Radiant A.I. ? - by Aerothorn
Fig455 on 9/4/2006 at 15:43
Quote Posted by Komag
I think you have valid points, but that you're exaggerating the blandness of Oblivion's AIs whilst forgetting all the endless hours of Gothic's AIs standing/sitting around doing just as much nothingness, if not more, than Oblivion's AIs.
I'm a huge fan of Gothic (I and II), and I think its conversations are the best of any game, but I feel that Oblivion's radiant system is more flexible than Gothic's or any other game's, so while the execution may not be fully realized, it was realized pretty well, and there is a LOT more potential built in.
I didn't pay $50 for potential, and for a system that isn't fully realized. I wanted them to have spent 4 years finishing what they started, not giving up halfway and saying "Here you go, it's only been 1/2 done, but we've given it so much POTENTIAL". :rolleyes:
Komag on 9/4/2006 at 19:13
Once again, you're not arguing fairly. I didn't say it only had potential or that it was only half done.
I believe it's mostly done well, on par or better than other games, and that it happens to have tons more potential as well.
ignatios on 9/4/2006 at 22:29
Quote Posted by Tuco
You're overestimating the power of their AI / need combination, and are inferring a greater seperation of RAI and scripted action than it warrants.
Nonsense; all I'm saying is that they took a different approach to the same thing. With scripting it is easy to do, but getting the NPCs to do it themselves is really difficult.
I suspect the chick in the E3 video was given a set of (scheduled?) goals that showed off the possibilities but don't represent a configuration that most normal NPCs would have. Also you're totally right about the future of NPCs; RadiantAI is one of the first attempts (if not the first attempt) in a major commercial game. Baby steps, learning to walk before you can run, and other similar clichés.
Tuco on 10/4/2006 at 05:06
I wonder if the Construction Set can easily add goals to people. If so you might see cities being modded to fully realize the system. Would be nice if people got organized to make a conglomerate mod of all the NPC's and give them 'goals'.
But sadly, I don't think the framework is in place to give NPCs the ability to do things like work.
scumble on 10/4/2006 at 08:07
In my delvings so far, I've noted that each character has a list of things they may do on certain days of the week, but I haven't investigated further to see what sorts of "goals" you can set up, and how they are defined. There are these things called script packages that have something to do with defining behaviour as well, but again I haven't really delved further.
It certainly appears that guild members have some sort of "occupation". Spending some time with the mages guild lately, the alchemists spend time in the day making concoctions and testing them, although it's little more than a couple of animations. The sort of thing I'd aim for is that the mages are making potions they are going to sell to you, and sell to the shops as well. It'd be nice to see batches of potions being made up, and then the shopkeeper turning up to take them away. People actually buying things in the shop as well.
The trouble is, because you don't spend that much time in one place, you don't see the character's daily schedules, so it looks less like there is anything intelligent going on.
However, while doing the Glarthir quest in Skingrad, where you have to follow two NPCs around all day, it was apparent that something above the norm was going on. One of the characters goes out to work at one of the vineyards for a few hours, then goes home to do gardening (apparently), then stands about eating for an hour in the same place before going back home in the evening. I may try following some npcs about for a whole game week to verify further, given that I'm quite interested in this part of the engine.
Tuco on 10/4/2006 at 15:15
Follow the gal in Chorrol that runs the uhh, fire and steel shop or something. She's a smithy.
You'll see how interesting HER life is.
io organic industrialism on 10/4/2006 at 17:21
Quote Posted by scumble
Glarthir quest in Skingrad, where you have to follow two NPCs around all day,
i loved that quest, btw. and when i played it, i had to follow 3 people
GRRRR on 10/4/2006 at 17:23
Hmm, wake up, go to job, do boring job, go home, sleep.
Seems absolutely close to live for me :joke:
Shevers on 11/4/2006 at 15:46
Quote Posted by GRRRR
Hmm, wake up, go to job,
stare at wall for hours, go home, sleep.
Seems absolutely close to live for me :joke:
:sly:
davpod on 13/4/2006 at 11:19
I'm not sure people aren't just complaining about lack of animations here. I mean if the smithy in Chorrol fired up the furnace, smacked some steel with a hammer, and mopped the sweat off her brow occasionally, I'm guessing that'd satisfy you. Exactly the same schedule, but with added animations to increase the illusion of realism.
