waypointing

[Huntkillaz]

hi,

i was wondering,is it easy to add more types of waypoints to podbot 2.6mm,
coz that would probably help in making them faster and smarter

(ie i was playing as_oilrig and noticed many times that the vip goes up towards the goal, but then hangs around (using the hq waypoint pack 1n2 from this forum) and has a chance of getting killed)

if so i think i would have to edit the files that contain variables and the waypoint .cpp n .h files am i right?

i use to do waypointing 1year or so back on podbot 2.5, having 500-800 waypoints per map all done manually (took me a week to do 1 map but itwas well worth it). The bots were great but unfortunately the 10-20 maps that i did do got lost in a system crash

ps: anyone got any good .cfg files for waypointing?

[>BKA< T Wrecks]

Hi Huntkillaz,

let's see... what waypoints do you mean? You said you d/l'ed the hq pack 1 and 2 from here (could have been mine), but as_oilrig wasn't part of that pack. Maybe you mixed it up, because i DID include de_oilrig?
Being a default map, as_oilrig was waypointed by SoUlFaThEr, at least in later releases of PMB's bot.
Anyway, the VIP problem: What exactly do you mean with "hangs around"? Do you mean that he didn't go straight to the escape zone?
Ok, in PODBot 2.5 the VIP always went pretty directly to the escape point. BUT: he always took the fastest route - and that means that he always took the same route. What you observed may be due to the new A* pathfinder that's been added to PODBot. It causes bots to choose more varied paths, one of its disadvantages being that a VIP doesn't always choose the quickest route on an as_map. On the other hand, it makes as_maps more fun to play because you never know where the VIP is. He can now choose the longest (and slowest) route and sneak to safety where hardly anyone would expect him.
Or maybe he just heard an enemy? When bots hear or see enemys or fight them, they switch to non-waypointed navigation.

But you also said maybe more types of WPs would help. What waypoint types did you have in mind? Was that suggestion a general one, or were you thinking about solving this VIP thing in as_oilrig with more WP types? If so, what do you think could be helpful?

Concerning good cfg's for waypointing, check SoUlFaThEr's thread "the optimal binds for this PB 2.6mm editor"...here:

http://forums.bots-united.com/showthread.php?t=1275

[Huntkillaz]

well when i was playing th vip got up to the open area near the helicopter, then saw another ct going down the vent shaft near by so he went and followed other times they just ran round the map not going to the objective (escape zone).

i will have a look at the waypoints again to see if there is anything wrong there.

as for the waypoints i was thinking if i could add more waypoint types (currently: camp,normal,t goal, ct goal,..)
to like vip misson goal (ct's usually ignore unless they vip) , there was more important ones i had thought of earlier but has slipped my mind right now.

[>BKA< T Wrecks]

Hehe... yes, sometimes you can get the cramps when watching the VIP... he's inches away from a rescue point, but then he sees an enemy, and instead of taking one step back and winning the round by escaping, he starts to fight the enemy... 9_9
Btw, there are even less WP types. There are no CT and T goal WPs. I once suggested adding a possiblity to make map goals team-specific in order to make maps with a goal for each team fully playable with bots. csde_tropic is a good example, or de_wallmart. In both maps, there are hostages to rescue, and there's a bomb spot somewhere. But the Ts often try to plant the damn bomb near the hostages because they don't know the difference between map goal WPs. Anyway, a whole new waypoint type would be too much for that. The possibility to add a "T only goal / CT only goal" flag (like with camp WPs) would be sufficient IMHO.
As to that VIP problem, I think the best solution is not in changing waypoints. What do you want to change, add "high-priority waypoints" ? The VIP already has one - the map goal. Or block passages for the VIP ? That would reduce the VIP's possibilities to choose an unexpected route. Or make VIP-exclusive waypoints? That would make waypointing as_maps twice the PITA.
I think any improvement to the VIP's behaviour should not be sought after in the waypoints themselves, but rather in the bot code, because the bot code tells bots what to do with the waypoints they have...

[SoUlFaThEr]

i dont know about you guys.....but my vip on my own waypointed as_oilrig released in my officials waypoint opack for the standards maps is working lllllllovely for me.
the VIP uses ALL kinds of different routes.....some of them are dumb, but still he doesnt use just one route.

think about this a minute Huntkillaz:

the bots have different personalities.
camper/defensive
normal(will rush and wait)
agressive

if the VIP happens to spawn as a camperdefensive bot...he will wait around, cuz hes scared of dying or having enemy contact whern hes alone.....so when he sees another CT.....he MIGHT follow it.

thats what your problem is.....

i had once asked to force the VIP into having a normal personality......so he wont be the first one rushing out in front.........and wont be camping around the entire map.

[>BKA< T Wrecks]

I spectated some rounds, and what I was referring to was the VIP switching to unwaypointed navigation when he saw an enemy. That's what kept him from running to the rescue zone. And yes, sometimes he could have walked straight onto the helipad, because the only remaining T around was far away...but of course, the bots don't KNOW that, so if the VIP has chosen a longer route, he'll stick to it - even if a human player would seize the opportunity and make a dash for the rescue zone. It's not a waypoint problem.

Oh, and concerning the bots' personalities: Didn't Pierre-Marie change the VIP personality to "coward" by default? Or was that changed again?

[SoUlFaThEr]

afaik he did NOT change that and he shouldt be a coward. he should be normal.......not up front and not last!

for me the VIP is rather backburner priorities anyway......how many good as maps are out there? few in relation to de_ and cs_

it will get adjusted soon dont worry i have plans to change the vip,bomb carrier and hostage draggers behavior.

[Huntkillaz]

Originally Posted by SoUlFaThEr

it will get adjusted soon dont worry i have plans to change the vip,bomb carrier and hostage draggers behavior.

still got those plans??? could u explain some?/

[SoUlFaThEr]

well this was a really old post.....

but PMB stopped...

i cant personally change them but maybe the others can.