AI base defenders

[CptTrips]

Can we have perk purchased AI escorts and interceptors too? Are you guys trying to incrementally backdoor AH into becoming an idle game?

Wiley.

Is every field gun manned by a human?

Is every puffy burst fired by a human?

Did humans have to operate every train or convoy?

Is every drunk dropped controlled by a human?

Are empty arena filled with wind blown dust and tumbleweeds more impressive to someone trying the game? 

Should a potential subscriber run out of fuel before running out of bullets?

[Wiley]

Is every field gun manned by a human?

Is every puffy burst fired by a human?

Nope, but generally speaking they're not an offensive weapon.

Did humans have to operate every train or convoy?

Nope, but they're a barely noticeable aspect of resupply and there's not a ton of point to spend the time finding and intercepting them.

Is every drunk dropped controlled by a human?

Nope, but a human does need to position and drop them.  There's a difference.

Are empty arena filled with wind blown dust and tumbleweeds more impressive to someone trying the game? 

Should a potential subscriber run out of fuel before running out of bullets?

Does AI defense provide something meaningful to a potential subscriber?  It's the illusion of activity, not activity.  If it's even for a potential subscriber, a vet is going to obliterate it.  If it's even for a vet, the potential subscriber is going to be obliterated.

Wiley.

[CptTrips]

Nope, but generally speaking they're not an offensive weapon.

They are as offensive as base defense AI planes would be.

Are bomber drones offensive?

Nope, but they're a barely noticeable aspect of resupply and there's not a ton of point to spend the time finding and intercepting them.

Irrelevant.  They are AI and their presence did not cause the world to end.

Nope, but a human does need to position and drop them.  There's a difference.

And a human would initiate the perk bomber strike in my post.  In both cases, the results are autonomous.

Does AI defense provide something meaningful to a potential subscriber? 

I, the OP, and others have stated the use of AI augmentation can add auxiliary amusements to arena without materially harming the core experience.  It could help fill-in fun activities for people who have to play when the arenas are near empty.  Did you bother to read Greebo's post?

Because its better than fighting no one at all. For my time zone there are not enough players in the MA to make it worth me logging in except late at night when I am too tired to play, so I just don't bother any more. I am sure there are others in the same boat as me, but if we had something to do in the MA more engaging than bombing static targets it would encourage us to log in. With more players showing on the MA roster it encourages even more to log in and it becomes a benign circle.

I'd much rather have some AI planes protecting bases than the fun killing 88s we have now. This is something that would start dogfights rather than end them as they would make it a less of a suicide mission to up from a base with enemy fighters around.

To make things fairer a side with a higher than average numbers of human players could get fewer and/or worse replacement AI pilots and planes or longer respawn times until numbers evened out. I'd also like to see AI bomber raids heading to strats every now and then. Just seeds to get human players logging in to the MA during off peak times.

[Arlo]

I tend to agree with Trips. While the tradition behind AH centers around human on human interaction, the numbers online no longer provide a constant opportunity for such. If AI can be designed to effectively mimic the experience then I say give it a go. Maybe even supply the AI elements with randomly generated player names.

[Wiley]

And a human would initiate the perk bomber strike in my post.  In both cases, the results are autonomous.

But the human has to transport the troops to the area, it's not a matter of "click menu item to attack target".

Bomber drones are more or less under the control of the human flying the lead.  It's not the same as independent vehicles.

Why does every single thing have to be shoehorned into the Melee?  Why the desire to mash PvE into a PvP game?

Wiley.

[CptTrips]

Why does every single thing have to be shoehorned into the Melee?

Did you not bother reading Greebo's post?

Because its better than fighting no one at all. For my time zone there are not enough players in the MA to make it worth me logging in except late at night when I am too tired to play, so I just don't bother any more. I am sure there are others in the same boat as me, but if we had something to do in the MA more engaging than bombing static targets it would encourage us to log in. With more players showing on the MA roster it encourages even more to log in and it becomes a benign circle.

I'd much rather have some AI planes protecting bases than the fun killing 88s we have now. This is something that would start dogfights rather than end them as they would make it a less of a suicide mission to up from a base with enemy fighters around.

To make things fairer a side with a higher than average numbers of human players could get fewer and/or worse replacement AI pilots and planes or longer respawn times until numbers evened out. I'd also like to see AI bomber raids heading to strats every now and then. Just seeds to get human players logging in to the MA during off peak times.

You said before that we might as well shut the game down rather than change anything.   The way things are going, you might get your wish someday. 

[toasted]

+1 on time to try something, anything.

in my opinion some extra AI in the MA would be a good thing. and is definitely not the worst idea that has been floated.

there are just not enough players off peak to keep it interesting.

and besides, in real life airbases would have airplanes to defend them.

even if it slowed map progress in off times it would be a net win.
especially if a few more people stayed online because they could find things to do.

and I'm pretty sure people will adapt, and develop tactics to still take bases.

[lunaticfringe]

Apologize if already suggested.....

When attacking a base that is not being defended - AI defenders are generated by the app to oppose the attackers.

It would sense what is needed based off the attacking unit types and spawn a couple of each.

Particular unit types could be random so you would not know what defenders you would be facing.

Crank up the AI to ace in some and novice in others.

This would provide additional action when the numbers are low and or the map too large IMHO.

<S>

Eagler

this would probably a computer/server 10 times bigger and more powerful than HiTech has

[CptTrips]

this would probably a computer/server 10 times bigger and more powerful than HiTech has

Nope.

I have something close to 450+ AI agent running at time on WW1WF and Hitech said it was taking very little resources.  I can't remember the exact numbers, but like 10% of 1 CPU on a 12 CPU machine.  I could be completely making that up.     But 450+ was not even enough to peak his interest. 

Remember, most of the time, most of the AI are tooling along not doing much and no one is around for them to have to send packets to.

It's an amazingly flyweight system.

 

[edit]  At this particular moment there are 393 AI in air in WW1WF.  It ebbs and flows depending on how the big missions overlap.  24/7 for almost a year now.    No problemo.

[bustr]

The dynamic missing from the MA today that is dominated by vets with up to 20 years constant experience is the unexpected. We know each other's strategies, tactics and in some cases whole bag of tricks. We fly to feilds knowing who to expect and what to expect. Then how to counter or just fade out on the edges and wait. The MA has become mind numbingly boring becasue of that.

A pack of AI fighters suddenly blowing through a stalled field scenario "race around through the ack sorta pick fest", "everyone pull back and wait and see". Would at least break the cycle, especially if they targeted only one Icon type. During that 5 years stretch when missions ruled the MA, the uncertainty of numbers along with not knowing who you were poaching most of the time kept things lively and interesting. Or who was poaching you.....

Old vets really are stuck in their position of what they want out of this game in the MA. 20 years on and being the top of the food chain, reminds me of that famous statement" better to rule in heck than serve in heaven.

I fought against AI during the alpha\beta that I thought MntMan had come back to help test AH3 in his Hog. Granted our special ACM at the nitty gritty are our flaps and even gear out while the AI perform perfectly under all energy states. And we kick all newbies to the curb and pick them on the runway and whatever other cruel indignities we are capable of as very long time old vets.

Very few of us are susceptible to the newbies and we don't care becasue we would rather rule in heck even for a moment. That Catch-22 is great and boring for us, sends them away to play PlanetSide that has 3 countries, constant action, even aircombat, and they can bag even the best of the best vets from time to time against countries with on average 400 players an average night.

We vets who want to rule in heck for even a moment are sending them there. And you can play that game for free if you want to grind. So a few AI blowing through to unsettle everyone's well honed timing giving a few kills to the next generation is not a bad thing. Combat game customers don't tell their friends about the arse whippings they get trying to get off a runway all night long. They talk about the accomplishments they had when they can get off that runway.

All of you know what I'm talking about.   

[Volron]

this would probably a computer/server 10 times bigger and more powerful than HiTech has

If I recall correctly, HiTech has stated the server could easily handle something like this.  The issue is coding the AI properly and what-not that is the issue.  I could be mistaken.

[DmonSlyr]

AI ruined the match play. What makes you think it won't ruin the MA? If you want to fight AI. Go there...

AI is not the answer.

Zones of importance is.

People need to know where the important part of the map is to fight. (A path to action). Incentivize them with more perks or points. This will bring back better fights because more people will fight in those areas.

[CptTrips]

Zones of importance is.

People need to know where the important part of the map is to fight. (A path to action). Incentivize them with more perks or points. This will bring back better fights because more people will fight in those areas.

Didn't we used to have Zones and Base Capture Order already?

Do you remember why those were removed?

[DmonSlyr]

Didn't we used to have Zones and Base Capture Order already?

Do you remember why those were removed?

No we didnt have base capture order. And I'm not saying you would only have to capture bases in the zone. I'm saying it would show people where the important base is to create a bigger fight. People could still fight where ever else and take what ever base they wanted.

[CptTrips]

No we didnt have base capture order.

https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,193414.msg2251284.html#msg2251284


How does what you propose help guys like Greebo who have to play when there are 8 people online?

Couldn't what you suggest simply be someone getting on country channel and saying: "Hey guys, let's all attack A35!"