Add Deathmatch bot support

[Vojtěch Smital]

Is there any way to add support for MP bots? Maybe by porting of some Quake 2 bot?

[Knightmare66]

As this is a closed-source project, we can't use/port code from other projects without very explicit permission. That said, there is some unfinished bot code in Daikatana's source, but it's dependent on the existence of nodes for each map. Without those, they just run in place.

[Vojtěch Smital]

Thanks for clarification. So you've tried to run the bots? Are they able to use weapons/shot the target, etc.? If they are, then providing of new console command to add bot to DM game would be great for start...

[Knightmare66]

Actually, no, they don't even attack yet. Right now they just run around the map (those that have nodes) and collect items.

[Martin Müller]

This is actually my last wish for DK 1.3: offline bots. They could colonize empty servers aswell and de-spawn when real players connect. Maybe one day...

[Daniel Gibson]

With these kind of wishes DK 1.3 will never be done :-P Maybe we could think about DK 1.4 with these kind of things?

[Martin Müller]

Haha yeah of course, you're right! For me DK 1.3 is done, it has everything which I expected.

[Vojtěch Smital]

THUMPS UP for considering DK 1.4 :) I stil think that, addition of offline MP bots (in 1.4 version probably) would help to increase popularity of game. It's not easy to start playing Daikatana DM with skilled DM players and every MP-oriented title has bot support for practicing purposes these days... Anyway I'd like to thank all developers for their hard work with DK 1.3 - it great that someone still cares for such an old game, which we love.

[Frank Sapone]

Issue #229 was marked as a duplicate of this issue.

[Arctures]

Is their any chance this will become a reality one day? Bots are essential to immortalize the multiplayer for old games, when the player base has become a minority and the only likely method of finding a game is to organise a match with the remainder of devoted fans. It also gives a player freedom of choice, to play the game whenever they want, with whatever settings they want, with competent opponents they can configure to suit their skill level. It’s a shame as Daikatana is the only Q2 engine game which doesn’t have bots and it would be great to finally have them one day!

[Frank Sapone]

Some day. But it’s a lot of work and there’s a lot of other things that need fixed or improved so this is very low on the priority.

Part of what holds this back, for me personally, is I have very little experience with calculus and trigonometry at present which prevents me from writing meaningful code that can improve the node pathing required in order to make a bot. Nobody has volunteered to lend help, experiencing, and/or mentoring.

It’s been mentioned before, but we cannot just use another Q2 bot. First, because of GPL restrictions, but the node pathing system is significantly different from Q2. The API used internally for the client is similar, but different enough that it would be some work. So, with that said, porting a Q2 bot over is not feasible. It would be better in the long term to fix the node pathing code we have because this will benefit the AI as well.