't take people long to figure out how the AI flies, and how to beat them.
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Tilt on October 23, 2006, 03:06:48 PM
A.I in CT is guided strategically by missions........there is no such (automated) structure in the arenas......................

I always liked the idea of a sort of A.I front line in other words a map wide battle line between each country where the ground forces fought it out.

The ground pounders would influence the battle line by reducing logistic supply to the opponents front line.............. weakening it.

The ground attackers would attrit weaknesses in the opponents front line allowing its side to push forward.

Fighters would fight over the front line protecting and attacking the ground pounders and attackers.

GV's could be used to bolster or re enforce the ground based AI units.


Capturing stuff just behind enemy lines would cut off logistics totally to  the front line locally causing a large breach and enabling use of what ever is captured.

Capturing stuff deep would just deny the use of the facility until it was captured back again.


As the battle line moved it would over run fields and towns and stuff any way.

perchance to dream..............
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: trotter on October 23, 2006, 03:31:31 PM
Quote
Originally posted by FiLtH
For a mission type thing related to the CT, I dont mind adding in some AI, but for MA use I wouldnt like it.  "Hey wtg nice fight...oh..you're a robot..yuck!"



hahaha, the first time i encountered CTAI9900 or whatever its name was, it was the best fight i'd had all day. we were both in spit9s and were tangling for a good few minutes. finally he had a split second snapshot and took it to take my wing off. i wanted to say nice shot, i typed his strange looking name into one of the channels and just as i was about to start typing i remembered reading on these boards that he was a bot. my reaction was exactly the same.....ewww yuck. :rofl
Title: AI Supplements during Low Population Hours
Post by: Tilt on October 23, 2006, 03:43:10 PM
Quote
Originally posted by FiLtH
For a mission type thing related to the CT, I dont mind adding in some AI, but for MA use I wouldnt like it.  "Hey wtg nice fight...oh..you're a robot..yuck!"


Just think of them as HT clones :t