PodBot MM
How To Play with Podbot:
Important:
Since v2.6 A few new features have been added and some commands have been depreciated.
Waypoint Folder:
PodBot MM uses the default folder for Waypoints which was used since v2.0 which is " \PODBot\WPTDefault\".
The PODBot User Menu:
Pressing the "=" key in game a Menu with the following options should appear on your Screen:
Add Bot
What do the people want? They want keep as constant the number of bots+players at the server, but sometimes this was not working correct in old PB2.5 (client connection failed - bot didn't rejoin back) - sometimes this made a server empty. Another people want the same but with the possibility of some manual control of bots on the server (some kick, some add, some removebots and some fillserver - these function have to be still avaiable). How to solve this?
Now in code is an new variable, but this variable is invisible for user-admin. I named it keep_bots_players - this variable define how many bots+players shuld be still on the server. This name is only here for explaining how this is working now and in code the name can be different.
The meaning of max_bots and min_bots - these are limits only but with possibility change them from console by:
pb max_bots {new_value}
pb min_bots {new_value}
You can define max_bots as 12 and min_bots as 2 and put 8 addbot commands in podbot.cfg - then keep_bots_players is calculated (automaticaly) as 8 - for example. If You use fillserver - this variable will
reach 12 (in our example). At the first map (server started) the first bots added to the server are from podbot.cfg - these added by addbot commands or fillserver. If there is 4 addbot commands - first will enter the game these 4 and after if there is also a fillserver command automaticaly will be added some other bots (according to min/maxbotskill min/max_bots parameters).
So - You started a game with 8 bots. One player is connected - one bot is automaticaly kicked. Player is disconnected - bot is automaticaly added. This is checked every frame - if still keep_bots_players is the same like number of bots+players.
If You decide manualy add some bot (from podbotmenu or by pb addbot from console) - bot will be added according to this what You specified (if You type pb addbot 100 2 2 3 "KWo" - just exactly this bot will be added - not some bot automaticaly). In this case keep_bots_players variable will be automaticaly incremented by 1. If You decide to kick manulay some bot - bot will be kicked (if from podbotmenu - some from selected team, if from console - exactly this You selected). In this case keep_bots_players variable will be automaticaly decremented by 1. If You decide to use fillserver and You have actualy 10 bots+players on the server - bots will
be added automaticaly until reaching max_bots = bots+players (in our example 12). In this case keep_bots_players will be overwritten by max_bots variable (12).
The same for removebots - If You decide to use this command, bots will be removed from the server until reaching min_bots = bots+players (in our example 2). In this case keep_bots_player variable will be overwritten by min_bots variable (2). Writing in console :
pb max_bots 6
will decrase (if is grater) the keep_bots_players variable to 6 and some bots will be probably kicked. Writing in console:
pb min_bots 7
will incrase (if is lower) the keep_bots_players variable to 7 and some bots will be probably added. This "probably" is depanding of actual situation on the server - if the number of human-players lets kick or add some bots in these both situations.
Connecting to the game more human-players than is actually calculated keep_bots_players will not affect this variable. If You have this variable as 10 and there is 12 human-players - of course You can't kick more bots.
All here can work automaticaly and there is still some control and possiblity of manual bots management.
Using Commands besides the in-game menu (using the console):
If a map has loaded, press the key below "Esc" ( or the ~ key) and the console screen scrolls down. Now you're able to type in commands like the ones used to control POD-Bot.
Some examples:
Just type "addbot" and a new Bot will be connected... If the Bots are stuck or you just want to start a new round type in " killbots" which will force all bots to be dead instantly. If you're sick of playing with Bots type " removebots" which will kick all Bots from the Server.
NOTE: This will also set the min_bots and max_bots settings from the podbot.cfg to zero, so you have to add Bots manually if you want them back in your game. Of course you can always use "kick" to remove single bots. To manually change maps, use the substitution for the map command. Type " newmap mapname" to change to another map. So for example to load the map "de_dust" you type "newmap de_dust". Bots present will join the Game if the map is loaded. For all console commands please read the summary below...
Summary of Console Commands:
Most of the time you will only need the POD-Bot User Menu which is by default bound to the "=" key. You can change this easily with any text-editor in 'podbot.cfg'.
All commands in square [] brackets are optional and don't need to be specified and brackets are not included in actual command. Most of these commands will also work in podbot.cfg.
FunModes:
This was one of the features removed when PODBot was ported to metamod.
Ordering Bots through Radio Commands:
You can use some of the Radio Commands to get more support from your Bots
Note: When you issue a 'Follow me' Command Bots won't follow you in 3 cases:
A Terrorist Bot carrying the C4 or picking it up, will also issue a "Follow Me" sometimes to have some assistance with him. (Note: that they have problems following on ladders at the moment because the movement is unwaypointed.) They also do some other Radio Commands like "Need Backup", "Enemy down", " Enemy spotted", " I'm in Position" (to tell you he's camping) but not very often, otherwise it would surely get on your nerves...
Summary of Bot Reactions to Radio Commands:
Bot Skill differences:
There is a file called botskill.cfg were you can tweak most skill parameters of the bots by editing the file 'botskill.cfg' with any text-editor.
Also take a look into 'podbot.cfg' to adjust some more things to your liking...settings for the Bots if you find them too easy/too hard,
First, Bots with low skills will pause/camp longer and more often, Bots with low skills have a bigger surprise time and they shoot slower and are lucky if they hit something..
Then there are minor behaviour differences. For example Bots with a skill above 80 use the Knife more often if you're near them.
If you want to get headshots all the time and attack really fast add some Bots with a skill of 100.
Bot Personalities:
There are 3 different Personalities in POD now, if you have 'detailnames' turned on they are shown through the Prefixes like this:
Right now the Personality is randomly chosen if a new Bot gets created. I want to extend a lot of stuff around Personalities so there's no sense in a specific selection and it can't be done.
BotChats:
The botchats are files which store what the bot can say during the game and when it's spectating.
They are located in the podbot\botchats Folder where you installed the Bot.
The translated versions (except the German and English ones) don't use the new Text replacements and the dynamic keyword chat is still in English language.
Rename and copy one of these to "botchat.txt" in the main podbot folder to have your localized Bot Talk.
These translated versions of the Botchat are available:
Running POD-Bot on Win32 Dedicated servers:
Install POD-Bot as described above and create a game the way you normally would. When running a dedicated server the POD-Bot commands that are normally available in the client console are disabled.
To create a bot you must set the CVAR "pb" to the command you desire.. To use the "pb" CVAR you would use one of the following commands on the dedicated server command line...
In addition these commands are supported:
When using the dedicated server, bot will also be automatically spawned using the podbot.cfg file. You can also use the min_bots/max_bots settings or the addbot command explained in that file.
Known Limitations/Bugs/Problems still present:
Bots sometimes fall from high places
Sometimes stuck in other Bots (but should unstuck after less than 5 secs)
Sometimes stuck in corners (see above)
Counter Bots sometimes fail to detect the bomb (but happens to humans also, so what?)
Bots lack advanced teamplay (very basic team-play and affection is present)
Bots are too easy to snipe, see above
Bots aren't affected by darkness
Bots don't drive vehicles, hopefully in the 'Source' engine they will :)
Due to HL Engine Limitations Bots can see through func_illusionaries (e.g. curtains in cs_747, doors in cs_backalley)
Bots don't cheat :)
Planned for future Releases:
Refining Combat Behaviours and Weapon Choices
Customisation of Personalities incorporated into a Clan-System
Advanced Team Behaviour
Automating the waypointing process
Vehicle support
Elimination of most remaining Bugs and Limitations of the above list