TDBots Mk2 - v1 (11/05/2022)

[Gustavo6046]

Are you able to read and analyse any diffs (difference) between related code in v3 and v4? That helps

[TDRR]

After having compared both versions, i couldn't find anything that could cause the issue. Probably it does happen in v3 too, but since the firing system only runs for 6 seconds at most, it may fix itself after that period of time.

[TDRR]

Updated, check the changelog for details!

Download link in the OP!

[Gustavo6046]

I'm pretty sure you can use Git offline to compare v3 and v4. Once you commit v3, then commit v4 on top of it, you can simply use git diff.

E.g., if I changed WEAPONS.dec to make bots die every time they try using the pistol, but also refactored a few other names, then committed that, I can simply use git diff to see my changes and find the reason the bots die instead of shooting with the pistol:

Code: Select all • Expand view

$ git diff --word-diff HEAD HEAD^ WEAPONS.dec


or

Code: Select all • Expand view

$ git difftool [--tool=<tool>] HEAD HEAD^ WEAPONS.dec


(if you have a diff viewing tool)

e.g. using diiftool with vimdiff2:

Tadaa!


Oh, and another tip.
Using external modules instead of subclassing weapons, one does not need to replace all weapons ingame and break compatibility with other mods. That's why in ZetaBot I simply made a module system. It's a bit simpler, though sometimes a little bit tiresome (but I am working on a simple weapon class to counter that, to make the bulk easier to "transcribe").

[TDRR]

Oh, and another tip.
Using external modules instead of subclassing weapons, one does not need to replace all weapons ingame and break compatibility with other mods. That's why in ZetaBot I simply made a module system. It's a bit simpler, though sometimes a little bit tiresome (but I am working on a simple weapon class to counter that, to make the bulk easier to "transcribe").

I most likely won't, because:
1. Modules are harder to implement in a sensible way in DECORATE/ACS

2. Adding mod compatibility is just a matter of copy-pasting one line twice on each weapon

3. I still would break compatibility with many mods if i did use the module system

IMO it's not worth the trouble after having designed my bots around using actual weapons, plus using modules would likely break spectating, which works fine as it is.

About the whole DIFF thing, yeah it didn't help at all, i still couldn't pin down the exact issue.

[TDRR]

New update! This one is pretty good, and largely improves bot survival chances and navigation!

Download link in the OP!

[Gustavo6046]

Did you know there was a bot of mine before the ZetaBot? It was also in DECORATE. It used to be called the DecoBot. It was discarded because DECORATE wasn't good enough.

1. Modules are harder to implement in a sensible way in DECORATE/ACS

You chose to use DECORATE. Pathing can't be done in DECORATE without serious targeting hacks that may potentially have the bot lose track of its target.
If you want to make serious DECORATE-compatible code, without it being too tiresome, you may want you take a look at my ZDCode. It is simple, clean, and compiles to DECORATE
(though you'll need Python 3 to use it, as I can't bundle self-containde Windows executables anymore, because I'm on Linux, etc)

2. Adding mod compatibility is just a matter of copy-pasting one line twice on each weapon

Good point.

3. I still would break compatibility with many mods if i did use the module system

I disagree. How so? The module system was designed so that a weapon is only picked up if it is the very same class as a module. Even subclasses are discarded, so there is no risk of a false positive. And I believe compatibility is better, since you don't need to subclass and replace existing weapons.

plus using modules would likely break spectating, which works fine as it is.

Spectating is the least of issues.

Though, now that I think about it, ZetaSpirit is a bit wrongly coded - I should instead make a list of weapons the player holds, take all weapons from the player, and give them back once the player is 'freed'. It'll seem like the player is not holding a weapon, which is accurate, since ZetaBots don't handle weapons like players do: there is little to no weapon switching delay, and states are not simulated; only intervals.

About the whole DIFF thing, yeah it didn't help at all, i still couldn't pin down the exact issue.

Press F to pay respects.

[TDRR]

Did you know there was a bot of mine before the ZetaBot? It was also in DECORATE. It used to be called the DecoBot. It was discarded because DECORATE wasn't good enough.

You chose to use DECORATE. Pathing can't be done in DECORATE without serious targeting hacks that may potentially have the bot lose track of its target.
If you want to make serious DECORATE-compatible code, without it being too tiresome, you may want you take a look at my ZDCode. It is simple, clean, and compiles to DECORATE
(though you'll need Python 3 to use it, as I can't bundle self-containde Windows executables anymore, because I'm on Linux, etc)

2. Adding mod compatibility is just a matter of copy-pasting one line twice on each weapon

Good point.

3. I still would break compatibility with many mods if i did use the module system

I disagree. How so? The module system was designed so that a weapon is only picked up if it is the very same class as a module. Even subclasses are discarded, so there is no risk of a false positive. And I believe compatibility is better, since you don't need to subclass and replace existing weapons.

plus using modules would likely break spectating, which works fine as it is.

Spectating is the least of issues.

Well, i chose to use DECORATE because i can run it in a version of (G)ZDoom that actually runs really well, and got compatibility with Zandronum.

I doubt ZDCode II is going to help me much in this specific case, because the DECORATE code is almost 100% CustomInventory items that got their own weird conditions (Oddly similar to custom codepointers, something you could probably exploit in ZDCode II and even the resulting DECORATE code would be quite readable)
That said, i'm still waiting on the ZDCode documentation

Modules are still a pain to code in DECORATE, ZDCode or not. ZScript is adequate for them because you got all sorts of classes and ways to store stuff in, DECORATE only has user variables and inventory items, both of which are completely useless in the context of weapon modules.

I don't agree that Spectating isn't important. It's what helps me notice all the weird quirks the bots have, and oftentimes i have a bit of fun watching bots have silly deathmatch experiences. Also, it's a feature over all the other DECORATE/ACS bot mods!

[TDRR]

New update! Oh boy this one is a MASSIVE improvement over v6b, read the changelog for cool details n' stuff.
By the way, if anyone has a good idea for making the bots less ridiculously pro-player 1337 n0sc0p3r, i'm all ears.

Download link in the OP!

[TDRR]

Another update! This one adds Heretic and Hexen support along with small quality-of-life fixes, read the changelog for details.

Download link in the OP!

[Enjay]

I haven't had a chance to check with v8 yet but, in case you are interested, in a DM map with low gravity (set at 200 in MAPINFO), air control (0.25 in MAPINFO) and the opportunity to fall off high buildings:



it was my impression that these usually superior bots fared worse than the default Cajun bots. Not too surprisingly, the default bots don't do desperately well in an environment like this but the TDBots had even more -ve frags from falling into the Abyss than the stock Cajuns did. Also, they seemed less able to cope with the air control - their (usually) enhanced movement seemed to make them change directions quite frequently while not making as much forward progress as the Cajuns and, as a result, they seemed to travel slower when in the air and for shorter distances.

The map isn't currently in a form that is worth releasing (I made the map using a personal resource file and I will need to extract the relevant textures, DECORATE items, models etc to make it so).

[Gustavo6046]

Wait, isn't that DM-Morpheus? It looks really rad! (I promise I'll try not to derail the thread)

[Enjay]

It's an approximation of it, yes. It's not a 1 for 1 copy (and wasn't intended to be), just a freehand "This feels about right" version.

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=14126&p=1102529#p1102529

[TDRR]

I haven't had a chance to check with v8 yet but, in case you are interested, in a DM map with low gravity (set at 200 in MAPINFO), air control (0.25 in MAPINFO) and the opportunity to fall off high buildings:



it was my impression that these usually superior bots fared worse than the default Cajun bots. Not too surprisingly, the default bots don't do desperately well in an environment like this but the TDBots had even more -ve frags from falling into the Abyss than the stock Cajuns did. Also, they seemed less able to cope with the air control - their (usually) enhanced movement seemed to make them change directions quite frequently while not making as much forward progress as the Cajuns and, as a result, they seemed to travel slower when in the air and for shorter distances.

The map isn't currently in a form that is worth releasing (I made the map using a personal resource file and I will need to extract the relevant textures, DECORATE items, models etc to make it so).

I imagined this would be the case, as honestly i never took into account any air control and gravity. In fact, bots have the same friction in air as in ground, so that's why they just change direction in mid air so often. These bots can't have any grasp of how air control works, for them 0% air control is the same as 100%. I could make them behave as if there always was 25% air control, or 0% air control, but they won't react to any changes. Maybe in the very near future, i'm going to add jumping over high ledges. (Most of the time just blind jumping, but occasionally it might help them get to the other side of a pit)

This may have to wait for the ZDCode rewrite, as right now the code is starting to get quite hard to mantain bug-free.

Very cool Morpheus recreation by the way, looks pretty close to the original!

[Keldian]

Can they reload weapons?