Critters - Page 2

X-113 · 2003-09-03, 09:26 PM

Listen, just because you've made a lot of post doesnt make you more or less knowlegable on the subject than anyone else. Same thing goes for EVERY other post, too. Your "rank" here on the site really doesnt mean shit as every other commander can flame and troll just as good as any recruit.

So in the end, no, you probably DONT know more then I do about this subject. And no, we WONT stop talking about this subject because, well, its the subject! And just because you have submitted your opinion doesnt mean others dont have anything else to submit.

00AgentDuck · 2003-09-03, 10:04 PM

I know that I don't know everything. But I've also read a whole lot, not just posted, I've thoght bout what I posted not justed spammed. Well anyway, I think PSU was better awhile ago. And I don't flame or troll so please just chill and forget about this.

Kind of also funny how the topic has changed from critters to this.

Flammey · 2003-09-03, 11:21 PM

All things technical aside, I'm not sure I'd like to see critters. See, I get most of my hacks and kills by NOT being noticed by the other sides. I guess if I'm saying that, if you want to ride creatures, go right ahead, but I'm perfectly happy walking, running with my MAX suit, or driving my AMS around.

On the technical side, It's not that they would have to have a seperate AI server that's the problem. It's all the AI path coding that would be the problem. It takes 3 seperate 'pathways' (I can't think of the actual correct word, so please bare with me), 3 path ways for an AI bound character to go from point 'A' to point 'B'. And that doesn't even tell the AI bound character what to DO between 'A' and 'B'. You might ask, why 3? why not 2? Simple, 1, to code the AI, 1 to start walking, and 1 to stop the character at point 'B'. This is all just conjecture on my part, as this is only how I see things from my programming experiance. I could be wrong about any of this, but from the work I have done, this seems to be correct. So, how much coding would it take for one character to move around, do things, attack invaders, attack other AI bound characters? What about for hundreds of AI bound characters doing the same? Would SOE just make them stand still, to save space?

You can't think of things from only the Coolness factor, you have to think of the entire picture when it comes to something. One of the Major problems about AI bound characters isn't the problem with Ping or Fps, it's with the limitness of AI. At this moment, AI is limited by how much a computer is allowed to do. I'll give you an example...

In Medal of Honor : Allied Assault, someone was able to code Attack Dogs into the multiplayer aspect, and then these dogs we're able to be introduced into a Multiplayer server. How they worked is that they would spawn in certain places on a map. If one was observant, one would be able to figure out where, and either kill them as they spawned, or simple stay away from them. Now, how these Attack dogs worked is that they would spawn, wait till someone got within a certain range of them, and then seek out that player, and ONLY the player who came close, till that dog was killed. These dogs could enter buildings, as the door would open for them, don't ask how, but they could NOT reach anyone standing above them by, I believe, 5 feet. Easy, stand on a desk, railing, stack of boxes, roof, what ever, and shoot the dog till it was dead. The AI was too limited, plus too predictable and easy to bypass. I forgot to mention, there could be 1 dog on a server, or there could have been 50 at one time. The number is set by the person who introduced the AttackdogAI file, or PK3, as they are named for MOHAA. And the second problem with that AI is that the more dogs, the worse everyones ping got.

So, in my opinion, AI bound 'characters' is not a very viable option for such MMO games as this. HOWEVER, it just might be. See, I've never played Everquest, I don't know how the AI works in that. I HAVE played Asheron's Call 2, and the AI in that was pretty much like those MOHAA attack dogs. The characters would stand around, maybe move a little here and there, and if someone got close enough, they'd attack that person till one or the other died. Very limited. Very dull. I never played Asheron's Call for more than a week.

Hamma · 2003-09-04, 10:20 AM

They said there would never be NPC's

But then again they said there would never be artillery either and we are getting some in core combat

Indecisive · 2003-09-04, 12:25 PM

Same goes for bombers

I thought TEH NO RISK = NO

but i guess if you whine enough :/

Ravenblade · 2003-09-04, 04:02 PM

Ok, um, just because its a futuristic FPS doesn't mean "Oh no! There wull be absolutely NO animals in the future, we cant put critters in!"

#2: Im not saying "Hey, critters will be the most powerful things in the game! We can charge the enemy base and slaughter them all!"

#3: The critters would be for transportation only

#4: They don't have to make AI for them, they can just have them standing still, lol. Yeah, uve got a point there, it would look pretty lame, but id still get the cert!

Rarzo · 2003-09-04, 09:55 PM

Personally, I like the idea. It will never happen, but it's fun to think about. I mean, wouldn't you like to charge into battle on a camel, sloth, or horse? I know that I would. All though, if it got hit by any bullets, it would fall over and toss you off. Plus, what kind of wild animal would just let you get on it's back? I guess you could have some kind of futeristic armor on the animal.... O wait critters will never come out. Ok I'm done.

Happy lil Elf · 2003-09-04, 10:41 PM

Critters aren't really needed. Sure it'd be fun to run over fuzzy little bunnies, but the trade off wouldn't be worth it imo.

AgentDuck, the number of posts you have has nothing to do with this issue. It doesn't mean you opinion is any more or less valid. Using it as an argument to support your opinion is not only in poor taste, but pretty fucking gay as well.

Rarzo · 2003-09-05, 06:57 AM

You know "happy lil' elf" looking at that last post, you don't seem all that happy...And I dont think you should all of a suddden jump into matters that you aren't even involved in.

Remember, this thread is about CRITTERS, not the importance of being a commander or soldier or whatever. So just DROP IT.

Indecisive · 2003-09-05, 07:31 AM

Personally, I like the idea. It will never happen, but it's fun to think about. I mean, wouldn't you like to charge into battle on a camel, sloth, or horse? I know that I would. All though, if it got hit by any bullets, it would fall over and toss you off. Plus, what kind of wild animal would just let you get on it's back? I guess you could have some kind of futeristic armor on the animal.... O wait critters will never come out. Ok I'm done.

Lmao snipe j00 horse down. I would prefer a mag or a reaver to some slow ass animal lol.

Ok, um, just because its a futuristic FPS doesn't mean "Oh no! There wull be absolutely NO animals in the future, we cant put critters in!"

#2: Im not saying "Hey, critters will be the most powerful things in the game! We can charge the enemy base and slaughter them all!"

#3: The critters would be for transportation only

#4: They don't have to make AI for them, they can just have them standing still, lol. Yeah, uve got a point there, it would look pretty lame, but id still get the cert!

first of wtf where is number 1?

Second, third and forth points. What would their uses be? We have vehicles already. If critters were put in, my basillik could 0wn you giant lizard. This isnt eq. We have engines, not horsepower.

Do we really want the devs spending months designing a new VEHICLE that can go about the speed of an ANT that looks like an GIRAFFE?! I know i sure as hell dont. I want meh fucking LFB (linked facility benifits)

shadowseed · 2003-09-05, 09:04 AM

I think they should start a new 4th faction : Critters!.

There bases could be burrows and instead of spawn tubes, you could be born from a giant queen worm/bug/bee/politician, and you could equip from a nest terminal.

Then instead of implant, you could have genetic evolutionary enhancements. You could have :
Skunk tail : Lama spit : Elephant arse..

Just think of it, you could run around the continent looking for pollon and things to mate with!.

or not.....

Exano · 2003-09-05, 10:01 AM

Actually, if they can make shooting range targets, im sure they can make critters

X-113 · 2003-09-05, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by shadowseed
I think they should start a new 4th faction : Critters!.

There bases could be burrows and instead of spawn tubes, you could be born from a giant queen worm/bug/bee/politician, and you could equip from a nest terminal.

Then instead of implant, you could have genetic evolutionary enhancements. You could have :
Skunk tail : Lama spit : Elephant arse..

Just think of it, you could run around the continent looking for pollon and things to mate with!.

or not.....

Hey! Now theres an idea! critter faction.

It's like the zerg with fur. And since when does anyone NOT run around the continent looking for things to mate with? :

O:

shadowseed · 2003-09-05, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by X-113
Hey! Now theres an idea! critter faction. It's like the zerg with fur. And since when does anyone NOT run around the continent looking for things to mate with? :O:

Happy lil Elf · 2003-09-05, 10:47 AM

You know "happy lil' elf" looking at that last post, you don't seem all that happy...And I dont think you should all of a suddden jump into matters that you aren't even involved in.

Sorry, Raz, this isn't a private discussion. If you want to have a private discussion click that neat PM button. It's a public board and I can, regardless of what you think, all of a sudden jump into any thread I choose. Then of course I also commented on the topic at hand. So please, by all means, bite me

See? Smiley face. I was happy when I said that

Remember, this thread is about CRITTERS, not the importance of being a commander or soldier or whatever. So just DROP IT.

Sorry again, Raz. AgentDuck brought the issue into this. That makes it fair game