Here''s a new threads following the idea of the NPC AI in RPG (2. The topic begin to be too long to me Here''s a summary of the system: Base Schedule for any NPC. Schedule overriden by the need based system. Need system can be extended to reflect a little more than needs. (Or solutions to suppress them) AI Module written in C++. (So OO) Module since it might be used to create a DLL, or to be integrated in a game code. I''ll do the list of the basic needs. (I know I must do it since some days now ) -* So many things to do, so little time to spend. *-

I repeat what I just posted on the previous thread : try not to lock yourself into DLLs.

Another thing is that you might not want to do everything in C++ in the first place. You might prefer prototyping in Java first. And I would definitely prefer using a garbage collector.

Anyway, there is a need for an Agent and a Message construct. In my opinion, it could look a bit like :

Message is

• A priority
  
• A "too late" delay, possibly infinite, for forgettable messages
  
• A "thinking thread" id, for grouping messages
  
• An id
  
• An emitter
  
• A range of receivers (a base class in a semantic network ?)
  
• Some kind of type information
  
• A message-dependent content of variable type (void* ?)
  

Agent can

• Receive messages (invoked by the event thread)
  
• Post messages (invoked by itself)
  
• Think (invoked by itself, or by some kind of time-sharing facility)
  

What else ?

After reading Mikes post I was thinking about how you would go about constructing a task based approach. With pre-requisites for other tasks, you could create a threaded list that requires a lower thread to have been completed before it can be started. This way the NPC could be able to switch between different threads (and different tasks) making it appear like they are multitasking.

The NPC might have a thread like so:
Buy grain -> make flour -> "flour" flag is set
Get urn -> Get Water [in urn] -> get bowl -> pour water in bowl -> "water" flag is set

flour\____> pour flour in bowl -> Make bread
water/

This kind of is threaded both ways (I realised this after starting the example). The flour and the water tasks are BOTH required to make the bread. I am not sure how this could be programmed, but Linked Lists do come to mind . Basically, the NPC might "decide" to go and get an urn, then go and get some water, then take a detour and buy some grain and then go and make some flour, go get a bowl, pour the water and the flour in the bowl. Make the bread.

Just some more food for though.


-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)

Check our site:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~dwarfsoft/
and our eGroup:
http://www.egroups.com/group/dwarfsoft

Not to criticize but ... seems to me like an awfully complicated way to describe Petri Nets.

Ok, I wanted to criticize

Many threads...many problems

I do think there must be an easier way to do the trick.
Don''t forget we''ll need to manage dozens to thousands of NPC with that system, so that must be fast and efficient.

And easy to programm and debug

Will think about the design...

-* So many things to do, so little time to spend. *-

I am not a bitter man, and criticism does tend to offer better results in the long run, provided it is constructive .

Personally, I have not touched Neural Networks or Genetic Algorithms. I have heard of some very interesting stuff about them. Do you know of any good sites on the net that could be useful?

Anyways, I am sure there has to be an easier way. But we don''t really need to be considering thousands of NPC''s just yet. One NPC would be an achievement. Diablo II keeps chunking up too much with NPC''s running around the screen (and getting killed ) so I rather not use them . I guess I am a hard man to please when it comes to NPC''s.

I am thinking of posting up a summary of our Posts on my site. Just a thought at the moment, but I need some material on my site. What do you think?


-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)

Check our site:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~dwarfsoft/
and our eGroup:
http://www.egroups.com/group/dwarfsoft

http://www.gameai.com

( How concise can i get )


Give me one more medicated peaceful moment.
~ (V)^|) |<é!t|-| ~
ERROR: Your beta-version of Life1.0 has expired. Please upgrade to the full version. All important social functions will be disabled from now on.

Here are some pointers to academic sites that might be of interest:

Autonomous Agents:
http://www.ai-center.com/links/applications/agents.html

Planning:
http://www.ai-center.com/links/applications/planning.html

Scheduling:
http://www.ai-center.com/links/applications/scheduling.html

A game AI research project that covers it all:
http://www.ai-center.com/projects/excalibur/

Best,
Alex

Edited by - Alexander Nareyek on July 11, 2000 11:39:41 AM