AI Trigger Collection, useful stuff for singleplayer maps Options

[Lin Kuei Ominae]

Since adding AI is always a problem for many TD mappers, but essential for a good singleplayer map, i thought we could collect here some useful Triggers & Teamtypes.

1. The moving and then deploying MCV
It was widely assumed that an MCV can't be deployed on a certain cell by using triggers.
This is how it works anyway.

CODE

[UNITS]
000=GoodGuy,MCV,256,1596,0,Rescue,MCVD
;note the Rescue action and the connection to the MCVD Trigger

[TeamTypes]
mcvt=GoodGuy,0,0,0,0,0,15,0,0,0,1,MCV:1,6,Move:5,Move:6,Move:7,Move:8,Move:9,Rescue:0,0,0
;The MCV moves along the waypoints 5,6,7,8,9 and then deploys at the last waypoint 9

[Triggers]
MCVD=Time,Create Team,0,GoodGuy,mcvt,0

Though i admit it has some drawbacks and special conditions
1. The MCV has to be placed on the map and can't be send via reinforcements.
2. The place where the MCV is placed on the map must be big enough for the MCV to deploy there too (you should test this first using no trigger)
3. The MCV needs Rescue (or Unload) as it's action
4. The TeamType needs Rescue (or Unload if Unload is on the MCV) as the last action on the waypoint list
5. The Trigger has to start instantly (hence Time 0) or the MCV deploys on it's start position
But you can add many waypoints to its path to give it a delay before it deploys on its final destination

The main advantage is, that you can this way make an AI player (in a singleplayer map) which has to build its base from scratch just like the human player in almost every other mission.

2. Attacking Orcas
every 150 timeunits, 3 Orcas will attack the players base
when the GDI Helipad is destroyed, the Orca attacks will stop

CODE

[STRUCTURES]
000=GoodGuy,HPAD,50,3824,0,delx

[TeamTypes]
orc1=GoodGuy,0,0,0,0,0,7,0,0,0,1,ORCA:3,1,Attack Base:99,0,0

[Triggers]
xxxx=Time,Reinforce.,150,GoodGuy,orc1,1
delx=Destroyed,Dstry Trig 'XXXX',0,GoodGuy,None,0

This will give GDI free Orca reinforcements, which are spawned at the map border and attack the players base
Unfortunately i haven't got it work that the AI builds them like any other TeamType.

3. Attacking A10s
This gives GDI every 200 timeunits an airstrike with 2 A10s (even if the human player is GDI)

CODE

[TeamTypes]
a10s=GoodGuy,0,0,0,0,0,7,0,0,0,1,A10:2,0,0,0

[Triggers]
airs=Time,Reinforce.,200,GoodGuy,a10s,1

3. GDI Airstrike Superweapon
This gives GDI the Airstrike SW (unlike the version before, this one can be controlled via the sidemenu icon)

CODE

[Triggers]
airs=Time,Airstrike,0,GoodGuy,None,0

The same works also for Nod

CODE

[Triggers]
airs=Time,Airstrike,0,BadGuy,None,0

4. Starting a patrol
This starts a Hummvee patrol for GDI after 30 timeunits

CODE

[TeamTypes]
gdip1=GoodGuy,1,0,0,0,0,15,1,0,0,1,JEEP:1,8,Move:10,Guard:10,Move:11,Guard:10,Move:10,Guard:10,Move:8,Guard:10,1,0

[Triggers]
gptl1=Time,Create Team,30,GoodGuy,gdip1,0

The unit will patrol along the waypoints 10,11,10,8 and guard for 10 units on each waypoint. Then it starts again since the units loop by default the actions defined in the TeamType.
If the unit is destroyed it will be replaced by another one. (hence the second last 1)

5. Start GDIs production
This starts the GDI production (GDI will start rebuilding Buildings which are in the [Base] section) when the Player enters a certain cell

CODE

[Triggers]
prod=Player Enters,Production,0,GoodGuy,None,0

[CellTriggers]
3752=prod
3816=prod
3880=prod

Note: this will only start the production of buildings and allows the production of units. But to make the AI build units you need an additional autocreate trigger.
That's why you can have an AI which builds buildings and units, but not an AI which only builds units (except you don't give the AI a conyard)

CODE

[STRUCTURES]
012=Special,GTWR,256,1139,0,auto
013=Special,GTWR,256,1141,0,auto

[Triggers]
auto=Destroyed,Autocreate,0,GoodGuy,None,2

when one of the 2 guard towers is destroyed (hence 2 at the trigger which is an "Or" connection), GDI will start producing units.

6. Reinforcements
This gives Nod a Hovercraft with 1 Commando as reinforcements after 10 timeunits

CODE

[TeamTypes]
new1=BadGuy,0,0,0,0,0,7,0,0,0,2,LST:1,RMBO:1,0,0,0

[Triggers]
rnf1=Time,Reinforce.,10,BadGuy,new1,0

Note: the Hovercraft always comes from the south and you have to place there where the Hovercraft should spawn, at least 3 cells water in a row 1 cell outside the visible map
I would suggest making around the whole map, 1 cell outside the visible area, a border with impassable rocks from the terrain set. (Don't use overlays, trees or anything else as these raise the ini file size and maps work only flawlessly when their size is under 16k)

This gives the human player Nod a controllable Transport Helicopter as reinforcements.

CODE

[BadGuy]
Edge=South

[TeamTypes]
heli=BadGuy,0,0,0,0,0,7,0,0,0,1,TRAN:1,1,Move:16,0,0

[Triggers]
rnf2=Time,Reinforce.,0,BadGuy,heli,0

Note: as soon as you put more units in the Team, the Helitrans will unload them at the waypoint and fly away
BadGuy on the Trigger is necessary and must match the house of the human player, or the reinforcements won't arrive.
The Reinforcements are spawned along the map border (here Edge=South) which is specified in the House section (here [BadGuy])


I hope this not only brings back some more life to TibWeb but also to TD mapping.

\EDIT
some more infos about map making and its restrictions
-the max file size of the ini is 16k (16384 Byte) for the DOS version (everything after the 16384th Byte will be ignored)
-the max number of entries for the Terran section is 300 (all trees/rocks after/including the 301st will be ignored)
-the max number of teamtypes is 40 (if you have 41 or more teamtypes the map will freeze the game when loading)

This post has been edited by Lin Kuei Ominae: Aug 11 2009, 08:47 PM

[Nyerguds]

That is some great information! I've been wondering about that number for years

[Lin Kuei Ominae]

with this 3rd value i just noticed some kind of pattern, but this should be tested.
This value could be some kind of AI behaviour priority setting.
0 - do nothing else than the orders in the teamtype
7 - strictly perform your orders, but also react a bit on your environment (e.g. take care of the gap in the map border where you're supposed to be spawned when entering the map as reinforcements)
15 - react on things which happen around you (e.g. buildings being attacked, units in your range)
20 - react on things which happen around you (e.g. attack units if they are in range), but ignore major events (e.g. the loss of a building or base under attack)
30 - could be like 0 again where it does nothing else than the orders in the teamtype (e.g. scb30ea "eviction notice" uses this for the civilists which have to inform the GDI base that the player has attacked their village, for that they ignore everything and head straight to the next waypoint to emit the celltrigger at the final waypoint)

0 and 30 could be AI wise the same, except that 0 is for reinforcements and 30 for creating teams
15 being in the middle, gives the AI the most freedom to follow the orders.


This is just a theory, but imo sounds quite plausible.

This post has been edited by Lin Kuei Ominae: Aug 27 2009, 11:00 AM