AI Controlled Player Units

posted on July 6th, 2011, 11:13 pm

I sort of proposed this on a smaller scale with automated miners awhile back, but with the recent Starfox mod I've started this feature would be a massive help. Basically what I am proposing is to have it so player controlled units can be operated by an AI. It would act as any AIP would, building fleets and moving them around to attack, but instead of taking up another player slot it would be the player's units. Perhaps it can be done by having the AIP run in the background, and any units that have "isAIonly = 1" in their odf file will be controlled by the AI when built instead of by he player. The reason I'd love this feature is because I want my mod to be heavily focused on the players starfighter squadrons and upgrading them with various weapon and armors, and I want the AI to build up the bases and the large capital ships and control them separate of the player. It's almost like DOTA in a way.

Is this currently possible? If not I'd love to request this feature. 

posted on July 7th, 2011, 12:04 am

Hmm, well you could build your capital ships the way FO does fighters.  Completely AI controlled.  just have your base auto replace them and they will do stuff on their own.  Place timers and such so after a certain amount of time you get new ships and other things like that.

thats the best I can do.  

posted on July 7th, 2011, 10:20 am

interesting but how would you deal with the stupidity of the ai, such as launching a lone leahval attack on a dode relay. you could play good and your ai just screws up stuff.

posted on July 7th, 2011, 12:41 pm

What about putting the AI as the same armada as you, and then making the AI ignore the units you are using.

posted on July 7th, 2011, 1:14 pm

Very interesting feature you request there... I'd love to see this in action.

posted on July 8th, 2011, 12:03 am

I agree the AI would screw up, but what if it gets the same bonuses as other AI's?  You wouldn't care if it throws away its ships if it builds a ton of them that you couldn't do on your own.  Of course, that could lead to taking advantage of it if you can regain control...

Still, I like the idea.  Set up the game mechanics to allow you to focus on a single ship or small fleet for an extended time - shift the importance down to the small scale like most of the shows did.