[3.1+] NullBot: an adaptive skirmish AI

[themac]

I am also playing around with the NullBot AI these days and it fights pretty well. Will it be able to "learn" in the future, similar to the AIvolution by troman (which has never been finished)?

[NoQ]

Even though i have no idea how to implement that, there seems to be some room for automated learning. Especially things like research/production balance, research branch balance, probably attack timing ...

[aubergine]

In the 3.2 branch there are data storage mechanisms that persist between games - once those become available in public release versions AI developers will be able to start experimenting with making their AIs learn over time.

[NoQ]

v1.28

Changes:

• Fix a bug that resulted in AI armies making random senseless moves
• Fix a script fail when the base is almost destroyed so no place to return units is available
• Fix a typo in oil drum picking code
• Make the generic AI build a bit less defenses

[aubergine]

Seems to be stuttering again on 8-player maps in v1.27 - I'll have a try now with v1.28 and report back. I've been playing on Babel's Catacombs - me and 3 nullbots vs. 4 nullbots.

Also, I notice that enemy doesn't seem to be going after oil derricks too much early in the game - so if one nullbot gets more resources it quickly overruns the others due to more power, the opponent leaves it's resources pretty much untouched. Maybe have nullbot assign a small squad to taking out enemy derricks?

[Goth Zagog-Thou]

7 Nullbot - Hover vs me on my map UrbanEqual on the default difficulty is CRAZY strong. In a good way. Nice going!

[aubergine]

v1.28 still lagging, on wz 3.1 beta 10. Seems that when large numbers of buildings/units are on map the lag starts so possibly target designation code needs tuning?

BTW, nullbot is really kicking some ass now - great work!

[NoQ]

aubergine: btw, can you confirm that it lags less on EASY or MEDIUM? (:

[aubergine]

I was testing on MEDIUM and HARD. I've not tried EASY, but will give that a go now and report back.

[NoQ]

Easy should be the same as medium.
Oh well ...

[Giani]

The MC nullbot(v1.28, insane) doesn't have heavy bodies at 30:00 and he was still using some viper-ht-tmg and hmg tanks...
The only bodies he had were viper and cobra, and the weapons he had were light cannons, light mortars and hmg...

[aubergine]

On EASY there was no noticeable lag, however there were far fewer units on the map compared to other games on MEDIUM or HARD setting.

[Giani]

The MC nullbot(v1.28, insane) doesn't have heavy bodies at 30:00 and he was still using some viper-ht-tmg and hmg tanks...
The only bodies he had were viper and cobra, and the weapons he had were light cannons, light mortars and hmg...

But 2 mins later, it started using medium cannon, python and scorpion, but still it was very late...

[Giani]

I started whit no bases...

[NoQ]

MC personality is tweaked for ultra rushing, so it is pretty slow in early research (python on 30th minute is sort of normal in this sort of games ...) I can see if i could tweak some things ...