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C. HAL 9000: Powerful AI In Need Of Brainsurgery.

Introduction to the SkirmishAI_2 (continued from page 2)

This now is the works. I will show you how the skirmish AI is set up, What constitutes the basic parts. This will enable you both to fine tune the existing faction's AI and provide the tools you need to add a new faction. As is shown on the TOC on page one, i have broken down the SkirmishAI tutorial into several parts, starting with the most basic references, continuing with the central AI coding segments and finalizing it with the script-remnants and novelties. So let's begin.

I will now repeat the list, so you know what to expect from the next pages:


C1. General SkirmishAI Setup (this page)

This will explain how the scripted parts of the AI are referenced in the ini code (important only for SpellPurchase and for any CustomAIScripts you want to implement) and it will give you an overview of the 'PlayerTemplate'

C2. General SkirmishAI_1 and _2 Settings: 'aidata.ini' (page 10)

Here you will find general settings like pathfinding, threat assessment and several other AI- and not-AI-related settings. I will explain which ones are for SkirmishAI_1, which are for SkirmishAI_2, which are for both and which ones i have no idea about. Some are really important and i will mention them again in Chapter C3.

C3. General SkirmishAI_2 Settings: 'skirmishaidata.ini' (page 11)

Here you will find the core settings for SkirmishAI_2. I will provide an overview of the different sections before going into them in detail, one by one. Also i am going to explain how the relevant data and settings tie in with code/data located in different areas of modding, like the .BSE-files, aidata.ini, AttackPriorities. Also i will point to some crippling limitations and will suggest a few ways to get around them.

C1. General SkirmishAI Setup - The SkirmishAI_2 Setup - Important references.

The starting point of any faction's skirmish AI is the faction setup itself. It is found in the file 'data\ini\playertemplate.ini' that contains all the basic features any faction, AI or player, inherits when chosen at the start of a skirmish or campaign game. So let's take a look at the small parts. I will start from top to bottom, including short descriptions of the entries that are not AI specific, in case you are wondering what they are for. What follows is ---- Almost Totally Verified ----


---- PLAYERTEMPLATE

data\ini\playertemplate.ini (sample entry from Isengard)
This is what we are going to look at:
              

Code

PlayerTemplate FactionIsengard     Side = Isengard     PlayableSide = Yes     Evil = Yes     StartMoney = 0     MaxLevelMP = #DIVIDE( PLAYER_MAX_PURCHASE_POINTS_DEFAULT PLAYER_PURCHASE_POINTS_GRANTED )     MaxLevelSP = #DIVIDE( PLAYER_MAX_PURCHASE_POINTS_EVIL PLAYER_PURCHASE_POINTS_GRANTED )     PreferredColor = R:216 G:175 B:48     StartingBuilding = IsengardFortress     StartingUnit0 = IsengardPorter     StartingUnitOffset0 = X:1 Y:230 Z:0     StartingUnit1 = IsengardPorter     StartingUnitOffset1 = X:1 Y:150 Z:0     StartingUnitTacticalWOTR = IsengardPorter     StartingUnitTacticalWOTR = IsengardPorter     IntrinsicSciences = SCIENCE_EVIL     IntrinsicSciencesMP = SCIENCE_ISENGARD     DefaultPlayerAIType = IsengardSkirmishAI     SpellBook = EvilSpellBook     SpellBookMp = IsengardSpellBook     PurchaseScienceCommandSet = EvilSpellStoreCommandSet     PurchaseScienceCommandSetMP = IsengardSpellStoreCommandSet     DisplayName = INI:FactionIsengard     BeaconName = MultiplayerBeacon     LightPointsUpSound = IsengardLightPointsUp     ObjectiveAddedSound = Gui_MissionObjectiveNew     ObjectiveCompletedSound = Gui_MissionObjectiveCompleted     BuildableHeroesMP = CreateAHero IsengardLurtz IsengardSharku IsengardWormTongue IsengardSaruman     BuildableRingHeroesMP = MordorSauron_RingHero     InitialUpgrades = Upgrade_IsengardDualEconomyChoice Upgrade_IsengardFaction Upgrade_EvilDualEconomyChoice     SpellStoreCurrentPowerLabel = APT:SpellStoreCurrentRingPower     SpellStoreMaximumPowerLabel = APT:SpellStoreMaximumRingPower     ResourceModifierObjectFilter = RESOURCE_MODIFIER_OBJECT_FILTER     ResourceModifierValues = 100 100 100 95 90 85 80 75 71 68 66     MultiSelectionPortrait = UPIsengard_Army     LoadScreenMusic = Shell2MusicForLoadScreen End

And now in detail...:
              

Code

Side = Isengard

This is also used by scripts when checking the faction (spell purchase, music).

              

Code

PlayableSide = Yes

You want to be able to play this faction, right?

              

Code

Evil = Yes

Hardcoded reference for campaigns and probably more stuff.

              

Code

StartMoney = 0

This is on top of what you can set as starting resources in the game setup.

              

Code

MaxLevelMP = #DIVIDE( PLAYER_MAX_PURCHASE_POINTS_DEFAULT PLAYER_PURCHASE_POINTS_GRANTED ) MaxLevelSP = #DIVIDE( PLAYER_MAX_PURCHASE_POINTS_EVIL PLAYER_PURCHASE_POINTS_GRANTED )

Maximum 'experience points' your faction can gain to buy SpellBook powers in skirmish/multiplayer mode (MP) and campaign mode (SP).

              

Code

PreferredColor = R:175 G:49 B:33

RGB settings for favourite house color. Pretty irrelevant, since you can pick colors by hand.

              

Code

StartingBuilding = IsengardFortress

Vital. It identifies the Object placed on the starting position. It unpacks into a 'base' (a .bse file containing the central keep + the 6-7 buildplots) If you are setting up a new faction, this is what you need badly: a new fortress.

              

Code

StartingUnit0 = IsengardPorter StartingUnitOffset0 = X:1 Y:230 Z:0 StartingUnit1 = IsengardPorter StartingUnitOffset1 = X:1 Y:150 Z:0 StartingUnitTacticalWOTR = IsengardPorter StartingUnitTacticalWOTR = IsengardPorter

Starting units and their starting positions relative to the preplaced fortress (MP only). You can append more entries to this list (0, 1, and continuing with 2, 3 etc.).

              

Code

IntrinsicSciences = SCIENCE_EVIL IntrinsicSciencesMP = SCIENCE_ISENGARD

Basic Science which is a prerequisite for the rest of the faction's Spell Book powers (campaign/skirmish)

              

Code

DefaultPlayerAIType = IsengardSkirmishAI

VERY IMPORTANT REFERENCE (see at end of this section)

              

Code

SpellBook = EvilSpellBook SpellBookMp = IsengardSpellBook

SpellBook Objects that contain the SpecialPowers of the SpellBooks and the CommandSets to execute them.

              

Code

PurchaseScienceCommandSet = EvilSpellStoreCommandSet PurchaseScienceCommandSetMP = IsengardSpellStoreCommandSet

This identifies the CommandSet used for the spell purchase menues (campaign/skirmish)

              

Code

DisplayName = INI:FactionIsengard BeaconName = MultiplayerBeacon

String references from 'lotr.str/lotr.csf'

              

Code

LightPointsUpSound = IsengardLightPointsUp ObjectiveAddedSound = Gui_MissionObjectiveNew ObjectiveCompletedSound = Gui_MissionObjectiveCompleted

Sound references from either 'sounds.ini' or 'eva.ini'

              

Code

BuildableHeroesMP = CreateAHero IsengardLurtz IsengardSharku IsengardWormTongue IsengardSaruman BuildableRingHeroesMP = MordorSauron_RingHero

Objects built using the Respawn buttons of fortress CommandSets. Only relevant for human player (and SkirmishAI_1)!

The entries are IRRELEVANT for SkirmishAI_2!!!

              

Code

InitialUpgrades = Upgrade_IsengardDualEconomyChoice Upgrade_IsengardFaction Upgrade_EvilDualEconomyChoice

Starting PLAYER (global) upgrades (somewhat like the SCIENCES) which can be used to identify the faction within codes by the 'TriggeredBy =' -line in various behaviours.

              

Code

SpellStoreCurrentPowerLabel = APT:SpellStoreCurrentRingPower SpellStoreMaximumPowerLabel = APT:SpellStoreMaximumRingPower

I never checked, but i assume this are grfical elements of the SpellBook powers stuff (the filling circles etc.)

              

Code

ResourceModifierObjectFilter = RESOURCE_MODIFIER_OBJECT_FILTER ResourceModifierValues = 100 100 100 95 90 85 80 75 71 68 66

This list can be changed and extended as you wish. It reduces the output of resource buildings after the first 3 are built, presumably to a) give a losing player still a chance and b) reflect the fact that later structures are built farther from the economic center. The macro RESOURCE_MODIFIER_OBJECT_FILTER is defined in 'gamedata.ini' and lists all standard resource buildings. Only those objects in the list will count for this reduction.

              

Code

MultiSelectionPortrait = UPIsengard_Army

If you select more than one troop type, this is what the portrait will look like.

              

Code

LoadScreenMusic = Shell2MusicForLoadScreen

Custom music when starting a skirmish game while playing this faction. Defined in 'music.ini' (it's a variable multisound).

********************
In the faction setup, we have come across the following vital piece of code:
              

Code

DefaultPlayerAIType = IsengardSkirmishAI

This entry will lead us to the next file...




---- PLAYERAITYPES

In the file 'data\ini\playeraitypes.ini' you will find the following code (here is the Isengard section):
              

Code

PlayerAIType IsengardAI     LibraryMap = "Libraries\AI_Men Of The West\AI_Men Of The West.map" End PlayerAIType IsengardSkirmishAI     LibraryMap = "Libraries\AI_Men Of The West\AI_Men Of The West.map" End

These two are the reference names of the script pack used for the AI. If you look over them you will find that ALL OF THEM use the same files, 'AI_Men Of The West.map'. This was different in BfMe1, where every faction had it's own pack. For SkirmishAI_2 this isn't needed. 'AI_Men Of The West.map' doesn't inherit any Faction-specific scripts. In fact the only piece of real interest contained in it are the scripts for SpellPurchase, which has it's own routines to distinguish between the factions. In case you are aiming to adjust the AI via scripts (or even completely overhauling the AI), this is where you can reference a new pack.


- continued on next page -

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