Scripted AI - And AI In General

[Keknehv]

On the whole server load problem:

Have any of you ever played Halo? In it, the AI functions are very similar to what you have described. It also take a bit of processing power.

So my idea is this...

How about certain authorized people could convert their computer/computers/server into an AI server. It would then connect to the central PS server, and would take over mob AI in a given area. It would have simplified upload/download connection compared to the NORMAL client, but it would be enough to give the AI what to do.

Lots of people (at least I think) want to help PS, be it contributing a server, webspace, or anything else. So then they could request it, and go through an integrity check. Also, players could report strange behavior of the AI (as in, specifically attacking people).

Perhaps this could work very well in solving the problems, as well as giving even better AI to the mobs (because the AI servers could have more iterations and calculations for the mobs.)

[sashok]

Thank you Meketh for words of support, you have good ideas yourself.


Keknehv, I don\'t believe that AI that I described would take much resources away from the game, after all it\'s all simple code, not some graphics, not complicated, resource requiring sorting algorithms  .
I don\'t know Halo, maybe AI there is really advanced, but I don\'t see how AI would require extra servers etc.

Another thing, not all mobs need AI, in fact, very few do. Orcs (although there not in PS)  are intelligent warrior race, they know everything about warfare etc.
also AI would be needed for hostile player races npc if those will be in game.  
Stuff like hostile bug race doesn\'t need much AI, only stuff like fleeing combat because they are not intelligent.

  So, I think it can be balanced in the game

[Cyberchu]

There is a very interesting thread by aerig in developmen deiberation about this http://planeshift.oodlz.com/wbboard/thread.php?threadid=11506&boardid=23&styleid=3

[Kiva]

Well it is of the interest of many, as well as some - if not all (except the ones who have to do it) - to have a kind of \"simulation\" game running for monsters, being so that they will meet with eachother, build camps, spawn boss monsters and attack places, however adding players to the mix isn\'t what I see as a good idea. Sure, if you find some pretty much humanoid things that you can communicate with, and who like shiny objects, maybe you could encourage them, but on the main part you have to remember that most of the creatures are mutations of mutations, caused by the giant crystal and it\'s magic, and most of the monsters were present before any humanoids appeared in Yliakum. So the chances of finding humanoid mobs is very likely to be small.

However, it\'s a good idea, but what it needs is some more details and work. At this point it\'s more of a thought rather than a useful idea. Keep working on it and you could happen to inspire some people.