AI Research Queues

[Devnullicus]

OK, I'm working on modifying the UkraTal as a test case for using a new technology tree (see the "devnullmod" thread for more details) and I'm having some serious confusion issues with the way the AI does it's research queue.

Here's what's happening: I have the AI_Research file set up below. With that, I start a game with low tech costs and high starting values. But the AI seems to ignore many sections of the AI_Research file and skip ahead to future research for no apparent reason. So, the first turn, the UkraTal research
-Ship Construction 2
-Organic Engineering
(so far, so good)
-External Mount Missile Weapons 1
(HUH??? What happened to Organic Weapons 1??)

In the queue at the beginning of the next turn is Military Science 1 (thus skipping Organic Weapons 1, Ship Construction 3, and Missile Weapons 1)

I'm VERY confused as to why the AI seems to skip researching some technology. Does anyone know what's wrong? Am I doing something wrong?

Here's the relevant bit of UkraTal_AI_Research.txt
============================================
AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Ship Construction
Tech Area Level := 2
Tech Area Min Percent := 25

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Space Yards
Tech Area Level := 1
Tech Area Min Percent := 25

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Organic Engineering
Tech Area Level := 1
Tech Area Min Percent := 100

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Organic Weapons
Tech Area Level := 1
Tech Area Min Percent := 100

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Ship Construction
Tech Area Level := 3
Tech Area Min Percent := 25

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Missile Weapons
Tech Area Level := 1
Tech Area Min Percent := 50

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Organic Weapons
Tech Area Level := 5
Tech Area Min Percent := 100

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := External Mount Missile Weapons
Tech Area Level := 1
Tech Area Min Percent := 50

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Military Science
Tech Area Level := 1
Tech Area Min Percent := 25

AI State := Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attack, Attack, Secure Holdings After Attack, Incursion, Prepare for Defense, Defend (Short Term), Defend (Long Term)
Tech Area Name := Point-Defense Weapons
Tech Area Level := 4
Tech Area Min Percent := 25

[Tampa_Gamer]

Devnull - the AI will always keep 4 research projects in the queue. It will add projects in the order that is in the research file provided it has the prerequisite already satisfied. Thus, like projects have to be spaced at least 3 projects apart so that when it goes to add the next one, it will just have completed any prerequisite.

Example 1 (would not work):

Ship Construction 2
Chemistry 1
Armor 1
Projectile Weapons 1

Example 2 (would work):

Chemistry 1
Ship Construction 2
Projectile Weapons 1
Military Science 1
Armor 1

b/c it will just have completed "Chemistry" prior to adding Armor 1

This is all b/c the line item specifying 25, 50 and 100 does not currently work. Sometimes the 100 will limit it to 3 active items, but we have not yet nailed it down yet. Also, God Emperor has a mod that creates a "filler tech" so that you do not have to wait for 3 full projects to complete.

Hope this helps - there are also several good threads from Last month on this.

[Devnullicus]

Hmm, ok, thanks. Couple quick questions:

1) Where would I find GodEmporer's Mod for filler-tech?
2) What are some of the thread titles that I can search on to find the discussion on this topic. I want to read more on this.

[Tampa_Gamer]

Devnull-

Here is the link to God Emperor's filler tech/research mod
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/ubbup...sign_v135a.zip

As for search terms - dunno, perhaps someone will bump - but I could not find them.

[Daynarr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Devnullicus:
(HUH??? What happened to Organic Weapons 1??)

---

They can't add Organic Weapons to the queue because they haven't researched the necessary tech - Organic Engineering. They will add them at the end of the queue as soon as they research the necessary prerequisites. That means that they will need to research Organic Engineering, 3 other techs and only then they will research organic weapons.

The system is fairly simple - the AI maintains a queue of 4 techs all the time. In order to do that AI will go through the research.txt file from top to bottom and will place in queue the first tech that:

a) hasn't been researched already
b) all the necessary prerequisite techs have been researched
c) isn't disabled in the game setup

(there may be more but at the moment I just can't remember them)
If the tech has met all the mentioned requirements it will be placed at the end of the queue.

Hope this makes it somewhat clearer. I do understand all this but it's hard to explain it without confusing people even more.

Wouldya look at that - Tampa beat me to it.

[This message has been edited by Daynarr (edited 25 April 2001).]