
July 22nd, 2004, 06:15 PM
|
 |
Shrapnel Fanatic
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vacaville, CA, USA
Posts: 13,736
Thanks: 341
Thanked 479 Times in 326 Posts
|
|
Re: Suggestions for Improving the AI opponents
Quote:
Originally posted by mlepinski:
quote: Originally posted by tinkthank:
- The AI often seems to shuffle its troops about randomly, as if it had a multiple personality: I want to go *here*, no, I want to go *there*; I don't know what can help here.
|
I don't see anything wrong with the AI shuffling it's troops at random. I agree that it might be better if the AI "intelligently" determined where to move it's troops, but that type of "intelligence" is tough to implement and random shuffling does keep the Human player guessing.
As a great philosopher once said: "If you can't be smart, be random" It gets pretty crazy. Not only is it hard to do in any game, its majorly hard to do in a game which is basicaly written to not keep track of things over multiple turns.
Also, the smarter an AI gets, the more predictable and beatable it gets. I know that seems wrong but consider as just one example that if an AI always chooses the most efficient path to reach you, then how long before you start baiting and ambushing it? As is often said in the AI newsGroups "There is a difference between artificially intelligent and artificially human". The easiest and simplest way to make an AI more human is to add stupid surprising randoms to its actions.
If you cant be smart then be random? Sounds like one of my sig lines that says
If you cant beat them, then join them.
If you cant beat them or join them
then at least try to surprise them.
__________________
-- DISCLAIMER:
This game is NOT suitable for students, interns, apprentices, or anyone else who is expected to pass tests on a regular basis. Do not think about strategies while operating heavy machinery. Before beginning this game make arrangements for someone to check on you daily. If you find that your game has continued for more than 36 hours straight then you should consult a physician immediately (Do NOT show him the game!)
|