gdc11 land kevin

8/2/2019 GDC11 land Kevin

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Influence Maps

Kevin Dill

Lockheed Martin Advanced Simulation Center

Strategic Decision Making


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Motivation

The CPU A.I. in Kings of Waris very good. Thuses smart battlefield tactics like trying to flank and attacking your weak spots. On thlevels of difficulty, Kings of Warprovides a s

challenge.

- GameSpy (http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/kohankings-of-war/549000p2.html)


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Motivation

While the single player will keep you busy, itskirmish and multiplayer that will make yocome back for more To face an AI that knwhen and how to strike makes it a challenge

time you sit and play.

- UGO (http://www.ugo.com/channels/gamefeatures/kohan2/)


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Motivation

I'd say the AI in this game is probably one ofseen in an RTS title, so much so that the ofSkirmish mode almost makes the online mredundant - the only difference is your ene

won't retaliate to your trash talking.

- 3DAvenue (http://www.3davenue.com/indemod=article&id=893)


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Combat Values


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Modeling Terrain


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Propagation Mobile Units


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30


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20

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15


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5 20

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Conclusions Mobile Units

Dont know enemy positions

Do know enemy *influence*

Yes, this is cheating, but subtle

Strong units have more influence to propag

Fast units propagate their influence over a


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Propagation Emplacements

5 20

30

10

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5 20+15=35

30

10

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5+7.5=12.5 20+15=35

30+10=40

10+10=20

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5+7.5=12.5 20+15=35

30+10=40

10+10=20

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0+2.5=2.5


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Conclusions Emplacements

Fixed emplacements also have influence

They influence *only* the regions they can


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Attack/Defend Decisions

Compare assigned strength toenemy influence

Priority drops exponentially ifyoure relatively weak

Priority increases linearly ifyoure relatively strong

At some point, adding more units is just sil

My C

Multiplier

1x

2x

Kevin Dill, Prioritizing Actions in a Goal-Based RTS AI, AI Game Programming W

pp 321-330.


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Attack/Defend Implications

Defend where threatened

Attack where weakest (all other things bein

Emergent feints & forks

Emergent teamwork


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Build Decisions

Builder units are weak

Newly built structures areboth expensive and vulnerable

Accordingly, use the curve toassign escorts & defenders

My C

Multiplier

1x

2x


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Borders & Territory


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Master of Orion 3

Detect borders

Inside/Outside

Contested

Kevin Dill & Alex Sramek Performing Qualitative Terrain Analysis in Master of Or

Programming Wisdom 2, 2004: pp 391-398.


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Propagation Border Influ


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35 50

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4040

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Identifying Territory

Theirs

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Theirs

Mine


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Theirs

Mine

Contested


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Town Placement

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Town Placement - Conservat

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My territory


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Town Placement - Aggressive

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Contestedterritory


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Fort Placement

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Fort Placement - Defensive

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My territory Toward

enemy


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Fort Placement - Offensive

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Enemyterritory

Toward me


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Conclusions

Spatial reasoning is criticalfor advanced st Influence maps are one technique among many

Influence can affect all sorts of decisions

Attack/Defend

Expansion

A little cheating goes a long way

Its about experience, not integrity enabling thmake the decisions that will deliver a fun match

Build

You name it!

gdc11 land kevin

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