Hostile AI setting in DZAI causing a problem?

[BetterDeadThanZed]

A couple days ago I turned on the setting in DZAI to make AI groups hostile to each other. After that, I started getting reports that players are seeing less AI at the missions. I put myself into god mode and started going to missions and I'm finding AI dead at missions that no one has been to. Thinking that it was because I was spawning several groups of AI at each mission, and that the setting in DZAI might some how affect the AI in DZMS, I changed the missions to spawn ONE group at each one, but I'm still finding dead AI.

 

Is there a chance that the setting in DZAI is causing the AI in DZMS to attack each other?

[Face]

The config setting does warn that all AI will be affected.

[BetterDeadThanZed]

The config setting does warn that all AI will be affected.

 

So even though the AI in DZMS spawn differently from DZAI it still affects them?

[Face]

It affects all AI because it uses an Arma2 command to set side relations. It doesn't matter what addon or script spawns the AI, because from the server's point of view, all AI spawned are the same. It's just that each specific addon does something differently to the AI it spawns, for example skills and loadout.

[BetterDeadThanZed]

Ok, but some AI are still alive. How many AI constitute a "group"? I changed the missions to spawn all AI in one group. ie:

//DZMSAISpawn spawns AI to the mission.
//Usage: [_coords, count, skillLevel, unitArray]
[[(_coords select 0) + 0.0352,(_coords select 1) - 6.8799, 0],12,1,"DZMSUnitsMajor"] call DZMSAISpawn;
sleep 5;

At the missions i checked, there were always a few, around 3 or 4, that were still alive and not shooting at each other. Maybe if I keep the group spawns small, they won't kill each other?

[Face]

It's not so much how many. A "group" in Arma 2 terms can hold any number of units. A script generally spawns units into a group like this:

 

1. Create Unit 1

2. Create Unit 2

3. Create Unit 3

4. Add Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3 into Group A.

 

Group A constitutes a "group". Using the free for all mode, members of Group A will never attack each other, but they will attack members of Group B.

 

Just so you know, I am very likely going to remove the free-for-all mode (99% likely). This option made sense when mission addons didn't exist and DZAI and Sarge AI were the only AI addons around. Because many servers are running AI addons and mission addons together, this just won't work without problems.

[BetterDeadThanZed]

So spawning all 12 AI together, like I did above, won't put them all in the same group? Is there a way to make all AI at one mission spawn in the same group? Also, I love the free for all mode. My players commented on how it adds so much to the server. For example, I was cowering inside a hospital the other day hiding from a couple AI when an AI UAZ pulled up. The four bandits inside jumped out and engaged the other AI. Others have commented on how cool it was to see AI on the ground shooting at and taking down an AI chopper.
 

Also, you the author of DZAI? Why remove the free for all mode? It's off by default and if admins want to use it, it's awesome. Not everyone runs a mission system on their server. I was actually considering removing DZMS to keep DZAI with free for all on.

[ekroemer]

I had free for all active for a time, too. My guess had been that the dead AI at missions had been killed by DZAI heli patrols, I did not check that assumption, though.

[TheVampire]

It's not so much how many. A "group" in Arma 2 terms can hold any number of units. A script generally spawns units into a group like this:

 

1. Create Unit 1

2. Create Unit 2

3. Create Unit 3

4. Add Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3 into Group A.

 

Group A constitutes a "group". Using the free for all mode, members of Group A will never attack each other, but they will attack members of Group B.

 

Just so you know, I am very likely going to remove the free-for-all mode (99% likely). This option made sense when mission addons didn't exist and DZAI and Sarge AI were the only AI addons around. Because many servers are running AI addons and mission addons together, this just won't work without problems.

 

Does FreeForAll set east hostile to itself or only make east hostile to independent and spawn them on both sides?

[Face]

It makes east hostile to self, and hostility between east and resistance.

DZAI prerelease build 4 has this removed because DZAI will exclusively use east for all AI until its absolutely necessary to use resistance. If free for all is enabled with this change, you would have air vehicles constantly attacking each other since they do pass by each other frequently.

[BetterDeadThanZed]

It makes east hostile to self, and hostility between east and resistance.

DZAI prerelease build 4 has this removed because DZAI will exclusively use east for all AI until its absolutely necessary to use resistance. If free for all is enabled with this change, you would have air vehicles constantly attacking each other since they do pass by each other frequently.

 

 That actually sounds like fun. :)

 

What about the other question I had?

 

So spawning all 12 AI together, like I did above, won't put them all in the same group? Is there a way to make all AI at one mission spawn in the same group?

[Face]

It depends how the AI are spawned "together". If they're all lumped into the same group using the joinSilent (or join) command then they're in the same group. Simple as that.

[BetterDeadThanZed]

It depends how the AI are spawned "together". If they're all lumped into the same group using the joinSilent (or join) command then they're in the same group. Simple as that.

 

What about using the lines I posted above? How many will be in the same group? Obviously with that method, some of the 12 i spawn are in different groups. Just want to know how many will spawn in one group using that code.

[TheVampire]

What about using the lines I posted above? How many will be in the same group? Obviously with that method, some of the 12 i spawn are in different groups. Just want to know how many will spawn in one group using that code.

 

Each DZMS spawn line is its own group of AI.

[BetterDeadThanZed]

Each DZMS spawn line is its own group of AI.

 

Ok, so when I used the line I posted earlier, and spawned 12 AI, why did some of the AI kill the others? I know for a fact this is what happened, as I teleported to the missions very shortly after they spawned and there had been no players at the missions. 

[TheVampire]

Ok, so when I used the line I posted earlier, and spawned 12 AI, why did some of the AI kill the others? I know for a fact this is what happened, as I teleported to the missions very shortly after they spawned and there had been no players at the missions. 

 

They are all in one group so I have no idea. Even the DZAI Developer (Face) told you in this thread its not really a good idea and is removing it from DZAI.

 

I'd recommend just disabling it, it causes too many unknown issues with AI.

[BetterDeadThanZed]

They are all in one group so I have no idea. Even the DZAI Developer (Face) told you in this thread its not really a good idea and is removing it from DZAI.

 

I'd recommend just disabling it, it causes too many unknown issues with AI.

 

Well, there's a chance I'll drop the missions but I'm not entirely sure, so having the AI hostile to each other would be a nice option if you don't run a mission system, but that's sorta off topic for this forum. :)

 

I wish he'd reconsider removing that feature.

[TheVampire]

Well, there's a chance I'll drop the missions but I'm not entirely sure, so having the AI hostile to each other would be a nice option if you don't run a mission system, but that's sorta off topic for this forum. :)

 

I wish he'd reconsider removing that feature.

 

I ran a PVP server that had around 30 people on it at a time for 4-5 months or so, and never seen an AI group engage another AI group that I can remember.

It's not as spectacular as you'd think it is, but if you want to keep it on its up to you of course.