31 replies to this topic

[ASC]

Grokmoo, on 13 May 2012 - 05:50 AM, said:

I doubt we will see this anytime soon. Writting a good mech AI is something that would take weeks at the very minimum to do. The team is now going to devote a lot of resources to something that is not a core feature.

Yea, this is the main problem here. Building a Competent AI would take weeks of time as a minimum, and then take a huge amount of balancing, then generating seperate AI for different roles, chassis, loadouts means this AI project goes on and on.

in other words, a nightmare.

I suspect we will Eventually see an AI, but for now it will remain on the 'non-essential, desirables' list, at least untill the game reaches a fully operational state.

[Aldinvor]

Hmm, if the purpose is only to test configs/loadouts, then it doesn't even need an AI, right? all you need is a target dummy, or am I being really stupid here?

[Yendorc]

Aldinvor, on 13 May 2012 - 06:16 AM, said:

Hmm, if the purpose is only to test configs/loadouts, then it doesn't even need an AI, right? all you need is a target dummy, or am I being really stupid here?

If you only want to test if you are bound to overheat / run out of ammo soon / can actually kill anything, yes, you don't need AI.
If you want to test wether or not you need those 0.5 tons extra armor or if it's ok that you packed more ammo in exchange: you need AI.

[TheNullifier]

If there is no AI built into the game, how will they handle the clan invasion? Will we, despite our allegiances not fight the clans? or will some of us get to choose to join the clans or something? Clan invasion is a ways out though I suppose

[Mota Prefect]

Aldinvor, on 13 May 2012 - 06:16 AM, said:

Hmm, if the purpose is only to test configs/loadouts, then it doesn't even need an AI, right? all you need is a target dummy, or am I being really stupid here?

This idea sounds MORE then adequate for the testing i'll need to do before deciding whether or not to drop REAL MONEY on any particular chassis/weapons. I can tell you right now, if a way isn't implemented at launch to at the very least allow us to test our mech's systems in the real world environment, I will not be spending my real money on C-bills. After all, who wants to drop their dough on a mech design that only looks good on paper? Sure as hell not this mechwarrior!

[ASC]

Aldinvor, on 13 May 2012 - 06:16 AM, said:

Hmm, if the purpose is only to test configs/loadouts, then it doesn't even need an AI, right? all you need is a target dummy, or am I being really stupid here?

Maybe, its much easier to do, but will it really give people a good feel on how it works in a real battle? Personally, I have no idea whether it would be worth it for the devs to put in.

TheNullifier, on 13 May 2012 - 06:29 AM, said:

If there is no AI built into the game, how will they handle the clan invasion? Will we, despite our allegiances not fight the clans? or will some of us get to choose to join the clans or something? Clan invasion is a ways out though I suppose

Given that the devs have said absolutely nothing about how it will work, who knows. The devs probarbly have an idea on how they want it to work but they arn't saying anything, but either way its not an immediate priority.

[Mopar]

While I am sure we would all prefer PVP there is a place and a time for PVE. I would think that younger pilots would not put out against main forces and might face small bandit mech groups, these could be AI. Also even with heavy player activity there is a good chance that some of the Faction world battles will have players from one side and not another, so giving them at least AI battles would make sense.

[Sleepy Head]

I'd like some sort of cooperative mode where a team of players fights an equal size team of various A.I. 'mechs. This would be for the purpose you stated; to test your 'mechs and 'mech varients. It would be nice if you were not rewarded C-bills for anything you would earn C-bills in a multiplayer match just to avoid farming, and to encourage players to try online mode. It would also be nice if you didn't have to pay repair bills if you got damaged in the cooperative mode because you were not there to fight for C-bills so any damage you take could not be repaired.

There would also be another advantage to this; training. Maybe a kill-hungry brawler want's to learn to discipline himself by using a scout 'mech. Fire support 'mech players could learn the important use cover. Brawlers could learn how to circle their opponents whilst firing.

All in all OP, your idea has potential.

Edited by Sleepy Head, 13 May 2012 - 09:16 AM.

[Mike Silva]

I'm a huge fan of single player style campaigns so I would definitely support this idea; I'd even pay for a reasonably priced campaign pack if that's what it would take.

But I'm not holding my breath.

[eZZip]

Yendorc, on 13 May 2012 - 06:29 AM, said:

If you only want to test if you are bound to overheat / run out of ammo soon / can actually kill anything, yes, you don't need AI.
If you want to test wether or not you need those 0.5 tons extra armor or if it's ok that you packed more ammo in exchange: you need AI.

Get a friend and let players test things out in small, up-to-4 man games with no objectives.

[FrostPaw]

To be honest, I like coop vs AI more than fighting other players, yes I know, I'm weak and small and suck and all that.

There is a lot of negative attitude and exploiting vs humans, the AI just does what its supposed to do without malice or taking offense when you win or feeling like you lost because of lag or an exploit when you lose....you just know the AI did what it was intended to do all along and nobody is having a bad day because you won.

Edited by FrostPaw, 13 May 2012 - 10:50 AM.

[Redshift2k5]

Lots of online game feature a vs bots mode of some kind, even though the core focus of the game is strictly PVP.

A normal 12 vs 12 but with one team made of bots is going to be easier than a whole mission mode

not that good AI is easy, but they'd need AI either way. Other online games have managed to make reasonable combat AI, Mechwarrior shouldn't be any different. They'll never be as elite as real players but will make good training dummies, or for noobs to cut their teeth on.