PC Developer Discussions: Alpha 17

Developer Discussions: Alpha 17

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The overhaul process (Ranged Weapons):

Ranged weapons have always felt wrong to me. The crosshair spread didn't represent the cone of fire and on top of that the FOV/resolution would change accuracy. I implemented the same fire cone code that I put in for the turrets. With that the new events/effects allowed us to set up things like clip size, fire rate, accuracy kickback as well as many other things. You can basically simulate just about any weapon now via xml values.
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This right here is going to have an enormous effect on the game. When you are low level with a basic gun without any mods the crosshairs area is huge when you are moving. If you stop and aim then it shrinks down to a smaller size depending on the gun and mods/ skills/ perks/ events.

Basically, bullets can hit ANYWHERE within the area marked out by the crosshairs so if you are backpedaling and firing, you might have the enemy’s head dead center in the crosshairs but if the hit area created by the points of the crosshairs extend past the head your bullets are as likely to miss as they are to hit.

Skills, perks, mods, and events can cause changes to everything about this system from the initial size of the crosshairs to the shape of them as Madmole showed in the last clip to how rapidly they shrink when you aim, etc.

The days of running and gunning from the hip before you have developed the right skill set to be able to do so are soon going to be over.

Get ready to adapt. :)

 
This right here is going to have an enormous effect on the game. When you are low level with a basic gun without any mods the crosshairs area is huge when you are moving. If you stop and aim then it shrinks down to a smaller size depending on the gun and mods/ skills/ perks/ events.
Basically, bullets can hit ANYWHERE within the area marked out by the crosshairs so if you are backpedaling and firing, you might have the enemy’s head dead center in the crosshairs but if the hit area created by the points of the crosshairs extend past the head your bullets are as likely to miss as they are to hit.

Skills, perks, mods, and events can cause changes to everything about this system from the initial size of the crosshairs to the shape of them as Madmole showed in the last clip to how rapidly they shrink when you aim, etc.

The days of running and gunning from the hip before you have developed the right skill set to be able to do so are soon going to be over.

Get ready to adapt. :)
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Oh so that's why your wearing that bandanna. Because your adapting???

 
So, checking in after a few weeks of absence. I see A17 has been in development for 4 months now, and I was wondering what the status is on bandits and a potential AI-improvement? Given that these were apparently the major things in the upcoming Alpha.

 
So, checking in after a few weeks of absence. I see A17 has been in development for 4 months now, and I was wondering what the status is on bandits and a potential AI-improvement? Given that these were apparently the major things in the upcoming Alpha.
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The only thing we've been told so far is that the animations look a lot better now, they're using the same blend-tree/mecanim system that was demonstrated in Mr Mole's last vid.

No news on AI. Nothing, nada, zip, zilch... not even a hint.

 
So, checking in after a few weeks of absence. I see A17 has been in development for 4 months now, and I was wondering what the status is on bandits and a potential AI-improvement? Given that these were apparently the major things in the upcoming Alpha.
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LazMan just quoted Kinyajuu's post above. There were a lot of underlying systems that had to be reconstructed and now that this is shaping up they can start using it to improve other factors of the system. Their AI system, I'm sure, will be rebuilt to take into account all of the additional information now available. I think it is still a little too early to ask for a status on the roof of the house when the foundation was just poured and is still drying. :p

Or, if you prefer, BANDITS ARE GOING TO BE GREAT!!!!

 
So, checking in after a few weeks of absence. I see A17 has been in development for 4 months now, and I was wondering what the status is on bandits and a potential AI-improvement? Given that these were apparently the major things in the upcoming Alpha.
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Right now they are working on animations for bandits. Everything that has been shown for players also applies to bandits. I know someone has been tasked with NPC AI but don’t know the progress.

 
It's almost like I read the forums regularly. ;)
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That's very unlikely since I cannot see any mental health issues. I mean, just have a look at Roland...

 
LazMan just quoted Kinyajuu's post above. There were a lot of underlying systems that had to be reconstructed and now that this is shaping up they can start using it to improve other factors of the system. Their AI system, I'm sure, will be rebuilt to take into account all of the additional information now available. I think it is still a little too early to ask for a status on the roof of the house when the foundation was just poured and is still drying. :p
Or, if you prefer, BANDITS ARE GOING TO BE GREAT!!!!
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Pathfinding and behavior trees are the foundations of AI. There should be something demonstrable by now if it was being changed. We don't even know _if_ behavior trees are being used never mind what type of tree is being implemented. Most behavior trees can be built at runtime from xml (with a bit of boiler-plate code) and I'm hoping they've opened these up to modders.

 
Right now they are working on animations for bandits. Everything that has been shown for players also applies to bandits. I know someone has been tasked with NPC AI but don’t know the progress.
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Good to know. Never mind progress, any idea on the systems being implemented?

 
Zombie question

I have read how deep A17 is reorganizing the system and it is obviously going to take time, but I was wondering what the plans are for the zombie population. Specifically, are there plans to add more diversity to the zombie population, i.e. more different types in stead of modified existing zombies (like the irradiated versions, feral, etc.)? Don't get me wrong, there are several different zombies available to shoot, but the repetitive appearance does happen quite quickly. So, I was just curious what the plans are to increase the diversity of the zombie targets....err, I mean, populace. :smile-new:

 
Pathfinding and behavior trees are the foundations of AI. There should be something demonstrable by now if it was being changed. We don't even know _if_ behavior trees are being used never mind what type of tree is being implemented. Most behavior trees can be built at runtime from xml (with a bit of boiler-plate code) and I'm hoping they've opened these up to modders.
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Right... most of the new stuff put in could be used in the "behavior trees" or whatever form of decision making code used to drive the AI to make decisions. Remaking the AI before this point would have been pointless assuming they knew they were headed in this direction. Releasing bandits prior to doing all of this work would have been a horrible idea. It's bad enough that the zombies have all the issues they currently have.

- - - Updated - - -

So bandits see an XP bar too. I wonder if they will complain as well?
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Zombies and bandits should get experience for doing what they do and level accordingly (that would require them to be persistent once spawned, but still). :)

 
Right... most of the new stuff put in could be used in the "behavior trees" or whatever form of decision making code used to drive the AI to make decisions. Remaking the AI before this point would have been pointless assuming they knew they were headed in this direction. Releasing bandits prior to doing all of this work would have been a horrible idea. It's bad enough that the zombies have all the issues they currently have.
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Most of the complaints about Z behavior are due to pathfinding. Things such as Z's spinning below the player, walking exactly on the voxel grid below them and failing to climb a single block causing them to carve paths through the floor. All of these are long-running complaints that have been going for years now.

It would have been far easier to sort Z AI first, release it to the public, and fix bugs in the rudimentary behavior before trying to add the complex decision making and teamwork required by bandits.

I'm just glad we finally have confirmation that it's being actively worked on.

 
Alls I know is that the new system of "don't know what you're doing 'cause you're new with a gun so the spread is big" is waaaaaaaaay better than "you found a brown pistol in the same box a higher level guy would have found a purple one".

And I hope that this new system REPLACES the horrible leveled loot system rather than enhance it.

 
So bandits see an XP bar too. I wonder if they will complain as well?
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They would if their voice over actors had known to do it. Maybe I’ll do a mixtape of my own voice overs bitching about this and that and send it in. If there’s one thing anyone can do without professional acting lessons it’s complaining...

 
Zombies and bandits should get experience for doing what they do and level accordingly (that would require them to be persistent once spawned, but still). :)
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They could apply the experience to the archetype and then all bandits of that type would gain in experience...but I think that is what gamestages is supposed to simulate.

 
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