Base abilities for custom spells cast by melee-game AI units

[Boris_Spider]

First update in quite some time (wasn't laid-off and wound up buried in school). Any other observations should be posted here (redundancy increases likelihood we're right).

//\\oo//\\

 

[Karzama]

Any idea how Vengeance works?? Otherwise I love this!

 

[axleion]

I would like to add some information regarding this topic,
about custom Immolation, the AI-controlled unit will only activate it if :
1. custom Immolation deals damage
2. there are enemies around the AI-controlled unit
3. the custom Immolation can damage those enemies (OE - Target Allowed)
4. the AI-controlled unit has lost about 30-50% hitpoints.

found this after messing with AI in my own map, these conditions are found with trial and errors, perhaps someone else can confirm it.

 

[Gekigengar]

I would like to add some information regarding this topic,
about custom Immolation, the AI-controlled unit will only activate it if :
1. custom Immolation deals damage
2. there are enemies around the AI-controlled unit
3. the custom Immolation can damage those enemies (OE - Target Allowed)
4. the AI-controlled unit has lost about 30-50% hitpoints.

found this after messing with AI in my own map, these conditions are found with trial and errors, perhaps someone else can confirm it.

Thanks for contributing! +REP

I do hope there are more reliable source of datas though,

Such as in the MPQ anyone?

Is there such files that define these behaviours?

 

[Kino]

1. custom Immolation deals damage

Im quite sure this applies to all abilities that have a damage component.

 

[Tirlititi]

I think the AI part of the spells is raw-coded at the same place there is the effect part (the base effect, I mean, not what you can change in the editor).
If that's the case, it's in the game.dll or the storm.dll (don't remember which one) and would be hard to decode.

1. custom Immolation deals damage

Im quite sure this applies to all abilities that have a damage component.

As this one :

3. the custom Immolation can damage those enemies (OE - Target Allowed)

 

[ngkn92]

Is this still update ?
I have one
Soul Burn : hero-only ( see in my custom map, wonder if it work on melee and campain )

 

[Kazeon]

owh, epic. you must have put a lot effort for this post!

 

[Karzama]

Any AI I've seen seems to use Cold Arrows on units with low HP or they spam Heroes. But this is awesome!

 

[Kyrbi0]

This is really useful; keep it up.

 

[Yrk]

Hi Boris_Spider ,

Here are some you can add to the list ( If this is Update )
-Phase Shift
-Mana Flare
-Anti-magic Shell
-Unholy Frenzy
-Cripple
-Purge
-Bloodlust
-Statis Trap
-Big Bad Voodoo
-Dispel
-Locust Swarm / Voodoo Spirits
-Death Pact

Hope it helps
-----
Ohhh , By the way , +Rep

 

[aider]

The AI only cast these spells if the unit with the ability already know it from before right? You can't give an Acolyte the spell "Divine Shield" and it will automatically cast it when attacked? So you have to base the unit you want to cast Divine Shield automatically on Bandit Lord or some other unit that have Divine Shield as default?

Because I tried giving "Priest" Divine Shield, but it didn't cast it automatically. But its base spells like Heal, Inner Fire and Dispel Magic it casts when the conditions are met.

 

[Xonok]

The AI only cast these spells if the unit with the ability already know it from before right? You can't give an Acolyte the spell "Divine Shield" and it will automatically cast it when attacked? So you have to base the unit you want to cast Divine Shield automatically on Bandit Lord or some other unit that have Divine Shield as default?

Because I tried giving "Priest" Divine Shield, but it didn't cast it automatically. But its base spells like Heal, Inner Fire and Dispel Magic it casts when the conditions are met.

I have made several tests at various times and this doesn't seem to be true. However, some abilities do have strange rules for being cast.

 

[blancfaye7]

I have made several tests at various times and this doesn't seem to be true. However, some abilities do have strange rules for being cast.

Indeed it does. Healing Wave and Chain Lightning are quite random. They aren't always cast on Cooldown.

 

[LordPerenolde II]

Farsight is unused at all???? what does it mean? the AI will never use it even if you tell it to?

 

[PurgeandFire]

Farsight is unused at all???? what does it mean? the AI will never use it even if you tell it to?

afaik it will use it if you tell it to, but the default AI will never use it.

 

[Kyrbi0]

afaik it will use it if you tell it to, but the default AI will never use it.

That's because it's an "Artificial Intelligence", not an "Artificial Stupidity". : )

 

[Xonok]

The AI knows your location anyway, so it doesn't need spells to scout you.

 

[VeljkoM]

That's because it's an "Artificial Intelligence", not an "Artificial Stupidity". : )

Both are wrong. It is "Artificial Insanity". There is no intelligence in Warcraft AI.

 

[LordPerenolde II]

lol yeah i know the AI has the whole map explored already so it would be nonsense, but if for some scenic reason one would use a farsight spell........it's not possible, because i tried to do it already once, long time ago. :/

 

[Xonok]

The interesting thing about AI is that it knows your location without actually seeing your units. Sort of like a group enumeration.

 

[LordPerenolde II]

The interesting thing about AI is that it knows your location without actually seeing your units. Sort of like a group enumeration.

Some games like Emperor:BfD or Wc2 seem to let the AI use scout units or abilities(for example holy vision with paladins). Maybe their AI is really blind? Or is subsceptible to fog of war?

 

[Xonok]

Well, it's a design limitation. It's either impossible to create an AI that would beat humans in a complex real-time game or it is prohibitively expensive. Thus, they are given some advantage to make up for them being stupid. Not having to scout is one of them in WC3.

 

[Weigazod]

If you play melee games for a time, you will realize that sight abilities such as Sentinel (Night elf huntress), Sentry Ward (Orc Witch Doctor), Farsight (Orc Farseer), Flare (Human Mortal team) aren't used by AI. To some extent, Undead Shades are never produced by your AI opponent.

About Divine Shield question, i think the priest didn't use it because they are busy using Heal on themselves already. You may want to try on some other units and see the differences.

 

[blancfaye7]

If you play melee games for a time, you will realize that sight abilities such as Sentinel (Night elf huntress), Sentry Ward (Orc Witch Doctor), Farsight (Orc Farseer), Flare (Human Mortal team) aren't used by AI. To some extent, Undead Shades are never produced by your AI opponent.

About Divine Shield question, i think the priest didn't use it because they are busy using Heal on themselves already. You may want to try on some other units and see the differences.

The AI DOES use Sentinel.

 

[Zwiebelchen]

Just wanted to add this, as there's a lot of confusion about AoE spell AI and how they sometimes trigger if only 1 unit is caught by it:

This happens when the caster has full mana. In this case, it's actually smart to use your spell to kill the unit fast in order to not waste the mana regeneration.

 

[blancfaye7]

Really?

Yes. I'm am very sure of it. I keep on playing Warcraft Melee maps with AI that on Normal or Insane. Both AI use Sentinel.

 

[kruzerg]

you should add ensnare to the list
its auto cast just need delete the requirement and change the target uncheck the non hero
and done

 

[pred1980]

A question. When i want to cast an ability and NOT the AI of wc3, my ability have to based on "channel" right? Otherwise the spell would cast automaticly or?

edit: i know it now ^^

 

[pred1980]

NOTE: If you use a channel ability with the "order-id: acidbomb", it will fail! Use annother order-id instead.

 

[Rainmaker]

Question: does the AI behave this way only if you use the action:

• Melee Game - Run melee AI scripts (for computer players)

or do computer players behave the same way even without it?

 

[pred1980]

I don't use this line of code... it seems to work without it.

 

[Tasyen]

Want to contribute something about Finger of Death:
The AI does not use it in Melee Range. Distance to Target has to be atleast 250-300 better more.

 

[Daffa]

I noticed Rejuvenation is not used on unit with health below the threshold of it's effect.

 

[Daffa]

Rejuvenation won't be used even if unit is near death if unit max HP < rejuvenation max recovery. Found it during one of my works.

 

[Zordrak]

I have seen an AI unit using 'Cripple' one times. Anti-Magic-Shield is not used by AI units. Rejuvenation is sometimes used by AI. (All tested in custom map with non melee AI.

 

[Map Designer]

inner fire is used whenever the ally unit is attacking (becuz it gives bonus dmg)

im not sure if its used when the unit cannot attack.

slow i think is used if the enemy is attacking (like curse) butim not sure.

basically, auto cast spells behave same as auto cast I think.

(need double check)!!!!

 

[Map Designer]

Guys,

is polymorph never used by sorceress?

 

[LordPerenolde II]

Guys,

is polymorph never used by sorceress?

If abilities aren't mentioned it's because none of the contributors have submitted the casting trends of the AI. Please submit your experiences working with custom AI base abilities. The more information I have the more useful others may find this tutorial.

 

[The_Silent]

In my experience "Inner Fire" is cast on a friendly unit, when that unit attacks another unit. Even when attacking your own units.

Super cool and useful list

 

[fahrbian]

If I put one of these abilities on an item, would it also be autocasted?

 

[fahrbian]

I will just post this as an update with some spells that are not included but are autocasted:

Feral Spirit
Phoenix
Tranquility
Entangling Roots
Force of Nature
Metamorphosis

 

[Map Designer]

Hello,

AI behaviour here seems wierd. I gave Beast master has his own abilitities (bear + quil beast) in addition to water elemental and Book of the dead (ability not item).

why does it seem to me that the AI summons only when the beast master health is low? also He almost never used book of the dead (he only did it once when i removed all other abilities)

could the reason be perhaps that campaign AI script is run?

Edit: alright, so when BEAST VS BLADE necro book wont be used. However, when I let beast reach my town and I call to arms, he does use it.

Perhaps the ai will only use necro book when he is outnumbered? Perhaps something else.

 

[Map Designer]

Hello,

it seems like Vengence, the warden ability, is only used when there are some corpses nearby. The AI wouldnt summon otherwise.

e:

Hello,

AI uses a lot of the summon abilitites. Even dark portal, item doom guard summon, and summon HeadHunters are used and not ignored.

When I have time I will check inferno (must be used cuz melee, duh),and rain of chaos inshallah


hmmm,

the ensnare ability makes me curious

 

[Map Designer]

seems like cripple is only cast on powerful units.

it is always cast on knights. it is never cast on footmen.

AI cast it on grunts when they have level 2 weapon upgrade

If I change Foot men attack speed to be much higher, AI will cast cripple on them.

 

[LordPerenolde II]

Forked Lightning doesn't work for me. Units are around but it won't cast.
What about Death Coil? Do they use it normally during attacks? Or just to heal their undead?

 

[Map Designer]

Forked Lightning doesn't work for me. Units are around but it won't cast.
What about Death Coil? Do they use it normally during attacks? Or just to heal their undead?

maybe it will cast only if there are enough units. If you have played Curse of the Blood elves original campaign, you would see that it is used by the AI (check last 2 chapters)

 

[Aaron Jordis]

Forked Lightning doesn't work for me. Units are around but it won't cast.
What about Death Coil? Do they use it normally during attacks? Or just to heal their undead?

At the moment the normal melee AI from Blizzard is broken. I think the spell-reference has been changed. The names of hero-spells have been changed in the WorldEdit as well. Thus the AI does not skill spells anymore :O
Alternative AIs such as AMAI don't work either because of the changed spell reference

 

[LordPerenolde II]

At the moment the normal melee AI from Blizzard is broken. I think the spell-reference has been changed. The names of hero-spells have been changed in the WorldEdit as well. Thus the AI does not skill spells anymore :O
Alternative AIs such as AMAI don't work either because of the changed spell reference

It worked in the wc1 remake, and i'm still using that version for the wc2 remake! Not even blizzard string works and it was the same back then.

 

[3ICE]

At the moment the normal melee AI from Blizzard is broken. I think the spell-reference has been changed. The names of hero-spells have been changed in the WorldEdit as well. Thus the AI does not skill spells anymore :O

I read this entire thread...
...excitedly rubbing my hands together the whole time...
...planning how to use all of this greatness in my current project; 3ICE's Spell Defense...
...only to find out AI is broken currently!?

No...

Edit:

The AI_Test_Map.w3x seems to work fine. (editor and wc3 both tested)
No crashes on launch, AI stable for over an hour. All spells did autocast.
Memory leaks galore so had to terminate wc3 upon exit. But that's not important.

Can not reproduce your original issue. AI not broken.
Or did you mean learning hero abilities?

+rep to OP for maintaining this guide. Still works today.

p.s.: Some of the units do 0 damage in the map, even though they seem to have a valid attack with non-zero damage. Apparent if attacking my own stuff.