Shoals Surfer
Posts: 270
Joined: Sunday, 23rd March 2014, 23:51
Monday, 19th September 2016, 15:43
Change t menu/ally command system
The current t menu/ally AI system is too annoying and can't decide between micro or macro management cleanly (needing to repeat basic commands for functional AI, but not allowing more specific/individual commands to improve effectiveness). Since the dev opinion of ally management currently leans towards macro management, I suggest the following changes to ally commands/the t menu (assume everything other than shout is replaced with below):
1) Implement 'stance' system for ally AI. When the player sets a stance, all past/present/future allies will follow it without having to be specifically told. This stance stays in effect until the player changes it. The player can choose between the following stances:
-Aggressive: Attack/move to attack any enemy within the player's LoS. The default stance on starting the game.
-Defensive: Start attacking only when an enemy attacks an ally or the player, stop attacking when there are no enemies in the player's LoS.
-Retreat: Do not attack.
2) Allies will follow the player (like 'Follow Me') for all stances.
3) The following commands override stance/following (again, for all past/present/future allies) until cancelled or completed:
-Attack Target: The player specifies a target. All allies will attempt to kill the target (or any enemy in the way) until the target is dead, incapacitated, or a new target is given. If the target leaves the player's LoS, allies will follow the set stance until the target re-enters, where the command will resume (same case if the target is invisible and the ally does not have SInv).
-Guard Area: The player specifies a 5x5 area. All allies will attempt to occupy the area, or be as close as possible. They will attack any enemy who comes within reach and within the player's LoS (so melee attacks anything adjacent, polearms attack anything within reach, smiters can attack anything, etc.), but will not pursue enemies. Allies will continue to stay in/near the area even if the player leaves LoS. The command is cancelled if the player enters a different level or specifies a new area to guard.
-Follow Me: Cancels any overriding command and sets AI back to following (based on selected stance).
4) Allies (on the level) will always hear and follow commands/stance changes , ignoring distance
Thus, the new t menu would look like this:
(command names/key shortcuts subject to bikeshedding)
1) Implement 'stance' system for ally AI. When the player sets a stance, all past/present/future allies will follow it without having to be specifically told. This stance stays in effect until the player changes it. The player can choose between the following stances:
-Aggressive: Attack/move to attack any enemy within the player's LoS. The default stance on starting the game.
-Defensive: Start attacking only when an enemy attacks an ally or the player, stop attacking when there are no enemies in the player's LoS.
-Retreat: Do not attack.
2) Allies will follow the player (like 'Follow Me') for all stances.
3) The following commands override stance/following (again, for all past/present/future allies) until cancelled or completed:
-Attack Target: The player specifies a target. All allies will attempt to kill the target (or any enemy in the way) until the target is dead, incapacitated, or a new target is given. If the target leaves the player's LoS, allies will follow the set stance until the target re-enters, where the command will resume (same case if the target is invisible and the ally does not have SInv).
-Guard Area: The player specifies a 5x5 area. All allies will attempt to occupy the area, or be as close as possible. They will attack any enemy who comes within reach and within the player's LoS (so melee attacks anything adjacent, polearms attack anything within reach, smiters can attack anything, etc.), but will not pursue enemies. Allies will continue to stay in/near the area even if the player leaves LoS. The command is cancelled if the player enters a different level or specifies a new area to guard.
-Follow Me: Cancels any overriding command and sets AI back to following (based on selected stance).
4) Allies (on the level) will always hear and follow commands/stance changes , ignoring distance
Thus, the new t menu would look like this:
(command names/key shortcuts subject to bikeshedding)
- For this message the author Floodkiller has received thanks: 2
- Cimanyd, Shard1697