Challenge ProMode Arena: Enhanced Bots
--------------------------------------
Date: 28 Apr 03
Well, go figure...
Thanks to Qrealka and Diamant, I've put some effort into the bots.
None of this would have happened if they hadn't been willing to help
out, because it would have taken more time than I have to spare.
Pretty much all the DM AI has been improved over CPMA1.1 with new
decision-making code. The bots are quite a bit smarter than before,
and at times you can even "see" what they're thinking if you watch
them. They're still completely ignorant of many things though, and
unfortunately are still dependent on AAS files, which are invariably
flat out wrong about level connectivity. Swelt or I may write a guide
to how mappers can fix some of the worst problems if we ever get time.
I've ONLY focused on DM, so I expect they're still absolutely awful
at TDM/CTF/etc.
Fixes are generally for the new bots only, but some have been applied
to the standard bots as well if the bug is too pathetic to tolerate.
Those are marked with an 'I' (e.g. the 1.1 RL aim bug was a "fixI")
and are implicitly id bugs, obviously.
The skill thresholds are:
79- has pretty sucky aim
81+ enables evil RL
86+ tries to avoid "bad" RG shots **
bot_challenge 1
enables evil hitscan at skill 91+ after you're open for 0.5-0.25s
doesn't degrade accuracy at close ranges
aims faster after using a tele
does NOT otherwise affect aim skill
uses the "alternate" weapon choices (more hitscan)
** At 86+, you'll see a noticeable jump in hitscan accuracies.
This DOESN'T mean that they've suddenly become all-aim bots. They
actually still only hit as many shots as they do at 85, but since
they FIRE far less often when they know the shot is a "bad" one,
the percentages become much higher.
Skill level also affects movement speed to some extent.
There are some new bots as well, with slightly better strategic
play and some "personal" properties. They can only be used at
skill 6 and above (CPMA AI).
Apheleon
faster than all other bots
has improved RL
uses the "alternate" weapon choices
arQon
only slightly faster than normal bots
has godlike RL
uses RL a LOT
rat (the LPB version)
faster than normal bots
has godlike RL
uses RL a LOT
add: strafejumping, yay!
Qrealka and Diamant get all the credit for this one
add: tanked bots will hunt you down and spawnrape you
add: evil RL prediction (quite ratlike at times :P)
add: a bit of dodging and ducking for cover
chg: skill 6-100 uses the new AI (1-5 are the id bots)
chg: rewrote item choice management (esp wrt health and armour)
chg: weapon selection now biased towards killshots
chg: removed bot_boost
fixI: bots completely ignoring enemies 3ft away from them
fixI: bots unable to hit enemies at very narrow angles