Creating a Follower Truck AI in MudRunner Single Player

[N3ONXSTAMPER]

Is there a method or trick to making an AI-controlled truck follow the player’s truck in MudRunner single player mode? Does it require scripting, using triggers, or special modifications?

[LeeQuid]

There are no AI controlled vehicles in this game except if you make use of the winch. If not using the mode 'pull', then another vehicle will follow you. To learn more about that, just start the challenge 'Delivery Mission'.

[N3ONXSTAMPER]

Yes, thanks for the explanation. I'm familiar with the use of winches and pull modes. What I meant by "creating an AI" here was more in the direction of creating a system where other trucks can autonomously follow the player's tracks without being connected to a winch, like the "follower AI" that is common in other games. I don't think this idea is possible with MudRunner's built-in features.

[LeeQuid]

Not that I know how... but technically anything is possible. But MudRunner itself was never designed for that. And regardless of that, the question might be how much sense such a thing would make at all... Even with using the winch one really needs to take care of the second vehicle and the many obstacles in its way. In countless hours of playing I actually never thought about or was missing something like that. Which kind of situation do you think this would be a real benefit?

[NXTtrain]

Originally posted by N3ONXSTAMPER:

Yes, thanks for the explanation. I'm familiar with the use of winches and pull modes. What I meant by "creating an AI" here was more in the direction of creating a system where other trucks can autonomously follow the player's tracks without being connected to a winch, like the "follower AI" that is common in other games. I don't think this idea is possible with MudRunner's built-in features.

One of the biggest problems with NPCs, is making them find their way and not get stuck. I do not know of any game which never has NPCs get stuck on terrain.
And those are games with very simple terrain, not the complicated mud simulation used in mudrunner. Any AI is going to get your truck stuck in mud, trees, ledges, rocks...
Even when following your path perfectly, you change the terrain while driving over it, causing issues for the AI trying to follow you. The only way I can see it working is by cheating: the AI vehicle completely ignores all obstacles and simulation, and instead just follows a preset track. But that would completely defeat the whole point of the game. The terrain and obstacles are the gameplay, removing it would ruin the game.

So yes, it is technically possible, but with heavy limitations and compromises. Or an AI that needs a NASA supercomputer to run.

[LeeQuid]

Please avoid mixing different topics. If there is no discussion with an appropriate topic already existing yet, simply create a new one.

EDIT: request moved to this discussion