Commanding AI Allies

[Logiwan-Kenobiquiet]

Okay, here is my suggestion: That players should be able to give the AI allies more orders. You can ask "HELP" and they will either tell you to bug off or place a beacon, then send help. I have tried many other things, but this one is the only one that seems to work. Is it possible for one of the oncoming updates, to add things in like, "Transfer Trucks", or, "Attack Yellow"? Because, when I'm playing with AI allies, I always want them to give me power, or units. So in the next update, can the developers please add in some more orders that we can give our AI allies? Thanks a bunch!
~Logiwan-Kenobiquiet

[BlueMaxima]

You know, this actually isn't a bad idea. I don't see it being added to stock AI but maybe DyDo can have it.

[Zarel]

Aivolution had this kind of thing. I think stock AI supports some commands ("help me"), but I may be misremembering.

[KenAlcock]

These are actually very good ideas. I was going to suggest/request some similar, related ideas myself.

As the OP said, the stock AI supports the command "Help Me". To this command, each individual AI on the same team will reply with one of the following:

1. "Bug Off!", especially if you ask for help too often.
2. "I don't have anything!"
3. "I'm helping <color>!", where <color> is the player the AI is currently helping.
4. "Drop a beacon", which means the AI is willing to help but needs to know where to send the units.

The "Help Me" command also is also a two-way street. An AI will also ask other players for help, even other AI players. What I'm not aware of is if there is anyway to talk to the stock AI to acknowledge his request. In other words, if a human player were to type the words "Drop a beacon", in response to the AI's "Help Me" request, would the AI drop a beacon? (Actually, I think the AI automatically drops a beacon when asking for help anyway.) Or, does the AI watch for and remember your response to see how loyal and reliable of a teammate you are? IMO, the AI should keep track of how much or how little you help it, and factor that in when it decides to help you or not later on.

I agree that the game would benefit from "I need a truck" and "I need power" commands. In fact, the idea I was going to suggest was related to the fact that AI teammates never help each other like human teammates do. For instance, if you decimate an opposing AI player, no other AI player on his team will give him a truck, or power. It seems to me that they should. I've thought about this for some time, and figured this detail must've been omitted to ensure that skirmish and campaign games are win-able in a certain time frame. But I believe it should be taken under consideration, at least when the AI slider is set above normal.

I'm not sure I agree with the OP's verbiage of "Commanding the AI". Certainly one needs to type a command in the console, but should the AI player actually be subordinate to the human player? I'm on the fence there. On one hand, it would open up a new style of skirmish and MP game play, where the human is like a Field Marshall, and each AI on his team is like a general. This has some really fun possibilities to add a new facet to the game with not much redesign. On the other hand, The AI is supposed to be a surrogate player, with his own agenda. I can see valid arguments for either approach (or even both of them).

Potential AI requests (Console Commands) I think would add to the gaming experience:

• "I need a truck"
• "I need power"
• "I need units"
• "I need a power generator" (for when transferring structures is supported)
• "I need a power resource"
  Here, the AI should always give back any power resources he built on in your primary base area. Enemy AI VTOLs always target oil derricks first, and teammate AIs always try to build on them. This could be away to get them back.
• "Build Defenses Here" (followed by dropping a beacon)
  The AI should build defensive structures in a certain radius around the tile the beacon is on.
• "Power Resource Here" (followed by dropping a beacon)
• "Amass Troops Here" (followed by dropping a beacon)
  The AI should move a substantial number of mobile units in a certain radius around the tile the beacon is on.
• "Attack Enemy Base" (followed by dropping a beacon)
  The AI should attack the enemy buildings in a certain radius around the tile the beacon is on. Any defending units and structures should be bypassed, and the attack focused on base buildings. Maybe this could even be micromanaged a little bit by expanding command support to provide a prefferred strategic target:
  • "Attack Enemy Base - Ground Unit Factories"
  • "Attack Enemy Base - Cyborg Factories"
  • "Attack Enemy Base - All Factories"
  • "Attack Enemy Base - VTOL Factories"
  • "Attack Enemy Base - Power Generators"
  • "Attack Enemy Base - Oil Derricks"
  • "Attack Enemy Base - Laser Satellite"
  • ... Other such strategic targets.

[JDW]

As the OP said, the stock AI supports the command "Help Me". To this command, each individual AI on the same team will reply with one of the following:

1. "Bug Off!", especially if you ask for help too often.
2. "I don't have anything!"
3. "I'm helping <color>!", where <color> is the player the AI is currently helping.
4. "Drop a beacon", which means the AI is willing to help but needs to know where to send the units.

This would be a nice enhancement to MP. I have a suggestion of my own, if I may. Why not have more Military styled lingo, than just simple english? Like using the words Affirmative, or That's a Negative, or some other appropriate phrases..

[Logiwan-Kenobiquiet]

These are all very good suggestions. I only knew about the "Help Me" command when my cousin was playing by himself, and the AI started talking to each other. "HELP", "YELLOW, PLACE A BEACON". He called me up, and we started using the command all the time. But we were hoping for more commands. This was my very first post on this forum, and it has actually turned into a discussion!
I'm glad my suggestion inspired some comments and possible improvements to Warzone! Warzone is an awesome game, my cousin and I played the Star Wars game, Empire at War (which is about $20), and we thought this game is better, and it's free!
~Kenobi-Quiet

P.S. I read the post about oncoming updates and naval units, and now I'm so looking forward to that! Does this mean there will be sea or ocean maps now, with our bases on islands?

[JDW]

I agree with you man, this game is good fun.. I think there are many water based maps. I found one in the Mapping/Modding section .

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4758&start=150#p59386

Enjoy

[JDW]

You can ask "HELP" and they will either tell you to bug off ....

An AI that would respond like that would make WZ2100 a classic (which it is already is in a way, but you know what I mean)

[Zarel]

You can ask "HELP" and they will either tell you to bug off ....

An AI that would respond like that would make WZ2100 a classic (which it is already is in a way, but you know what I mean)

Erm, AI already does that...