AI and Trade Cart Pathways

:arrow_forward: GAME INFORMATION

:point_down: These details are CRITICAL; DO NOT skip them or your issue may not be reviewed.

  • GAME BUILD #: Build ID 15050943
  • GAME PLATFORM: Steam
  • OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 10

:arrow_forward: ISSUE EXPERIENCED

:point_down: DESCRIBE THE ISSUE IN DETAIL (below). LIMIT TO ONE BUG PER THREAD.
(Extreme) AI continually builds more buildings in allied team trade routes, usually blocking it completely. This is a particular problem on Black Forest and similar maps. If Command 69 is used to destroy buildings in that area, the AI will just make more, including mining camps when there is nothing in the area to mine. Widening the path with cutting will cause them to build more buildings in the newly-cleared area. No longer necessary buildings in the path such as lumber camps and mining camps will not be deleted unless prompted with Command 69. Any player or allied trade carts that were on the foundation when it started being built will idle permanently. AI allies usually will not try to move them again (I’m unsure what might prompt some of them to move again; a mangonel shot or Command 69 of a nearby building sometimes does it, sometimes not). The player can attempt to extricate their own trade carts, of course.

:arrow_forward: FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

:point_down: How often does the issue occur? CHOSE ONE; DELETE THE REST!

  • 100% of the time / matches I play (ALWAYS)

It’s primarily the map type which causes problems—the AI doesn’t recognize the importance of keeping the route clear on any map, but it’s only usually a problem on a map like Black Forest. On a map like Fortress or Arabia, it usually isn’t a complete blocking problem, because the carts can somehow path through, but if their fortress/base is close enough to the edge they can still clog it up and cause issues. On a map like Amazon Tunnel, they will sometimes cut to the edge, but their cut is usually completely insufficient and their trade will again become completely stalled in an endless traffic jam to put LA to shame.

:arrow_forward: REPRODUCTION STEPS

:point_down: *List CLEAR and DETAILED STEPS we can take to reproduce the issue ourselves… Be descriptive!

Here’s the steps to reproduce the issue:

  1. Play/observe a large Black Forest map with 8 Extreme AI in 4v4.
  2. Wait until post-Imperial/lategame when trade begins. NB: You may need to direct the teams to wall with commands so they don’t just die early, since they have no concept of walling in Black Forest or Amazon Tunnel.
  3. Observe each team’s trade routes.

:arrow_forward: EXPECTED RESULT

:point_down: What was SUPPOSED to happen if the bug you encountered were not present?

AI recognizes that trade area should remain clear, only building in it if necessary and leaving more space than just one tile around buildings (generally the one-tile gap around buildings just causes it to use more space than is necessary). It should try to move carts that do get idle. Only build one market at the end of the optimal trading path, and not build several in a cluster that just blocks the path to the actual trading target.

:arrow_forward: IMAGE

:point_down: ALWAYS attach a PICTURE (.jpg, .png, .gif) or VIDEO (.mp4, YouTube link) that highlights the problem.

I can upload more examples of this but I can only upload one piece of media at present.

:arrow_forward: GAME FILES (SAVE / RECORDING)

:point_down: Attach a SAVE GAME (.aoe2spgame) or GAME RECORDING (.aoe2record) of the match where you encountered the issue. Link it below if using an external file service.