Need stronger Bots (practice mode)

[Frankster]

Being able to dominate the bots without dying, and the game still ends up a complete rout. Not even all that great of a player,. if they were better, maybe I could improve playing against them, and my game overall.

Anyhow, that's not always the case, but still, they need to be far more powerful. Hopefully by improving intelligence, and movement, instead of aim. I know some people here don't even bother with playing them, because they simply don't present any challenge, whatsoever.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1959158660
https://youtu.be/U1VewyKX7Io
https://youtu.be/4tZxt0lOnlo

[Strelok]

Originally posted by Frankster:

Being able to dominate the bots without dying, and the game still ends up a complete rout. Not even all that great of a player,. if they were better, maybe I could improve playing against them, and my game overall.

Anyhow, that's not always the case, but still, they need to be far more powerful. Hopefully by improving intelligence, and movement, instead of aim. I know some people here don't even bother with playing them, because they simply don't present any challenge, whatsoever.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1959158660
https://youtu.be/U1VewyKX7Io
https://youtu.be/4tZxt0lOnlo

1. Try custom games with random bots on nightmare. Some of the programmed bots personalities seem to be much more aggressive than others. Unfortunately I can't remember which ones but I'll get back to you if I encounter them. Also it's a bummer that you can't choose which bot variant for a certain champion you get.

2. Play at a disadvantage. If you play TDM / Sacrifice /CTF with bots put only one or two bots on your team and 4 on the other.

As you already know, the most annoying thing about QC bots IMO is not the difficulty level, but the fact that there's no offline support, meaning that lag to the servers makes the game unplayable completely, not even bot matches work.

I do enjoy playing with bots also, and offline support for them was one of the things, I really,really, really wanted. I would buy the game again only to get this.

3. If you really, really want more difficult bots you could also try non-Quake Champions alternatives:


Load up Quake Live, bring down the console, and type :

bot_thinktime 0

bot_challenge 1

Next load up a map in offline mode with nightmare bots.

Alternatively, if you still have Q3A, google the "spiterbot" mod. It has some of the toughest bots I've seen.

Also interesting is the "brainworks" bot mod for Q3A.
None of these have the nice Quake Champions feel to them, but they do offer more difficult bots.

P.S.: I also asked for more difficult bots a couple of months ago on the official channels but was completely ignored.

[Go_Coup]

Rarely, the AI seems impressive. The AI seems like it's in the early stages but abandoned, and that's a shame. Not only would I love to have a (cooperative)campaign for the game, but I think that a creative cooperative mode could get new players to stick around. It could be the most-popular mode for the game, as I think there's a market for a new horde shooter and QC is already deep.

The only game mode where the Nightmare bots were difficult is the Arcade mode featuring Athena. The Nightmare bots miss too often; it's supposed to be a nightmare.

[Frankster]

Originally posted by Go_Coup:

Rarely, the AI seems impressive. The AI seems like it's in the early stages but abandoned, and that's a shame. Not only would I love to have a (cooperative)campaign for the game, but I think that a creative cooperative mode could get new players to stick around. It could be the most-popular mode for the game, as I think there's a market for a new horde shooter and QC is already deep.

I fully agree this is the best direction the game could have expanded and developed much further. Developing good AI with any shooters is going to be "huge money" in the coming decades, as I suspect eventually the gaming industry will embrace standards, and/or utilized like graphic engines are "contracted" and created to perform across various platforms in development.

[keithjontheweb]

Simply bringing back bot levels like in Q3 would be a huge improvement. It does seem to have some kind of adaptive bot difficulty algorithm system as bots do seem to get better over time, but they're still too weak to pose a challenge; or destroy your ego, perhaps on purpose... didn't know you could play custom bot difficulties in custom matches, I HAVE TO TRY THAT OUT!

[Frankster]

Originally posted by keithjontheweb:

Simply bringing back bot levels like in Q3 would be a huge improvement. It does seem to have some kind of adaptive bot difficulty algorithm system as bots do seem to get better over time, but they're still too weak to pose a challenge; or destroy your ego, perhaps on purpose... didn't know you could play custom bot difficulties in custom matches, I HAVE TO TRY THAT OUT!

Actually, they can get pretty accurate and kill you fast even with a full stack, (within a second) especially when there is several of them in a single location.(ie. taking several railgun hits simultaneously) But it does appear they are adaptive. Seems they are pretty much stuck on nlightmare mode for anytime I play, I don't see them letting up any, just somewhat predictable and unintelligent at times.

In an open firefight (without any walls or pillars), they will often win.

But they are predicable, and if you have good dodging skills, you can beat them. Especially by using the powerups, or using combo kills.

I think they are stronger in Sacrifice and TDM, But I'm a pretty old school CTF player, so maybe I'm just a bit above average for that mod. The AI (intelligence), and predictability needs to improve, not the aim, or aggressiveness. This could be Quakes redeeming strategy, if they could develop an AI that's intelligent, and plays like an actual human opponent.

Man, I'm getting no packetloss whatsoever anymore, and the game play is exceptionally fluid, and enjoyable. I still enjoy playing a bot match, there just not as challenging as the real thing.


https://youtu.be/4pTPbFq19WU

[Wylie28]

The bots AI ate really great. They just have too low accuracy state.

[Shakes]

Originally posted by Wylie28:

The bots AI ate really great. They just have too low accuracy state.

I beg to differ. The bots in this game were given practically every manner of artificial aim-assistance possible. The only thing they excel at is weapon accuracy. It isn't until you reach some obscenely high MMR for bot matches that they actually act a bit human by hunting down nearby enemies instead of blindly following the navmeshes like they're on a conveyor belt.

I ran into someone playing Eisen in one of my practice CTF matches. Don't know how long he had been playing against bots for, but in my next match some of the bots would stalk me around the map until one of us was dead, or turn around to shoot me instead of the flag carrier if I was closer, which usually doesn't happen because they're programmed to snap their aim onto the carrier no matter how far away they are.

[Frankster]

Yea, I agree, especially if someone else is in the match. Maybe their using an algorithm to determine collective experience.

A few times, I've actually had to look, to ensure I wasn't actually playing against a real enemy (thought, I selected quick match instead of practice), because of the aim and the mechanics that the bot's were using. That's what get's me, they do act intelligent at times, but at other times it's obvious. Like they will always follow me, when I have the flag. So I just hide around the corner, and pop them with some rockets, and then finish them with the gauntlet, if needed. Most (real) opponents are not going to approach me in that fashion, straight away.

Real opponents, will take their time, or go round-about and try and cut me off, or retreat if they are badly injured, then come back after picking up some health.

Also, they will congregate right on the flag pole. Usually 3 or all of them.

Originally posted by Shakes:

Originally posted by Wylie28:

The bots AI ate really great. They just have too low accuracy state.

I beg to differ. The bots in this game were given practically every manner of artificial aim-assistance possible. The only thing they excel at is weapon accuracy. It isn't until you reach some obscenely high MMR for bot matches that they actually act a bit human by hunting down nearby enemies instead of blindly following the navmeshes like they're on a conveyor belt.

I ran into someone playing Eisen in one of my practice CTF matches. Don't know how long he had been playing against bots for, but in my next match some of the bots would stalk me around the map until one of us was dead, or turn around to shoot me instead of the flag carrier if I was closer, which usually doesn't happen because they're programmed to snap their aim onto the carrier no matter how far away they are.