Curse

Red_Dragon56 · Feb 12, 2007, 04:39 AM // 04:39

I'm sorry if this has been suggested before but I think alot of woes with heroes is that we can't set conditions to when they use skills.

I think we need a sort of programming system for heroes. Like simple If/Then instances.

Anything in -- can be switched, added, moved, etc.

For this example let's say Skill Slot 1 is Fire Storm and Skill Slot 2 is Order of Pain

If -Skill 1- -Recharge = 0-
Then -use- -Skill 1- Target: -Nearest Foe-

Simple, but effective. this would make the hero spam Fire Storm whenever the skill is recharged on any foe that is closest to the caster. It wouldn't really allow use of any other skills... unless you set priorities.

Priority 1:
[If -Self- -HP>50%-] & [-Self- -not- -enchanted: Order Of Pain-]
[Then -use- -Skill 2-]
[Target: -None-]

Priority 2:
[If -Skill 1- -Recharge = 0%-]
[Then -use- -Skill 1-]
[Target: -Nearest- -Foe-]

Now the hero will use Order of Pain whenever his HP is not at 50% or if the hero has OoP already on him. Now if those conditions don't apply it will look at the next If/Then. So now you have OoP on your hero will now cast Fire Storm.

I also suggest a mode, Programmed and Default. If you like the system that is already implemented or you don't want to screw around with programming a hero every time you change a skill you have the choice of returning the the default system.

Just for giggles let's have a Monk.

Skill 1: Reversal Of Fortune
Skill 2: Mend Condition

Priority 1:
[If -any- -Ally- -HP<30%-]
[Then -use- -Skill 1-]
[Target: -Ally- -lowest- -HP-]

Priority 2:
[If -any- -ally- -has- -condition- -any-]
[Then -use- -Skill 2-]
[Target: -ally- -has- -condition-]

This will have a hero that will use RoF if any ally's HP is lower than 30% and Mend Condition if an ally has a condition. And do nothing if neither apply.

Also a template system so you don't have to redo the entire programming all over per hero.

Cons to this:
HEROWAY! Making more groups have heroes over real people. (although heroes can't improvise)
Long time to make exactly what you want, you might get fustrated.
You forget somthing it could lead to your hero having worse AI than a rock.

Knightsaber Sith · Feb 12, 2007, 05:03 AM // 05:03

So basically; you want them to turn heroes into full fledged bots for you to completely program? They have a policy against third party bots, but they have nothing against bots in general so they'll just give us some....

I'd say they didn't give us that level of control for a mighty good reason.

/notsigned

Red_Dragon56 · Feb 12, 2007, 05:10 AM // 05:10

Bots move, run, attack, all on thier own. What I am suggesting is having the hero system we already have, but a way to use the skills we want the way we want.

As you see there is nothing in there saying anything about where to move, how to move, etc. Just how and when to use certain skills.

Knightsaber Sith · Feb 12, 2007, 05:31 AM // 05:31

They just follow you instead of walking themselves; doesn't make them any less bot-like. Believe it or not, being able to program them in this fashion would give them a far quicker reaction time than most actual players. It would just be too overpowered and a nightmare to try to balance with enemy AI.

And heroes already attack on their own :P

dargon · Feb 12, 2007, 06:45 AM // 06:45

if you want to control their skill usage, just disable them all and control them yourself.

Jeff Highwind · Feb 12, 2007, 06:54 AM // 06:54

Bots are not approved by Anet, so this idea would make the world collapse on itself.

/notsigned

And dargon, controlling heroes is tough. Putting Vigorus Spirit of Live Vicariously on any hero is pure pandemonium.

Yanman.be · Feb 12, 2007, 07:10 AM // 07:10

I've suggested it before, and some other souls before me too. Idea never got too much yays.

The nays usually have no real point. They're not bots like Jeff.

For instance I could train my Zenmai better. Right now she doesn't do Lead-Exhausting Assault-Moebius. I have to click them manually. Go figure?

cyberjanet · Feb 12, 2007, 11:20 AM // 11:20

The thing about heroes is that they are AI. I don't see the point of programming them to behave like a human in a given situation. Or even trying to run your heroes manually. The trick is to find a build that works with AI and let the hero run with it. You can't always take a build that works with a human player and slap it as-is onto AI. And there are some skills that work way better on AI than on humans. What we really need to be doing is investing some effort into AI-friendly builds.

Dougal Kronik · Feb 12, 2007, 03:43 PM // 15:43

cyberjanet is right on the money on this one!

Don't try to run your special build that works outside the box for extreme efficiency on a hero.

Try to use standard, logical builds that the AI will understand, or use the hero skills yourself.