[AI] Item Pools

[Mr_Bean]

Hi guys. I am learning JASS and I would like to convert my GUI AI to JASS. The main thing I would like to do is convert the AI's item builds to JASS. Can someone help me or point me to a good tutorial? I have heard about item pools but don't know how to use them.

I would like to have 3 item builds to start off with - one for each agility, intelligence and strength heroes.

Thanks for any help. You will get +rep and credits in my map!

 

[Pharaoh_]

For starters, check this out: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/jass-ai-scripts-tutorials-280/itempools-guide-35180/

 

[watermelon_1234]

I don't think item pools are a great way to store item builds since they can only give you a random item type id back (and to do that would require creating an item).

You could use global integer arrays instead to store the item ids for each attribute hero.

 

[Dr Super Good]

you could make a sort of item list. This stores an item type and a point value in order of magnitude of point value. The AI aquires the lowest (usually cheapest) point value item first. It then progresses sequentially down the list and discardes the lowest point value item. You can also optionally add a number field if you want the AI to have more than 1. You might wish to have many such item systems compete for piority and change piority depending on enemies for better item builds. An example of a competing item piority could be a potion (always make sure AI has a potion early on and make sure it does so before buying new items).

 

[Mr_Bean]

How would I set a custom value for each item-type?

 

[Dr Super Good]

You can use a hashtable to map values to item types. Afterall an item type is nothing more than an integer.

 

[Mr_Bean]

Okay. Sorry, could you please give me and example of how I would do this? I haven't ever used hashtables before

 

[Dr Super Good]

set table = InitHashtable()
call SaveStr(table,'I000',0,"Some value stored here, use different native for different type.")
set somestr = LoadStr(table,'I000',0)

As you know, 'I000' is the default custom item ID. Anything that returns an item ID integer can be used on that field.

 

[Mr_Bean]

Would you mind giving me an example with:

Claws of Attack (id: 'I00B')
Cost: 450 gold

 

[Dr Super Good]

to save the value.

call SaveInteger(table,'I00B',0,450)

to recall the value

LoadInteger(table,'I00B',0)

like

set someinteger = LoadInteger(table,'I00B',0)

 

[Mr_Bean]

Okay, thanks! By the way, what is meant by the "0"?

 

[Dr Super Good]

Its another index. Imagine Hashtables as 2D arrays which can take any 32bit signed integer as an index of eithor demension.

 

[Mr_Bean]

Oh okay! Must I use call SaveIntegerBJ because it doesn't register without BJ.

 

[Pharaoh_]

It does, just change the order of the parameters:
call SaveInteger (udg_Hash, id, label, valueToBeSaved).