Vortex bots are here! - (now with video)

http://www.moddb.com/mods/jabotq2

- A* pathing in realtime
- MoveType based pathing: The AI will only find paths using movements its ai class can perform
- AI support for BOTs and MONSTERs. Through the use of ai classes.
- weighted goal system.
- Jump movement/movetype support for Bots class.
- Bot roams support (using a item_botroam entity, or dropping it from console).
- Many other improvements in every aspect of the code.

Fuck the monsters part, we want player bots right? These bots are fairly easy to edit and can use Vortex upgrades easily since they are 'clients'. Things such as regen, salvation aura, fury, will all work on these bots. They can even spree! CTF is also supported. Hell, you can even ALLY with them!

Currently the bots can be spawned with a console command, but we want them to use as an alternative for monsters. Now I have some questions for you.

-Replace PVM mode entirely, or make a seperate mode for bots?
-Or spawn bots in PVP when there are less than 2-3 players?
-Bots invasion instead of monster invasion?

The bots will spawn with a random class, depending on his level, he will have a specific upgraded weapon (lv 1 bots will never have 10 damage railguns for example) and abilities. They will give 33-50% exp (real players give 100%) to prevent exploits and using it as a main way of gaining exp.

Bots at the beginning will be dumb (because it doesn't recognize maps). The maps update itself every minute with player movements (nodes). After a few maps it will be like playing against a real player.

Not sure, but maybe they can even be saved as an actual character, so when the bot levels up, it will still be level x when they spawn a few days latter and it auto-upgrades itself randomly. So many possibities.

More news will follow.

Need to have PVM and bots in separate modes. Bots need to be in PVP mode. You should be able to vote like 4-5 bots if you are alone. As more people join the server, the bots should leave until there are 2 maximum with any amount of players.

Interesting choice of bots. The ja bots or whatever were actually one of the numerous bots I tested earlier last month. They seem to be decent as long as they learn the maps well.

Bot preview video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuvgb_uDQO0

Add em to server already.

Also, LOL at bot1 warring.

Also, LOL at the super mirv grenade spam.

Also, LOL at the 4fer.

Also, nice job on getting 3fers, 4fers, etc. implemented.

Their navigation sucks in big maps atm.

Navigation sucks because the maps haven't been played enough for the node map to get perfected.

Of course, this is assuming node mapping works relatively well. I know there are ups and downs with using it.

I made a test map for AI bots and it can barely climb the first ladder, no matter how many times I update the nodes, edit them, play (wander around) the map 10x, etc...

Here's a breakdown:



Alright, the jumping part goes smooth, up next: the ladder.



Took alot of tries, had to edit/save the nodes at least 10 times, it's time for the lava pit jump.



Stuck, brb...gonna edit the nodes.



A few minutes later...still at the same spot. He did reach the water part before, but never got through the crouching obstacle, so yeah. They're not that good at navigating as you can see.

But don't worry.

At least with Ghz's A* implementation, monsters could walk up and/or through walls to get to you

And suddenly warp 10ft upwards when they're walking on a pile of crates.

THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THEM. Like when you were playing the edge or some other map, and they would walk up crates like they were small stairs.

Have them walk over people like this, just to mess with them.