3701+1 ongoing development thread

[PhilipJFry]

Hello Commanders,

i've just merged the first Pull Request on github after we released patch number 3701.

That means i'll make another thread documenting all the changes that we make so people can give feedback on those changes.

List of stuff that is new in the FAF Develop game mode:

• Improved Changelog Popup - This change allows users to look at different patches from the past in the patch log window.
• Allow Walls to be handed over in fullshare games - this change will allow wall segments to change ownership in fullshare games like all other units when someone dies.
• Disable notify during cinematics - prevents notify messages to show up during your cinematic in game experience
• New parser + caching (weapon.lua) - This PR will allow us to create more complex target priorities for weapons
  
  Spoiler: show

  we used to be restricted to existing categories or a combination of categories but with this change we can also remove specific categories from the list - eg: '(TECH3 * AIR - SCOUTS)' -> Attack all t3 air except spy planes
• Update Mod Blacklist - add outdated blackops versions to the mod blacklist since new versions with bugfixes have been uploaded to the mod vault
• Fix for Novax not rebuilding satellite if controlled by AI
• Sera PD Aim fixmakes the sera t2 pd miss less often
• fixes bug when capturing units - so you don't receive the upgrade progress on upgrading buildings
• AI-Update V3 - lots of small changes related to the AI. For details see the PR comment
• Weapon priorities EQ + sim fixes - This PR allows you to toggle between the default target priority list of a unit and a 2nd one which can be used to snipe high priority targets (without manually targeting them) - big thanks to strogo, exotic and everyone else who contributed to making this
• Use general on/off key for AI replacement option - cosmetic change to bring the name of the toggle for the ai replacement option in line with other options

Please keep in mind that game patches are for fixes/enhancements of the game and NOT for balance changes. Some of the changes made may affect balance due to the nature of them but we also try to work as closely as possible with the balance team to get feedback/permission to certain changes.

Best Regards,
PhilipJFry

edit: 1.11.2018
added the PR for the parser/caching as well as the updated mod blacklist
added another PR that allows the AI to rebuild novax satellites
edit: 2.12.2018
added 2 more PRs
3.12.2018 - another PR merged
23.12.2018 - another PR merged (target prio addition)

[PhilipJFry]

2 more PRs got merged
- the weapon cache/parser
- mod blacklist

the weapon caching/parsing will allow us to create more specific target priorities

[PhilipJFry]

We will probably look at some units/weapons and the target priority list that they currently have thanks to Strogos PR that allows us to specify the priorities better.

The first thing that came to my mind was to remove (t1) Engineers from the target priority list of the Percival so it doesn't try to kill t1 engies instead of point defense or other structures.
I also got the suggestion from chosen to remove t1 land scouts from the auto overcharge target priority which sounds like a good idea.
The laser on the ACU and T4 Units in general probably shouldn't fire at random engies before targeting other stuff such as buildings as well.

If you have any suggestions regarding target priorities and how to improve them then feel free to leave a post in this thread so we can look at them and maybe change some targeting priorities to make units a little bit more intelligent.

[Tagada]

I would suggest to add ACU to target priority list of all land experimentals and remove t1 engies from this list.

[JoonasTo]

Indeed. Acu to the top of the list for GC and other exps so it doesn’t go full retard when you’re trying to chase a fleeing acu.

We’ve already talked about subs for other subs.

Can we completely disable stuff? Because mercies autoing t1 units sounds like the dumbest this ever. I don’t even know if they are, please make sure they don’t.

Mmls target buildings? So you run by and they don’t all miss engineers or tanks.

[PhilipJFry]

merged one PR that allows the AI to rebuild the novax satellite in case it is dead

[PhilipJFry]

Indeed. Acu to the top of the list for GC and other exps so it doesn’t go full retard when you’re trying to chase a fleeing acu.

We will probably add some target priority presets in the near future so you can switch in game to a priority list that has the ACU on top. Not sure if we want to edit the default list with that available.

We’ve already talked about subs for other subs.

details please
i keep forgetting stuff

Can we completely disable stuff? Because mercies autoing t1 units sounds like the dumbest this ever. I don’t even know if they are, please make sure they don’t.

Mercies don't auto attack anything at all

Mmls target buildings? So you run by and they don’t all miss engineers or tanks.

MMLs already target defensive structures before mobile units but i guess we can change that to structures in general

[JoonasTo]

This was some time back but we were talking about torpedo weapons priorising submerged targets over surface ones and how to troll that by bringing in one t1 sub to draw all the fire from harms and such.

Don't ask me specifics, I'm old, I can't remember what I ate yesterday xD

[PhilipJFry]

merged another PR (fix for sera t2 pd aim)
as well as a bugfix from strogo regarding capturing buildings that were upgrading

[PhilipJFry]

merged another AI related PR from Uveso