Give bots some battle awareness: dangerous location, possible danger source

Suggestions
1

While on dev server, playing mostly against bots two changes would have been welcomed to make these fights more realistic.

When bots run in a single file, one after the another, and I’m peeking out of a window hidden to them but able to shoot them from behind while they run along the other side of the wall, the second, third, fourth etc bots continue running as if nothing happened, the squadmate in front of them did not died just a second ago from a close shot from behind.

Same happened when I built a MG nest 15 meter away to the right of their “migration route” in another match. I was able to kill around 120 of them one by one, not a single unit attempted to get in the building and kill me.

To avoid that, I guess two changes would be useful:

  1. place a hidden marker (with timeout) for them where there were too many deaths (just like the arty markers) that they would avoid if it does not need too much pathing around. (Not right around the cap as then they’d just avoid the objective.) If other bots can pass, reduce the danger level.
  2. as well as another similar marker for the assumed source of their deaths if at least one bot saw another dying (no kill cam for bots please :slight_smile: ).
    If the first location remains dangerous for too long, attempt an attack on the second, if the second location is cleaned up, perhaps remove the danger zone marker.

Yes I know it comes with all kind of issues on its own, but after 3 years of beta testing AI, I’d expect some bloodlust and vengeance from them. Could be a Revenge of the Bots update, just don’t give this pattern to too much of the population or humans will quit. :slight_smile:

4 Likes
2

The bots in this game are so bad and frustrating, at this point I would be happy if their default mode was to just go find a tree and lay down behind it until they are called. They are useless and get in my way more then they assist me. They more or less are just cannon fodder for the other team that just get in your way.

3 Likes
3

I disagree, compared to how bad they were earlier their current performance is almost acceptable.

They are my backup life but I must protect them, which goes more or less instinctively by now (e.g. use safe paths when moving, stop them in safe locations and explore with one soldier first etc.).

Currently they do not

  • fail to fight back a melee attack inside buildings
  • run out like headless chickens into artillery strikes
  • stop ALWAYS in front of me when shooting or building (just sometimes)
  • start running around when I try to stay hidden and prone
  • stuck in every single object and moonwalk into it forever (e.g. doors, windows, sandbags, free electrons), just sometimes
  • laser-snipe you through all the foliage from 300 meters

which they did before. So to my eyes they are currently considerably better easy opponents for newbies, just too inhuman in a 1 player vs all opponents bots match.

1 Like
4

Either way, their still bad. :joy: Funny thing is I never see any of them die, and I see melee kills I get that apparently they did, so, yes, they are doing something, but to many times they get killed for basically disobeying orders. :rofl: NTM getting themselves and myself killed walking or crawling in front of me while I’m shooting at the enemy, and since I can’t kill the bot, he shields the bullets, and the enemy kills us both. :joy: So, are they better? Maybe, but really that is not saying much. :smile:

1 Like
5

Yes, that happens regularly, but at least when I try to build something they try to get out of the way now.
At this pace by 2028 they’ll be good to play with/against. :slight_smile:

1 Like
6

Let me know when I can build a stockade for my bots, and release them as needed. :rofl: :rofl: