Which AI script (and over what location) should I run to duplicate melee map behaviour vs "computer players"?


This, with no doubt, has been already discussed many times, but I'm unable to find a clear answer. I could add it to the wiki.

Although I'm anything but a skilled starcraft player, I feel both "Insane" and "Melee" AIs behave somewhat differently than in melee games.
(Could it be that I'm running the scripts the wrong way? I use it on a location that includes a start location, peons and nearby resources.)

Any melee-like map with melee-like AI is appreciated.

I wish to be able to play allied with humans against a team of AI players, with non-random start locations.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Mar 27 2009, 1:54 am by Shambler0.

It's the expansion custom scripts. And you're right, they do behave differently when used in UMS. Make sure you give the AI plenty of space and enough resources and places to expand.

So, near-exact behaviour duplication is not possible (without AI-script hacks)?

Then, which of the scripts is generally said to be a stronger opponent? Melee, Custom or Insane"?
(I have read the FAQ, but still unsure)

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Mar 27 2009, 1:52 am by Shambler0.

Custom is supposed to be the best non-cheating AI and closest to the AI used in melee games.
If you're okay with cheating computers then I recommend "upgrading" it via triggers.
Give the computer money, create units for it, trigger drops etc. That's the only way to get a sc computer to be challenging.
Combine it with random/strategic suicide AIs to prevent players from just building barricades with units behind the comp units can't reach and just run around helplessly.

OMG! HAH!!! I KNEW IT!!! All these years, I've been CONVINCED that the Insane Computer AI HAS CHEATED!!! I KNEW IT!!! HAHAHAHAH!!!!
Nobody believed me, BUT I KNEWWWW!!!! MOUAHAHAHHAH!!!!!!


Insane is tougher, but, as Nude already established, it cheats.

You can ask Heinermann about the AIs he's made. I've been hearing a lot about how he is programming a computer "AI that is worthy of a human starcraft opponent"

Now, I know it isn't very ... "Computer-Like", but Brontobyte and Myself have taken up the charge of creating an AI that Microes. Our process has been slowed down, due to the lack of communication we are able to have, but I'm willing to provide you with ideas, answers, and information, should you desire to create your own AI.


----------------------
If you're interested in just simply re-creating the melee AI, I have no answers for you. It'd be a bitch to make... You'd have to detect things that aren't easily found, Like the HP of mutalisks when they rush. The Computer waits until a certain HP on the mutalisk is met (Somewhere between 25%-30%, I beleive), and then Sends it back after fighting a defensive structure to heal at the base for further use.

----------------

Idea - You COULD try to balance the Insane Computer AI.... If I were to assume how it cheats/works, I would think that it waits 'till it has X amount of resources, and if X is "so far" away from the required amount, it builds that unit.

Suppose the computer desires a marine. It may wait until it has 35 minerals as opposed to 50 minerals, and then just start building it. (Or it may just simply cost 35, you may have to experiment with that quite a bit).

Maybe you could put a negative handicap on the computer? Like, when it reaches 35, subtract 15, or something like that?

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Mar 27 2009, 3:17 am by Pyro682.

Every AI cheats.

No, not every AI. Look at Nude-Raider's post.

Well all AIs cheat regarding intel. They always know what you have and where and act accordingly. But I was referring to the money cheat that is built into insane AI. I'm no AI expert, so there may be more.

And yes, it's quite obvious that insane AI cheats. It builds stuff earlier than it normally could.

Oh and I'd stay away from making your own AIs. Battle netters couldn't play your map. Just try to upgrade what little Blizzard gave us.

To clarify: the custom expansion script IS the script that is used by standard melee computer players. It behaves differently when used in UMS for unknown reasons.

That helped a lot. Many thanks and respect to everyone!