[3.1+] NullBot: an adaptive skirmish AI

[themac]

I have a strange issue with the latest NullBot: It likes to build up base structures no matter if it has the power for it and no matter if it has got oil derricks to earm power. It uses all his trucks zu build up the base structure which will never be finished because he does not look for oil derricks. When I send him some power he uses it to build up some more base structures even if he has not at least one oil derrick caught up. O.o

[NoQ]

Can't reproduce. Care to show a picture?

[themac]

I am not sure if this is a nullbot issue. I have also seen this mystery thing with the standard ai on some maps.

[NoQ]

Is it some personality? Which one?

[themac]

Ah, yes, that is the map. I did try it twice. Both the same problem. My position was on 11 AM on this map, right beside my NullBot team member at 01 AM. I first build up my base at NullBots base: I liked to watch a robot only war. While I can set the standard AI for myself only which is a bit stupid I build up my base in NullBots base, but I do not take his oil. NullBot itself does also avoid his oil, and every other oil too.

[NoQ]

NullBot will not take the oils that are closer to his allies' command center than to his own. Otherwise people start to whine "oh your stupid AI takes our oil".

I repeat: if you want to see AI vs. AI matches, use cheats (Ctrl+O) to give yourself some other command center building, like Collective command center, that will not make the AI react on it.

[NoQ]

Added a complete AI vs. AI match guide to the first message.

[themac]

I still wonder why NullBot did not search for some oil derricks somwhere else.

[NoQ]

Most likely he did but the trucks were killed, and he doesn't have money to produce more.
He also tries to keep some trucks in base for construction no matter what, because it's one of the weaknesses of the Nexus AI (he sends all his trucks to capture oils, which eg. delays the construction of modules by several minutes).
But i never seen a situation yet when making base truck hunt for oils is useful. I will probably do some coding for that particular case if you want ...

[themac]

I did try the cheat tip to make a different HQ, but when I do so my AI makes a standard HQ anyway. That is not what I liked to do. Some tests before NullBot used 5 trucks to build up a structure he had not the power for, but it used no trucks to solve this problem. That confuses me a bit, sometimes ^^.

[NoQ]

You are giving the AI a different HQ? No, it is you who need a different HQ (:

[themac]

I gave ME the different HQ, but in autogame on mode the AI that is playing for me builds up a standard HQ anyway!

[NoQ]

"autogame on" fires up Nexus AI on Easy. I can't change that.

[themac]

I know. I have no idea how to get NullBot for my player also.

[NoQ]

Currently impossible.
Hmm, maybe i could come up with some crazy mod on this topic ... (?)