howto use or enable bots, is it possible
howto use or enable bots, is it possible
I have heard of and swear I have seen bots on public servers before, question is how do I enable them?
This past weekend I installed bz on my daughters computer, and setup a home network bz server (no interest as of yet to go public with a server).
I am running the kingcastle world so she can learn the map and some basic tactics without having someone blast her every few seconds.
I would like to be able to load a few bots in there for her to practice on (yes, yes - my score was negitive and hers positive while we were playing together LOL).
Is it possible? From what I found searching the web it sounds like I would have to somehow modify some programming or something in order to use bots - which is way outta my field.
I have no interest either into bringing bots onto a public server.
Kinda of on a related note, I have heard there might be problems if the two of us are connected to a public server... so far everything seems to be ok. Should I have any concerns about two machines connecting thru the same IP to a public server?
Tanks fer any help
This past weekend I installed bz on my daughters computer, and setup a home network bz server (no interest as of yet to go public with a server).
I am running the kingcastle world so she can learn the map and some basic tactics without having someone blast her every few seconds.
I would like to be able to load a few bots in there for her to practice on (yes, yes - my score was negitive and hers positive while we were playing together LOL).
Is it possible? From what I found searching the web it sounds like I would have to somehow modify some programming or something in order to use bots - which is way outta my field.
I have no interest either into bringing bots onto a public server.
Kinda of on a related note, I have heard there might be problems if the two of us are connected to a public server... so far everything seems to be ok. Should I have any concerns about two machines connecting thru the same IP to a public server?
Tanks fer any help
- MrApathyCream
- Dev Wizard
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2002 9:16 pm
- Location: Warwick, MD
- Contact:
- CobraA1
- Dev Monkey
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2002 7:19 pm
- Location: Above the Arctic Circle, below Canada: Minnesota
- Contact:
Last I played, I don't think BZFlag had a limit - I've played with quite a few!MrApathyCream wrote:bzflag -solo x
where x is 1 to 9?
not sure what the upper end is.
There's only one type of bot right now, and it won't jump (and it's fairly stupid).
If you want something better, you'll have to code it yourself.
-CobraA1
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away" --Henry David Thoreau
My avatar symbol © 2002 Jeremiah Moss. All rights reserved.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away" --Henry David Thoreau
My avatar symbol © 2002 Jeremiah Moss. All rights reserved.
- DEATH[2-I]
- Private First Class
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2002 3:38 am
- Terminator
- Private First Class
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2002 10:05 pm
- Location: England
that's not quite true. there's only one type of bot right now, and it won't jump (and it's very stupid).CobraA1 wrote:There's only one type of bot right now, and it won't jump (and it's fairly stupid).
that's my fault. i never did much like ai programming so once i got A* working i punted on the tactical smarts.
-chris[/b]
thanks to all who replied
I happened to be in Iron Foots server when he loaded up a bunch of bots so I was able to find out from him how to do it.
It was sort of funny watching these bots... most of the time I couldn't even persuade them to move if I was near one of them.
Another *bug*?? I found when starting bzflag with bots was that although my settings have UDP turned on, none of the bots were using it...so I was kicked off my own server! LOL Would it be wise to configure bzfs to not use UDP for Lan use?
Both the client and the server are running Mandrake 9.0 and bzflag 1.7g0
I am able to do some Lisp coding - actually AutoLisp for AutoCAD, I imagine the programing language for bz is different. Would I be able to program something for bots with the knowledge I have in Lisp? Is the code simular enough for me to understand it?
Again, Tanks for all the help.
It was sort of funny watching these bots... most of the time I couldn't even persuade them to move if I was near one of them.
Another *bug*?? I found when starting bzflag with bots was that although my settings have UDP turned on, none of the bots were using it...so I was kicked off my own server! LOL Would it be wise to configure bzfs to not use UDP for Lan use?
Both the client and the server are running Mandrake 9.0 and bzflag 1.7g0
I am able to do some Lisp coding - actually AutoLisp for AutoCAD, I imagine the programing language for bz is different. Would I be able to program something for bots with the knowledge I have in Lisp? Is the code simular enough for me to understand it?
Again, Tanks for all the help.
- DEATH[2-I]
- Private First Class
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2002 3:38 am
- MrApathyCream
- Dev Wizard
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2002 9:16 pm
- Location: Warwick, MD
- Contact:
The current bots are anything but a worthy opponent and they even have some bugs which might have been introduced along with one of the newer releases because nobody is using the bots anymore, so no testing is done with them. There have been plans of course to replace the hardcoded bots with something that would allow people to write their own bots quite easily. It's not so easy to integrate this into bzflag, though, and thus AFAIK no work has been done on that subject yet.
Last edited by Chestal on Tue Jan 07, 2003 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
This is kind of a random thought here but here it goes. If that is the direction that the bots are going why not have a separate binary for the bots like a bzbot for it you could take out all graphics on it since you do not need to see anything on it. It just has to run you tell it want server to connect to and maybe what script to run and away it or they go. Maybe make some simple script language for it like if shot is x meters away turn at target and fire then jump at x% speed and X angle. Or look for closet and drive towards. I am sure there are a lot of commands people could come up with but it might be better to spin it off into a separate program. Just a crazy thought but might make sense.
Cobra wrote:
The more bots you use, the more demmand on your PC's processing power (if over the Internet, more demmand on your Internet Connection as well).
The only limite on the number of bots you can play with depends entirely upon the number of maximum players allowed on the server you use. If you go over this number, be prepared for your client to crash.Last I played, I don't think BZFlag had a limit - I've played with quite a few!
The more bots you use, the more demmand on your PC's processing power (if over the Internet, more demmand on your Internet Connection as well).
protected object myTank(){
foreach(noob in this.game){return frag(noob);}}
foreach(noob in this.game){return frag(noob);}}
Even with 40, if the server you're using has a lower limit, you'll have problems. For my client, I was able to get more than 50 bots running, but they didn't each log in at the same time (Even though my local server had a max of 100 players).
May be some PCs and Internet connection speeds just can't handle more than x amount of bots?
May be some PCs and Internet connection speeds just can't handle more than x amount of bots?
protected object myTank(){
foreach(noob in this.game){return frag(noob);}}
foreach(noob in this.game){return frag(noob);}}
- Dutchrai
- Private First Class
- Posts: 394
- Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2002 3:12 am
- Location: Singapore
- Contact:
Oh very nice these bots, but just a note of warning to those experimenting with this option
If you logon to a public server like turkey or whatever and bring along a number of bots (bzflag -solo 5, for example), the administrator on duty might not like this and kick or ban you. I know I would do it...I know I have done it.
This is because the bots are quite annoying when you're playing a good game on a server and they are -in general- considered uninvited guests. So...if you REALLY want to do this, logon normally first and ask if anyone has any objections before you bring them along. Please.
Forsake this and you might be banned without any warning.
If you logon to a public server like turkey or whatever and bring along a number of bots (bzflag -solo 5, for example), the administrator on duty might not like this and kick or ban you. I know I would do it...I know I have done it.
This is because the bots are quite annoying when you're playing a good game on a server and they are -in general- considered uninvited guests. So...if you REALLY want to do this, logon normally first and ask if anyone has any objections before you bring them along. Please.
Forsake this and you might be banned without any warning.
[img:82d1e9b9a0]http://shellshock.bzflag.bz/images/forum/bbbanner.png[/img:82d1e9b9a0]
[color=#405070:82d1e9b9a0]
Visit Shell Shock at [b:82d1e9b9a0]http://shellshock.bzflag.bz[/b:82d1e9b9a0] for news, maps, tactical guides, game servers and more
[/color:82d1e9b9a0]
[color=#405070:82d1e9b9a0]
Visit Shell Shock at [b:82d1e9b9a0]http://shellshock.bzflag.bz[/b:82d1e9b9a0] for news, maps, tactical guides, game servers and more
[/color:82d1e9b9a0]
-
- Private First Class
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2002 2:28 am
- Location: MN USA
I've been thinking of lobotomizing a bz client and taking the graphics out, then you can either (1) Connect it to stdin so that it can take either keyboard input or input from something piping to stdin or (2) cool... use sockets and be able to run some little bot around perhaps even across the internet.
Have to figure out that library stuff.. whatever it is.... first....eeek
Have to figure out that library stuff.. whatever it is.... first....eeek
-
- Private First Class
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2003 12:42 am
- Location: mn
- Contact:
T2 and just about all the other high-cost and high-profit games out these days are bound to have who knows how many coders writing AI for computer controlled players.
If only our developers had that sort of time and resources. We'd have "god" bots running around the field, almost impossible to kill by a human player because they evaluate may be a set of a hundred or so variables a second. A scary thought.
If only our developers had that sort of time and resources. We'd have "god" bots running around the field, almost impossible to kill by a human player because they evaluate may be a set of a hundred or so variables a second. A scary thought.
protected object myTank(){
foreach(noob in this.game){return frag(noob);}}
foreach(noob in this.game){return frag(noob);}}
- Dutchrai
- Private First Class
- Posts: 394
- Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2002 3:12 am
- Location: Singapore
- Contact:
=353=CAPPY
Just start the BZFlag client with the extra -solo [number_of_bots] parameter.
Just start the BZFlag client with the extra -solo [number_of_bots] parameter.
[img:82d1e9b9a0]http://shellshock.bzflag.bz/images/forum/bbbanner.png[/img:82d1e9b9a0]
[color=#405070:82d1e9b9a0]
Visit Shell Shock at [b:82d1e9b9a0]http://shellshock.bzflag.bz[/b:82d1e9b9a0] for news, maps, tactical guides, game servers and more
[/color:82d1e9b9a0]
[color=#405070:82d1e9b9a0]
Visit Shell Shock at [b:82d1e9b9a0]http://shellshock.bzflag.bz[/b:82d1e9b9a0] for news, maps, tactical guides, game servers and more
[/color:82d1e9b9a0]
For dev types who want to know what needs to change (in very general terms), look at [url=http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.ph ... tid=353248]feature request 658074[/url] on SF.net. I'd work on it myself, but for some reason BZFlag won't compile on VC++ 5 (I know it will on 6, but I don't have it), and I am not really comfortable with existing IDEs for linux. I know, real men use vi and gcc, but it sure seems like a lot of work (compared to either Micro$oft products or Qt or Glade)...