Fractal Softworks Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Starsector 0.97a is out! (02/02/24); New blog post: Anubis-class Cruiser (12/20/24)

Pages: 1 [2]

Author Topic: Plasma Burn AI  (Read 2694 times)

Sendrien

  • Captain
  • ****
  • Posts: 316
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #15 on: July 29, 2024, 01:08:09 PM »

You just invented Plasma Jets.

I've always thought that Odyssey would be better suited with Plasma Jets rather than Plasma Burn.
Logged

Killer of Fate

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 2081
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #16 on: July 29, 2024, 02:39:31 PM »

You just invented Plasma Jets.

I've always thought that Odyssey would be better suited with Plasma Jets rather than Plasma Burn.
probably cause Plasma Jets is meant to be in every way superior to Plasma Burn
Logged

Phenir

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 1013
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2024, 07:10:32 PM »

You can't ram as well with plasma jets
Logged

Princess of Evil

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 883
  • Balance is not an endpoint, but a direction.
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #18 on: July 30, 2024, 12:52:20 AM »

You shouldn't be ramming with an Oddy, the thing is made of wet high-tech battlecruiser paper.

Although Oddy is perfectly fine with Plasma Burn, since it's a broadsider and "forwards" for it doesn't always mean "towards the enemy", so that is more of an AI issue.
Logged
Proof that you don't need to know any languages to translate, you just need to care.

Phenir

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 1013
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #19 on: July 30, 2024, 05:31:41 AM »

You shouldn't be ramming with an Oddy, the thing is made of wet high-tech battlecruiser paper.

Although Oddy is perfectly fine with Plasma Burn, since it's a broadsider and "forwards" for it doesn't always mean "towards the enemy", so that is more of an AI issue.
Maybe YOU shouldn't be, but i'm perfectly fine ramming cheeky frigates trying to surround me.
Logged

Daynen

  • Captain
  • ****
  • Posts: 458
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #20 on: July 30, 2024, 09:20:16 AM »

Yeah, you shouldn't be ramming with plasma jets.  You should be ramming with Orion Drives.  That retribution is a field goal kicking MONSTER.

Seriously though, on the one hand, when I see a ship with a system that makes it go fast, I just accept the fact that it's going to charge in.  The fury is an attack ship; I don't send it in unless I'm ready for it to go HAM on the enemy fleet.

On the other hand, it IS a tiny bit frustrating to know those ships could easily be dodging a LOT of incoming fire with plasma jets but only think to use them to get in weapon range.  Bit of a tall ask to throw in all the other behaviors with so much stuff already in the pipeline but...wishlist, you know?  It shouldn't be priority one but like... at some point it would be really nice.

It WOULD throw the current balance and average fleet engagement behaviors into chaos though; a whole class of ships suddenly hard countering ships that were previously dominating them is a great way to upset EVERYONE'S rhythm for a while...
Logged

Doctorhealsgood

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 900
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #21 on: August 05, 2024, 07:16:48 AM »

Nothing wrong with throwing a wrench on things if it fixes a thing in the long run if you ask me.
Logged
Quote from: Doctorhealsgood
Sometimes i feel like my brain has been hit by salamanders not gonna lie.

NikoTheGuyDude

  • Captain
  • ****
  • Posts: 430
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #22 on: August 07, 2024, 12:35:04 PM »

I think this would turn out into one of those things thats simple on paper and very very hard to implement in reality.
Logged

TK3600

  • Captain
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #23 on: August 07, 2024, 06:33:58 PM »

While we are at it, fix the phase skimmer too, especially on Radiant.

What it should do:

Phase into optimal range
Phase again if enemy try to get out of range
Phase out when flux is too high


What it actually does:

Spam phase into extremely close range with no regard for enemy range or own range.
If already too close, then phase side ways. Gotta use up all charged.
Never phase out under high flux, regardless of phase charge.

Weirdly enough AI Medusa seems to use the thing well. I wonder whats up with that.
Logged

Killer of Fate

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 2081
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #24 on: August 08, 2024, 12:49:41 AM »

While we are at it, fix the phase skimmer too, especially on Radiant.

What it should do:

Phase into optimal range
Phase again if enemy try to get out of range
Phase out when flux is too high


What it actually does:

Spam phase into extremely close range with no regard for enemy range or own range.
If already too close, then phase side ways. Gotta use up all charged.
Never phase out under high flux, regardless of phase charge.

Weirdly enough AI Medusa seems to use the thing well. I wonder whats up with that.
Remnants have officer behaviour set to reckless, meaning highly aggressive behaviour which may appear nonsensical.
Logged

TaLaR

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 2821
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #25 on: August 08, 2024, 01:00:07 AM »

Optimal use of skimmer is more than that: Why waste charges when there is no immediate threat or short miss-able opportunity (like punishing a phase cloak cooldown)? Use it when you need to actually dodge a big hit/burst. This way skimmer helps to win flux war, rather than just increasing mobility a bit.

Or to get behind a vulnerable ship, when you aren't fast enough to do so otherwise (or it would cost too much shield flux).

Skimmer system is not particularly strong overall (for a Medusa anyway), exactly because it recharges so slowly.

AI uses all mobility systems in same stupid way: "I'm going somewhere, can the system get me there faster? If yes, use it." There is no attempt to conserve system use for best opportunity or move ship in way that makes system more useful (turn a Plasma Burn ship ahead of engagement, and engage with broadside, etc). At best there may be some suicide checks on stuff like Burn Drive.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2024, 01:04:17 AM by TaLaR »
Logged

Grievous69

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 3126
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #26 on: August 08, 2024, 01:04:09 AM »

What do you mean in a stupid way? They're just so excited they want to get to the fight first.

I really don't mind AI using mobility system to get around faster, I like the efficiency. That said steady personality probably shouldn't use every single Phase skimmer charge getting to the enemy, and then get stuck when it can't escape.
Logged
Please don't take me too seriously.

Princess of Evil

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 883
  • Balance is not an endpoint, but a direction.
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #27 on: August 08, 2024, 01:15:02 AM »

I think the best way to implement Skimmer not wasting charges coming in is to have it always leave one charge when it's phasing forward.
Logged
Proof that you don't need to know any languages to translate, you just need to care.

TaLaR

  • Admiral
  • *****
  • Posts: 2821
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #28 on: August 08, 2024, 01:15:56 AM »

It's fine to use a mobility system out of combat, if you expect it to recharge by the time you need to engage. Or expect to not need the system vs a weak target. But otherwise, it's generally stupid.

For skimmer best long range travel use is to dump all charges from afar, and recover by the time you engage. Or 2, if that's all you can regen. Using just one charge out of combat is usually not worth it - you lose ZFB for it.

Skimmer recharges so slowly, that it really needs to get more value per charge than a bit of movement. Which it can do by dodging in combat.
Logged

TK3600

  • Captain
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
    • View Profile
Re: Plasma Burn AI
« Reply #29 on: August 08, 2024, 02:57:44 PM »

While we are at it, fix the phase skimmer too, especially on Radiant.

What it should do:

Phase into optimal range
Phase again if enemy try to get out of range
Phase out when flux is too high


What it actually does:

Spam phase into extremely close range with no regard for enemy range or own range.
If already too close, then phase side ways. Gotta use up all charged.
Never phase out under high flux, regardless of phase charge.

Weirdly enough AI Medusa seems to use the thing well. I wonder whats up with that.
Remnants have officer behaviour set to reckless, meaning highly aggressive behaviour which may appear nonsensical.
Fearless is not suicidal. It will commit to attack regardless of threat, but it still back out when flux is full. After all, you cannot fire if flux too high.

You can see AI Nova try to back out after its shield cracks.
Logged
Pages: 1 [2]