Important notice regarding the focus of this thread:It's come to my attention that some people may look at this thread and think I'm trying to attack them because their maps aren't perfectly compatible with the built-in computer-controlled opponents -- henceforth known as "bots". This is hardly the case. The point of this thread is to simply tell people about maps in which bots don't or won't function properly
due to the flaws in the Skulltag bots themselves, not any given map. You see, the
Skulltag bots were designed with relatively simple coding: "Wander aimlessly, kill other players you see, switch weapons on pick-up, open doors if you encounter them, don't cross "no monster" linedefs if you can help it." They don't even attack
monsters. (Which is
really odd, considering the
ZDoom bots
do.) Thus, they tend to be a little on the "stupid" side compared to even the most inexperienced human player. They even have problems navigating the
default Doom maps, nevermind the really
complex ones that WAD authors make.
When I created this map, I was hoping to build a useful database for the public. While not everyone has a desire to use the bots, there are those out there who will for one reason or another. In fact, there's at least
one modification built
around using bots in conjunction with human players. Thus, I figured that if someone wanted to use bots for whatever reason, it would be nice to have a little list comprised of maps in which the bots are unable to fulfill their obligation of being semi-intelligent opponents.
This thread was never intended to agitate or provoke any of the map creators, nor was it intended to be a backhanded way to tell them their maps
need better bot support. Map authors make maps for
human players that are capable of running, jumping, thinking, and acting on things other than archaic sub-routines and instinct. Most authors simply don't think of bots when making maps because, to be blunt, they would have to bend over backward just to make sure their maps fully support simplistic robots that are riddled with problems and glitches which even the
Skulltag coders simply
cannot fix.
If one of your maps ends up here, it's not because I or someone else hates you or wants people to stop playing your maps. You more than likely have a perfectly playable map for
human players. However, your map just doesn't work well with the
simple bots that
Skulltag provides. And that's
entirely what this thread is trying to say. Nothing more, nothing less.
This thread is also not intended to be a discussion thread about the maps
themselves. Just the fact that bots don't work in whatever maps. If I have something to say
specifically about a map and not how bots behave within that map, chances are that I'll make a comment in the appropriate thread.
In that same vein, if you've done a revision to your map(s) that I notice and I write a comment akin to "not much has changed" when talking about the new version, I
specifically mean in regard to bot-compatibility, not the map. Once again, comments about the maps themselves would go to the appropriate thread, not here.
Thank you for taking the time to read this warning and I hope you find the rest of the thread informative!
Wasn't sure where to put this, since it could go under "Bugs" or "Skins & Bots". Figured it was best put here, since it's something of a "bot-related project". Korby was nice enough to scoot this over here to "Maps", so... there you go!
As some of you may know, I can't play
Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch online due to my craptastic internet. When I need my fix, I generally play a botmatch. However, as you may also be aware, not all maps are bot-friendly. In hopes of one day creating the ultimate bot-friendly server (either offline or online), I decided to compile a list of maps which aren't "bot-friendly". And by that, I mean bots on these maps will stare aimlessly at seemingly random areas of the map, try to run off the edge of a sector instead of going around, or are otherwise really easy targets or don't interact with the players/other bots unless there's a huge amount of either/or in the stage.
For the most-part, I've stuck to the popular map packs I see in the server browser. If there's a map pack or individual map you'd like tested, feel free to request it. If you have done testing yourself, also feel free to mention it so I can add it to the list.
All maps tested with Fraglimit 10, Winlimit 2, Timelimit 10, 3 bots and 1 human player.Update Log01/09 (later on)
- Added a rather important notice to clarify the point of this thread.
01/09
- Updated IX-Pack to v1d.
01/08
- Updated BEST MAPS EVER pack to v4a.
- Updated RocPack pack to v1b.
Also 01/04 (Same day, later time)
- Added Kappak and BEST MAPS EVER packs.
- Added version numbers and links to maps/packs where applicable.
01/04
- Initial thread.
----------
Map PacksVanilla Maps (v2c)
MM1GUT, MM1BOM, MM1ICE, MM1DW2
MM2BUB, MM2AIR, MM2HEA, MM2QUI
MM3SNA, MM3TOP, MM3HAR, MM3MAG, MM3SHA
MM4PHA, MM4DIV, MM4TOA
MM5CHA, MM5STO, MM5WAV, MM5GRA, MM5CRY, MM5GYR, MM5DAR
MM6KNI, MM6PLA, MM6BLI, MM6YAM, MM6MRX
MM7JUN, MM7BUR, MM7CLO, MM7SLA, MM7SHA, MM7DW4
Mega Man Powered Up Expansion Maps (v1c)
MMPCUT, MMPGUT, MMPELE, MMPBOM, MMPFIR
Another Medal Please Map Pack Maps (v1.6)
AMP02, AMP08, AMP10, AMP11*, AMP15 (AKA "DTD01")
* In addition to the bots getting stuck, AMP11 sometimes returns an error to the console: "Warning! Cannot path to location: 0, 0"BEST MAPS EVER PACK (v4a) **Updated 01/08**
v3a - BEST01, BEST02, BEST11, BEST14?, BEST17
v4a - BEST01, BEST02, BEST11, BEST14, BEST17, BEST19
? Could not test properly. The bots and I all died upon spawning every time.Cutstuff Community Maps (v4a)
CSCM06, CSCM08^, CSCM11, CSCM12, CSCM13, CSCM14, CSCM15, CSCM18, CSCM20^, CSCM22, CSCM23, CSCM24^
MM1BOMX, MM1ICEX, MM1FIRX, MM3NEEX, MM4DIVX, MM4RINX, MM4DRIX^, MM4SKUX^, MM4DC1X, MM5STOX^, MM5DARX^
MMWDW2X^, MM2QUIX, MM3SHAX, MM3HARX, MM7CLOX
IX-Pack Maps (v1d) **Updated 01/09**
v1c - IDM02, IDM03, IDM05, IDM06, IDM07^, IDM08, IDM09, IDM10, IDM11, IDM13, IDM14, IDM15^, IDM16, IDM17, IDM18^, IDM19, IDM20, IDM21, IDM22, IDM23^, IDM25^
.......XDM01, XDM02, XDM04, XDM05, XDM06^, XDM07^, XDM08^, XDM09^, XDM10
v1d - IDM02, IDM03, IDM05, IDM06, IDM07^, IDM08, IDM09, IDM10, IDM11, IDM13, IDM14, IDM15^, IDM16, IDM17, IDM18^, IDM19, IDM20, IDM21, IDM22, IDM23^, IDM24^, IDM25^
.......XDM01, XDM02, XDM04, XDM05, XDM06^, XDM07^, XDM08^, XDM09^, XDM10
Kappak (v2c) **Added 01/04**
KAP01, KAP03^, KAP04^, KAP05^, KAP06^, KAP07^
Roboenza Pack Maps (v???)
Due to the nature and build of these maps, bot matches are not recommended.MMROBO02, MMROBO03, MMROBO04, MMROBO05, MMROBO06, MMROBO08
RocPack Maps (v1b) **Updated 01/09**
v1a: ROC02^, ROC04^, ROC05
v1b: ROC02, ROC04, ROC05, ROC06
Shadepack Maps (v1)
SHA01, SHA02, SHA03^
Miscellaneous Maps"25 Meters" by Korby - KOR25M **Added 01/09**
Despite the fact Korby mentioned this incompatibility prior...