Nicowar and resource clearing (was: [glob2-devel] Nicowar Update!)

[Joe Wells]

"Kieran P" <address@hidden> writes:

> I can't speak on behalf of Brad, but from what I've seen in the commits hes
> made, stuff hes told me about and stuff I've observed ingame:
>
>>1. Nicowar could really benefit from better handling of resource overgrowth
>
> Nicowar places clearing areas around buildings so that there is always a 1x1
> tiles edge around it. This is the perfect situation, but it works most of the
> time (Nicowar is pretty good at handling unit counts).

I agree that what Nicowar is currently doing (placing a 1-cell thick
layer of clearing areas around each building) is good.  Unfortunately,
in many cases it is not good enough.

> Suggestion: Nicowar could create massive clearing areas (whole bases, not just
> buildings), and clearing paths to other swarms (which would link to more base
> clearing areas etc). This would mean they wouldn't get trapped anymore, but 
> can
> Nicowar handle the unit count needed?

If the clearing areas/flags were placed reasonably, the worker load
for them would be low.  Anyway, when paths are not kept clear, there
tends to be massive globule starvation and death, so I think it pays
off.

>>2. It would be nice if Nicowar always planned its attack route and kept it
> clear of resource obstacles.
>>[snip]
>>When Nicowar's enemy is using resource walls, it would be better if Nicowar
>>usually chose to attack through the wall by clearing it, because this will
>>generally find a less well defended part of the enemy base.
>
> Nicowar does this in the latest commit, to some extent. Its not very 
> effeciant,
> but it set a heap of clearing flags to an enemy swarm and wipped it out, then
> did so one by one for the rest of the enemies.

Unfortunately, Nicowar currently only does this when there is no clear
path whatsoever.  If there is a clear path, even if it involves going
all the way around the world twice, then Nicowar won't try to clear a
path.

> Suggestion: Nicowar could set clearing flags only where nessesary (it set them
> on resources that were not blocking the way on the game I observed).

I agree that when Nicowar does clear a path, it often chooses a poor
path.  This could use some improvement.

> It could
> also target swarms, and when none are left, target inns, and when they are
> gone, hospitals (before finally getting rid of the rest). Quite a few inns and
> hospitals were trapped in resources and were not targeted towards the end of
> the game, so it never won ^_^

[ some other nice points by Kieran I am not responding to here because
nothing needs to be said ]

-- 
Joe