Architecture of AI Connection

#1 There is old (deprecated) code for an ai client/connection in TGE itself, but it was determined to be an inefficient use of resources, and AIPlayer is basically the most appropriate solution in this case.

The main problem here is that AIPlayer itself was not part of the RTS-SK release, so any AI work that you do will have to be an experimental port of either the old AIConnection class, or the AIPlayer class.

Since AI is really so fundamentally driven based on your game itself, it might make sense for you to start at the design level, describe the functionality that you want your RTS AI to have (are we talking single unit, squad level, "player" level, etc...and what capabilities do they need to have implemented), and then you can break out the functionality to determine the most appropriate way to implement.

#2 This question runs along the same lines of mine so ill post it here...

I've been trying for a while to find the best way to add AI. I just want simple AI Units that use the stock RTSUnit actions (set target object, set target location, attack, etc...)

my question is; to make AI units that use those basic actions, should i make a AIConnection type object? or just start spawning them in the mission area?

note: (I did try just spawning a rtsunit and it does what i need it to BUT when the player's units attack it the game crashes. Im wondering if it is because the AI units dont belong to a particular client.)

i appreciate any help...

#3 Well, after doing some research on the subject, I basically use ClientGroup just for human players, and an AIGroup for AI players. I also created a new class for AI players that's based on the RTSConnection (for now at least). Every player get a teamnumber, so when I spawn units I just give the units the teamnumber they should belong to.

#4 Would be nice to see a resource on that. im sure there are a few others that would also want it.

#5 Well, to create a new named group, you'll have to add it in three different places in the engine. Just search in solution for ClientGroup and you'll see exactly where.

ImplementNamedGroup(AIGroup)    - simBase.cc  
DeclareNamedGroup(AIGroup)         - simBase.h
InstantiateNamedGroup(AIGroup);  - simManager.cc

The new AIClient is based on RTSConnection like this

class AIClient : public RTSConnection
{
typedef RTSConnection Parent;
}

In aiClient.cc I've written a function for adding an AI player: (not finished but works)

ConsoleFunction( addAI, S32 , 2, 3, "addAI( 'playerName'[, 'AIClassType'] );" ) 
{
   // Create the player
   AIClient *aiPlayer = new AIClient();
   aiPlayer->registerObject();
   aiPlayer->setGhostFrom(false);
   aiPlayer->setGhostTo(false);
   aiPlayer->setSendingEvents(false);
   aiPlayer->setTranslatesStrings(true);
   aiPlayer->setEstablished();
   
   // Add the client to the AI group
   SimGroup *g = Sim::getAIGroup();
   g->addObject( aiPlayer );

   return aiPlayer->getId();
}

So now you can write "addAI" in the console or script and an AI will be created.
Now you can access the AIplayer from the script just like the human players

for (%i=0; %i<AI.getCount(); %i++)
{
   %aiClient = AIGroup.getObject(%i);
   %aiClient.doWhatever();
}

I might make a resource later when I feel more comfortable with the code and have cleaned it up. Good suggestion.

#6 Hi,

Would you be willing to share the complete code? This would help me out enormously! and I hope more of us too :) - let me know!

cheers!

#7 Yes, could you please post the complete code

that would be GREAT!

#8 @Gurpreet - the previous post to yours is over a year and a half old. Might be best to start a new thread - this is something I am interested in too eventually - I'm no where near the point of computer AI yet however. :P

#9 If I recall, this is the complete code.

#10 I need RTS Toolkit and FGE(Flight Game Example).Also I need Aiflyingvehicle Class.pls send me any one can do.
Email:moj.heidari@yahoo.com

#11 Um they can't send you paid for code mojtaba