The ULTIMATE AI Suggestion

[Upolaf]

This post is deticated to the brave AI fighter of WWII

Greetings,

Today i would like to talk about the most important aspect of the game.
Enlisted is presented as a MMO squad based shooter. We may argue that the « MMO » word is not the best fit for the game is just a multiplayer shooter. But we can all agree the squad is in the center of the gameplay. This very mechanic is rare in video game industry as you can only find few exemple around the world. It makes the battles uniques and give the immersive feeling that you are part of a big army, and not a lone wolf, fighting a messy war where every troop recieve different orders.

But after the fight minutes of rushing Omaha beach with thousand of other US soldier the truth hit you like a fly hit a window. The immersion is broken and bug and AI seems to show the first sign of weakness.
You soon realise that the only reliable member of your squad is you. The bots have an arguably « ok » path finding and present some sign of early stroke.

After few games the verdict falls and you apprehend you squad more like a gimick than a realable game design. They soon become expendable token without purpose but to be a currency you spend in exchange of fast spawn.

Then you remember all the games of this century and try to compare the AI.
Assassin Creed, the Elder Scroll, Cyber Punk, Ghost of Tsuchima, Fallout4, Total War. Games that pretended to have a revolutionnary AI that mimick the reaction of real humain but where just a facade to behaviour limited to 3 codes of lines. Let’s not make list bigger.

Enlisted got so much potential yet and could be an exemple on how to treat the AI in all the video games industry. As 2007 game Crysis was remarquable for its amazing graphics, , WoW for is revolutionnary MMORPG gameplay, and Enlisted could be remarquable for its amazing AI.

So, what do I suggest to improve the AI?

4 topics that need to be answered :

1. SURROUNDING AWARENESS

2. AI BEHAVIOUR

3. SQUAD ORDERS

4. BUGS

Player are aware of their surrouding. They know where are protections, where is no mansland, where could come danger, what is the safest way to go.
AI don’t percieve precisely their environment. And they don’t know the difference between standing in a trench or standing on an open field. They should be aware of different usefull information about their surrounding :

Perception of cover

Object can be group as families, the most usefull one is the Cover family of objetct.
Walls,Craters,House wall,Sand bag, Wood stack…

Those objects have to be percieve by the AI as a structure that can provide cover. The AI need to adapt their behaviour according to those objects. It will be the base of the Squad orders and AI behaviour.

Perception of attackable structure

Some building are design for assault and defense, the Attackable/Defensible Structure.
Bunker,House,Train, Objectives…

Those work like objectif you can make an order directly on it. They are the Defensible/attackable position. Some specific preset emplacement for bot can be determined as it’s already the case for the train map.
here is an exemple:

It will be determinant for the gestion of Squad Orders and AI behaviour.

Noise perception

Another important way to be aware of the surrounding is noise.
For the moment, the AI react only if the bullet land close to the squad, whatever the distance. AI should be aware of gun shot and very close runing step noise as it will usefull for the next topic.

Now the AI can is aware of their surrounding. They can finally use it.
For the moment an AI will rush strait to the point if they recieve an order, they will stop and crouch in the middle of the road while there is a perfectly fine cover next to it just to fire a twill to the ennemy until the player is to far.

Reaction to an agression

When the AI or the a member of the squad, the AI should be looking for the closest cover around. If it’s too far then and only then he could be crouching.

Reaction when enemy is spoted

AI has an X-ray vision that hurt a lot the immersion. As it is clearly a bug and will be set in the last topic it is important to state a very basic reaction.
By default AI should be always the general direction of the ennemy (red arrow). This direction can then be overwrite if somebody mark a zone close by, close gun sound, recieve a specific order, hear a noise…
Also some FPS make a very good job to give the AI some kind of memory.

It can help the AI to aim at the right direction instinctively even if the ennemy as hide away for a long time.

Reaction to noise

We should also considered one of the most important tool the player use: the noise. AI should be aware of gun shot to spot the general direction of the ennemy.

PRIORITY

All these information can now be set in order to create a priority for the attention and aiming for the

Priority should be given to manage the attention of an AI:

1. Being shot at
2. Ennemy visible in range
3. Close gun shot noise
4. Close running steps
5. Last position known of an ennemy
6. Far away gun shot
7. “Red Arrow”

For the moment only 1. is implemented in the game.

After the previous suggestions AI is now more I than A as it can percieve its surrounding and react according to a logical way to the threat and opportunity.
Now the good part, the squad orders. Everybody has his own idea of what cool squad order could be. But how to keep the gameplay simple with no more than two buton and not thousand of different squad order that looks the same except a little difference ? Let me propose a simple way to deal with more complexe task and by making the gameplay simple. To do it, let’s find exemple in other game.
But we shouldn’t look at FPS games we should be looking in RTS games.

I propose this simple configuration for the « order buton »

• One click= Attack order

• Two click = Run order

• hold click = Focus fire order

Attack order :

• if use on a random area of the map it will atc as the classic attack order with the improvment of the AI Behaviour as stated above. Same as before except once at the position the AI will look for the cover positions. They will also react differently on the way thanks to their new behaviour.
  We can compare it to a «Attack + left click » in an RTS.

• If you execute an Attack order an objet « Defendable Object Familly» (Bunker, house, train).
  The squad will Push the attack on the position of the defendable object. Once it got inside, i twill face the defender and then claim the place.
  The squad will then take position in the defined spot (just like now for trains) and hold the position until futher order.
  They will however defend the entrance of the building and aim at the general direction of the ennemy.
  The priority behaviour happen then.
  

  
  
  The first floor or second floor of a attackable structure can be aim separatly so we can more easely clean some area.
  We can compare it to a « right click » on a target in an RTS.

Run order

• Your squad will « Duck and run ». They will run passively to the position, doing a sprint. They will not respond to any threat unless the ennemy is very close. The run order is cancel automaticaly as soon as the squad as arrived at position.
  We can compare it to a « Right click » on NO target in a RTS

Focus fire

• When hold, you will order your squad to « Look at this position ». Your squad will respond quicker and harder to any threat in this area.
  In this stence, your squad will be more aggressive, more reactive, and will use more bullet…
  It is meant to simulate a suppresion of the zone.
  We can compare it to the way you position an MG squad in Company of heros.
  

If no order is given, the AI behave like if it got an attack order where the player is (or the defendable structure he is).

Now it’s time to relax and enjoy the current beta state of the AI. That will be just old memories at release.

• Building Path finding bug ( SQUAD ORDERS)

Here is your video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er1Lwd5JxIE

.

• Looking at grenades stroke bug (AI BEHAVIOUR)

Here is your meme.

.

• AI X-ray vision ( SURROUNDING AWARENESS)

Here is your Comics

• Dog circle : AI sometime chase their tails like dogs. (AI BEHAVIOUR)

• Never Reloading : Often switching AI resulting in having 1 ammo left and die. (AI BEHAVIOUR)

• Giving an order from the second floor target the first floor. ( SQUAD ORDERS)

• AI sometime down an ennemy and then move away, without finishing it. (AI BEHAVIOUR)

• Not a bug, but crouching AI to help the people aim is a false good idea if the AI behaviour is rightly implemented. (AI BEHAVIOUR)

Love the game. Love the devs. Love the fox. Love the comunity.

Thanks for reading.

Here is your reward. It’s a song about a bugged AI that try to kill everybody but fail:

Portal - 'Still Alive'

[AchtColaAchtBier-psn]

Mmmmmmmmmh CoH… Thousands of Hours … Mmmh
Its like you say… Red Cover Yellow Cover Green Cover. AI should work with that.
Then react with that against the Enemy.

I really think about CoH3 but i think its only copie and paste, compared to CoH2

I hope we get some Minen-Dreschflegel-Shermans in ENLiSTED

and that Russian 120mm Team-mortar was so funny…

[Serpiko82]

I approve pretty much everything the OP suggests.

Especially the core point that, in order for AI to become great in this game, it doesn’t need to (vainly) try to mimick a “human FPS player” behaviour; but rather it had better be heavily based on a RTS infantry squad logic.

Also, great point about keeping UI and commands SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. No need for excessive micromanagement, nor endless sub-menus for every command. ONE command key, and contextual actions as much as possible, depending on where the player aims.

Yes, CoH infantry was and still is a remarkable example of squad AI, and RTS orders mechanics are already thought to be as simple and quick as possible to direct units in a dynamic, ever changing front. Which would fit perfectly in Enlisted.

In this sense, I add to OP’s suggestions that, in order to be more player friendly and avoid misclicking, when the order button is pressed, besides the contextual order at the bottom of the screen, the target location should be somehow highlighted, so that you don’t risk accidentally sending your squad to attack a lamplight or a fence instead of the house behind it, in example.

NGL, Enlisted turning into an FPS / RTS hybrid where you can control a whole squad with a click while also shooting your way through sounds damn EPIC.

And, bonus, that wouldn’t even be detrimental in any way to people who just want to disregard the RTS aspect and just go pew pew. They would keep playing just like they do now, and unknowingly benefit from the squad automatically following them, but now smarter.

[VoyoMayPL]

Tbh that’s more or less how I imagined this game at day zero. Fps combined with rts.

Later it turned out that it indeed has rts elements, but all units are zerglings.

[ErikaKalkbrenner]

this one, is so true

as i constantly play custom matches alone, i see that they immediately stop their selves and actually point at the grenade. like everyone stop fighting just to watch the grenade.

but i have to say, they are getting smarter. i don’t know which stars those ais are, but most of the time they actually throw the grenade back where it came from. killing me in the meanwhile.

they are deadly accurate when defending a point, but perception it’s next to 0.

unless someone is shooting at them or 5 meters away, and they are crossing an area to an objective, and there is something in the path, they will not fire a single bullet.

some ais do when retreating to cover the others, and that is cool, but it’s very rare.

another thing that i noticed and somewhat it’s a bit annoying, is that if you keep melting down ais with an mg in the same location, they do have different pats, but they do nothing to counter it.

for example, in a game that i can’t mention unfortunately ( IS2 ) bots actually throw frag grenades or smokes in that place when they detect or see alot of casualties on the ground.
making them effective and be able to counter the slaughter.

but perhaps devs have something in mind. i’m sure this one thread will help them

[Knyaz_Iaroslav]

In my opinion this topic was inspired by the topic @ErikaKalkbrenner
(I’m mean the design)

[ErikaKalkbrenner]

well, it’s somewhat obv.

but who cares.

we are here for the message. not the art style.

if it’s effective, and it works.
( and he did putted effort in the images ).

why not.

i’d say fair game.

[Knyaz_Iaroslav]

I just thought I’d mention that it’s design similar to your topic about “golden” soldiers . And that’s it.

@Upolaf

Focus fire

• When hold, you will order your squad to « Look at this position ». Your squad will respond quicker and harder to any threat in this area.
  In this stence, your squad will be more aggressive, more reactive, and will use more bullet…
  It is meant to simulate a suppresion of the zone.
  We can compare it to the way you position an MG squad in Company of heros.
  

If no order is given, the AI behave like if it got an attack order where the player is (or the defendable structure he is).

They are already doing this, you just need to press “V” (like by standard, in general, mark the enemy)

And in general, there is not enough point about the interaction of infantry and tanks. The infantry must, under a certain order, independently approach the tank and throw TNT. Soldiers with ATRs and AT launchers should with some probability hit the tank (again, at least by order). Now, in custom matches, AI simply ignores tanks, only the commander who gets out of the hatch can react, so tanks are a good way to get a lot of kills, since they are ignored by AI.

Do not forget to inform the Kaiser about good topics. He does his job honestly, so most likely your theme will be sent to the developers. @GROSSE_KAISER

[Upolaf]

I was thinking also about other improvment like “The AI can build defense structure” or “AI can target tanks” or “AI can throw grenade”.

As it could be very fun and improve the gameplay it could have a very bad impact on the balance. (the grenade spam is already some kind of a problem)
That’s why I decided to start with the basics.

After that, nothing forbid to use “Hold click” to show an wheel with all the different specific order.

[Knyaz_Iaroslav]

They have to aggressive to tanks, that’s for sure.
This is the basis.

[YUI_is_a_cheater]

Can you imagine how many hardcore asians you can attract with this idea if Gaijin goober managed to push through with it ? I mean we do have the Genshin impact fanbase but goddamn good luck dealing with the starcraft vets with a couple of FPS experience on their hand

[Bandeide]

wow, i normaly post alot of topics about AI features, but this one is by far very well donne.

well donne bro, keep postiing things like that.

cheers

[Upolaf]

@Knyaz_Iaroslav

Do not forget to inform the Kaiser about good topics. He does his job honestly, so most likely your theme will be sent to the developers. @GROSSE_KAISER

I prefer furries.
@1942786