Difference between revisions of "Strategies"

From Gladiabots Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 17: Line 17:
 
== Useful resources ==
 
== Useful resources ==
  
* In general, it is recommended to check the [https://forum.gladiabots.com/index.php forum] sections <i>Questions</i> and <i>Strategies</i>. Also "old" topics can give nice information. Another place where tactics are shared are the chat groups on Discord and Telegram (see forum [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewforum.php?f=12 links]).
+
There are several places to discover new strategies, learn tactics of other players or ask questions:
* [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=823 Shared ideas how players approach the game] (several strong players, at least strong for the first half of 2017, contributed to the topic)
+
  
<!--
+
* Check the [https://forum.gladiabots.com community forum]. Also "old" topics there can give nice information.
 +
** Especially the sections ''Strategies'' and ''Questions'' are interesting.
 +
** For example check [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=823 this topic about shared ideas how players approach the game]. Several strong players of the year 2017 contributed to it.
 +
* Check the chat groups on [http://telegram.gladiabots.com/ telegram] and [http://discord.gladiabots.com/ discord].
 +
* Check the wiki itself to learn about game mechanics and bot programming and their sub topics. There are several nifty details to discover.
 +
* Check the [[changelog]] or [http://roadmap.gladiabots.com roadmap] to learn about recent or planned changes and adjust your AIs according to them.
  
Game mechanics
+
Last but not least one should play the game. Especially lost games show flaws of the AI, that need to improved. Try to analyze the strategy your enemy used.
Bot programming
+
  
* Wiki itself
+
== Simple bots ==
  
* [https://forum.gladiabots.com Community forum]
+
One can learn of bots with few nodes that have a pretty good performance in the game. They are a great base to start optimizing for beginners but also for advanced players to test their AI against.
* [http://roadmap.gladiabots.com Roadmap] [[Changelog]]
+
* [https://stats.gladiabots.com/ Gladiabots stats]
+
* [http://gladiabots-stats.info.tm/ Unofficial Gladiabots stats]
+
* [https://cmrichards.github.io/glad_simulation/ Unofficial Gladiabots simulator]
+
* [http://telegram.gladiabots.com/ Telegram chat]
+
* [http://discord.gladiabots.com/ Discord chat]
+
  
 +
=== Ultimate AI for beginners ===
  
played games itself
+
PEW presented it in the [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=647 community forum].
  
 +
images missing
 +
 +
The AI is split into this modules:
 +
 +
* Blue: The retreat module
 +
* Yellow: The shooting module (with priority A)
 +
* Green: The resource module
 +
* Red: The pushing module
 +
* Pink: The shooting module (with priority B)
 +
* And the rest of things with low priority
 +
 +
=== Grand Master League Bot ===
 +
 +
LuBeNo presented it in the [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=605 community forum].
 +
 +
images missing
 +
 +
The AI is split into this modules:
 +
* Defence
 +
* Shotgun
 +
* Offence
 +
* Dancing
 +
 +
<!--
  
  
Line 43: Line 65:
 
* Assault specific strategies / Shotgun specific strategies / Machine gun specific strategies / Sniper specific strategies
 
* Assault specific strategies / Shotgun specific strategies / Machine gun specific strategies / Sniper specific strategies
 
** [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=126&p=4470#p4470 decorators]
 
** [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=126&p=4470#p4470 decorators]
** [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=605 Grand Master League Bot]
 
** [https://forum.gladiabots.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=647 Ultimate AI for beginners]
 
  
 
what are the most important things to implement for new players? (A little bit more explaining text or a link appreciated)
 
what are the most important things to implement for new players? (A little bit more explaining text or a link appreciated)

Revision as of 20:44, 5 December 2017

Information.png This page needs improvement, you are welcome to contribute.

Best practices for AI design

Some best coding practices from software development also apply to AIs in Gladiabots. The following rules can help improve the quality of AIs, enhancing both the initial development and subsequent maintenance of the AI.

Information.png
Divide and conquer. 

Break down a problem into two or more sub-problems and solve each of them separately. Complex sub-problems can again be divided. In Gladiabots this could be done by creating sub-AIs for each sub-problem. The complexity is reduced leading to a better maintainability.

Information.png
Readability first. 

AIs are written once, but read many times. Overlapping nodes, links crossing each other and great distances between linked nodes are difficult to read and should be avoided. AIs should have meaningful names revealing their purpose. One should consider to align nodes to the grid.

Information.png
Don't repeat yourself. 

Avoid using the exact same set of nodes in several places. Sometimes duplicate nodes can be prevented by using bot specific filters or additional conditions. If its not possible to prevent duplicate nodes in the first place one can try to move them to sub AIs.

Information.png
Keep it simple. 

The size of an AI has a significant effect on the error rate. A simple solution should be preferred over a complex one leading to the same or very similar results. One should ask the question: "Has this AI been implemented with the least amount of nodes necessary?". The more complex the AI is the more likely it is to be buggy.

Information.png
Test, test, test. 

"If debugging is the process of removing bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in." (Edsger Wybe Dijkstra) As no developer is perfect, new nodes should be tested and debugged right after they were added.

Useful resources

There are several places to discover new strategies, learn tactics of other players or ask questions:

  • Check the community forum. Also "old" topics there can give nice information.
  • Check the chat groups on telegram and discord.
  • Check the wiki itself to learn about game mechanics and bot programming and their sub topics. There are several nifty details to discover.
  • Check the changelog or roadmap to learn about recent or planned changes and adjust your AIs according to them.

Last but not least one should play the game. Especially lost games show flaws of the AI, that need to improved. Try to analyze the strategy your enemy used.

Simple bots

One can learn of bots with few nodes that have a pretty good performance in the game. They are a great base to start optimizing for beginners but also for advanced players to test their AI against.

Ultimate AI for beginners

PEW presented it in the community forum.

images missing

The AI is split into this modules:

  • Blue: The retreat module
  • Yellow: The shooting module (with priority A)
  • Green: The resource module
  • Red: The pushing module
  • Pink: The shooting module (with priority B)
  • And the rest of things with low priority

Grand Master League Bot

LuBeNo presented it in the community forum.

images missing

The AI is split into this modules:

  • Defence
  • Shotgun
  • Offence
  • Dancing