D3bot

A very primitive AI for GMod bots primarily designed to work with Jetboom's Zombie Survival gamemode. This is a fork of /Azurblau/AzBot with new features and bug fixes.

Here is a list of notable changes compared to the original version:

• Unidirectional links.
• Links which are only usable by fast zombies.
• Some more specific movement instructions for nodes to allow bots to handle obstacles better. (Duck when on a node, duck when moving towards a node, aim straight when on a node, aim straight towards a node, ...)
• Conditions for nodes. (Allow or disallow the use of a node, if the said node is close to specific entities like doors, breakables, physic props, etc.)
• Pouncing behavior for fast zombies or zombies based on that class. This makes these zombies much more dangerous, as they will hit you with a high certainty if you are within their jump range. They'll also use that ability to jump to the next or second next node if possible.
• Small adjustments to the inner workings of the pathfinding algorithm. For example bots will now walk towards the next node until they are within its reach, and not until they are closest to it. This makes the bots movement behavior more predictable for navmesh creators, and also prevents bots from running in circles sometimes.
• Zombies will only attack if the target is within reach. This makes wraith and fast zombie attacks much more surprising and effective.
• Fix bots glitching outside of the map if they spawn inside a trigger_zombieclass brush.
• Fix zombie class selection logic for bots.
• Bots now crouch when their target is low.
• Prevent links linking a node to itself.
• Github friendly navmesh format.
• More example navmeshes, which make use of all the new features. See NAVMESHES
• Survivor bots.
• All settings in a separate lua file. (sv_config.lua)
• Named bots (See /lua/d3bot/names to adjust or add new name lists)
• Climbing bots. (Thanks to orecros)
• More advanced edit modes. (Thanks to necrossin)
• Improved navmesh drawing.
• Navmesh edit preview. (Thanks to delstre)
• Ability to use source navmeshes, and option to convert those navmeshes into D3bot ones. (Thanks to Bagellll)
• Code optimizations. (Thanks to Antizombie)
• Support for ZS sub-gamemodes such as Pants Mode, Baby Mode & Classic Mode. (Thanks to Sigilmare)
• Parameters for restricting paths based on the bot's jump and crouching height. (Thanks to bol)
• Pouncing/Leaping headcrabs. (Thanks to bol)
• Translations:
  • Chinese Simplified (Thanks to [XY]EvansFix)
  • Chinese Traditional (Thanks to Half1569)
  • Czech (Thanks to kekosminek)
  • Danish (Thanks to MRBennetsen)
  • Dutch (Thanks to Ubister)
  • English
  • French (Thanks to [FR]Angel-Neko_X)
  • German
  • Italian (Thanks to Wolfaloo)
  • Korean
  • Polish (Thanks to Halamix2)
  • Portuguese(Brazil) (Thanks to GMBR | $herlock Bu$ter)
  • Russian (Thanks to Blueberryy)
  • Spanish (Thanks to Fafy2801)
  • Turkish (Thanks to ᴇXғɪʀᴇᴄʜʀᴏᴍᴇ~)
  • Ukrainian (Thanks to ErickMaksimets)
• Some smaller things I possibly forgot.

This fork is backward compatible, but there are some changes which prevents you to use navmeshes from this fork in the original version. To make them work just replace all occurrences of \n with ;. If you come from an older version, you may have to move the navmeshes from garrysmod/data/azbot/navmesh/map/... to garrysmod/data/d3bot/navmesh/map/....

Everything below here is the original readme, but with updated information:

Server: pussfoot.ovh:27015 [EU] Zombie Survival | AzBot | Custom Content

License

I, the author, have not decided on a license yet.

Though I won't take measures against illegitimate usage unless I have reasons to do so.

Things I'll accept:

• Using AzBot on your own server even if it accepts donations.

• Making derivatives (aka copies with changes) of AzBot or its derivatives as long as it's made clear at least in-game that they're AzBot derivatives.

  I suggest giving the derivative your own name (e.g. BobBot) and putting e.g. "BobBot is based on AzBot" in your MotD, GUI, HUD or automatic chat messages.

Things I won't like:

• Selling AzBot or its derivatives (I don't plan to sell it either).

Prerequisites

• Zombie Survival gamemode
• Multiplayer (bots use player slots, local server is sufficient)
• ULX (navmesh editor, !botmod and !human commands)
• NavMeshes (see "How to create navmeshes" below)

Installation

1. Make sure you have ULX and ULib installed.

2. Download the d3bot-addon.zip and unpack it into your garrysmod/addons/ folder. Ensure you get the following file structure: garrysmod/addons/d3bot/lua/..., garrysmod/addons/d3bot/data/..., and so on. It's important that the folder inside addons is named d3bot (Don't name it D3bot or anything else), otherwise it will not work!

3. Copy all navmeshes from the addon's path data/d3bot/navmesh/map/... to garrysmod/data/d3bot/navmesh/map/....

4. Adjust the configuration in lua/d3bot/sv_config.lua as you wish.

5. Done

Install from git

Instead of downloading the addon, you can clone the git repository directly into your addon folder. For this run the following git command inside your Garry's Mod addon directory:

git clone https://github.com/Dadido3/D3bot.git d3bot

Be sure to follow all the other necessary steps as described in #Installation.

How to test

• Download and install zs_villagehouse.bsp.
• Launch your server with Zombie Survival gamemode on zs_villagehouse. (Or Garry's Mod with a 32 slot local server, if you have installed D3bot to your Garry's Mod installation directly.)
• If bots spawn and chase after you, everything is working as intended.
• Type !bot viewmesh ^ to see the navmesh and !botmod -999 to kick all bots (both commands require ULX).

How to update

• If you have made any changes to lua/d3bot/sv_config.lua, save it first.
• Remove the d3bot folder out of your addons directory.
• Install the newer version of D3bot.
• Copy your saved lua/d3bot/sv_config.lua back. Or better: check for differences manually, as it's possible that the structure of the file changed.

How to create navmeshes

• Use the chat command !bot editmesh ^ to enter the mesh editor.

  • Use IN_RELOAD to cycle through the edit modes:
    • Create node: Place nodes with IN_ATTACK.
    • Link nodes: Link nodes by selecting the first then the second node, both with IN_ATTACK. Clear selection with IN_RELOAD.
    • Merge/Split/Extend nodes: This is a bit more complicated edit mode:
      • Merge: Select two nodes with IN_ATTACK to merge them.
      • Split: Select a node with IN_ATTACK and then use IN_ATTACK2 to split the node horizontally to your viewport at your aiming point.
      • Extend: Select a node with IN_ATTACK and then use IN_ATTACK2 to create a new node between your selected node and your aiming point. The node will be extended along the axis you are looking.
      • Use IN_RELOAD to clear the selection when you miss-click, otherwise it may happen that you accidentally merge two nodes.
      • You can quickly delete a node by selecting it two times with IN_ATTACK. (Basically it merges the node with itself, so it's a nice bug feature)
    • Reposition nodes: Select a node with IN_ATTACK and use IN_ATTACK to reposition it or IN_ATTACK2 to reposition it using only the aim axis (X, Y or Z). Clear selection with IN_RELOAD.
    • Resize nodes: Select a node with IN_ATTACK and use IN_ATTACK2 to resize it towards the aim axis (X or Y). Clear selection with IN_RELOAD.
    • Copy nodes: Select the nodes with IN_ATTACK and copy them with IN_ATTACK2 (All selected nodes are copied along the look direction to the target position, the first selected node is taken as the origin).
    • Set/Unset Last Parameter: Apply the last used parameter with IN_ATTACK, or remove the last used parameter with IN_ATTACK2.
    • Delete items: Delete a node or link with IN_ATTACK, clear node areas with IN_ATTACK2.

• Use !bot setparam <id> <name> <value> (example: !bot setparam 1 jump disabled) to set or unset (by omitting <value>) special parameters:

  • Node parameters:
    • Jump = Disabled: Bots won't jump if located in this node.
    • Jump = Always: Bots will always jump if located in this node.
    • JumpTo = Disabled: Bots won't jump if heading towards this node.
    • JumpTo = Always: Bots will always jump if heading towards this node.
    • JumpTo = Close: Bots will jump if heading towards this node, but only if they are close enough.
    • Duck = Disabled: Bots won't crouch if located in this node.
    • Duck = Always: Bots will always crouch if located in this node.
    • DuckTo = Disabled: Bots won't crouch if heading towards this node.
    • DuckTo = Always: Bots will always crouch if heading towards this node.
    • DuckTo = Close: Bots will duck if heading towards this node, but only if they are close enough.
    • Climbing = Needed: Only bots with the ability to climb will path through this node. If the node is above the bot, the will look towards this node, jump, and climb towards the node.
    • Wall = Suicide: Bots suicide if trying to navigate towards this node higher than crouch-jumping height. Use this when respawn is the only way to get to that node.
    • Wall = Retarget: Same as Wall = Suicide but target is changed instead of suiciding. If no other targets are available, target remains the same. Use this for unreachable or low priority nodes.
    • See = Disabled: Bot does not approach target in straight line even if target is visible to him unless he is on the same node as the target. Use this on heightened nodes visible to, but not directly accessible from lower nodes.
    • Aim = Straight: Bot goes straight to the next node. Use this if bots need to get through small holes in the floor or walk on narrow paths without falling down.
    • AimTo = Straight: Bot goes straight to this node. Use this if bots need to get through narrow windows or small holes in the floor.
    • Cost: Add a penalty for paths using this node. Higher values makes it less likely for bots to use a path containing this node.
    • Condition = Unblocked: Bots will only use this node for pathfinding if there is no entity within a range of one source unit. Detected entities are func_breakable, prop_physics, prop_dynamic, prop_door_rotating, func_door, func_physbox_multiplayer, func_movelinear.
    • Condition = Blocked: Opposite of Unblocked. Use this on breakable pathways.
    • Condition = MapUnblocked: Same as Unblocked, but it excludes objects that could potentially be used in cades.
    • BlockBeforeWave: Bots will not use this node for pathfinding until the current wave is greater than or equal to the given value.
    • BlockAfterWave: Bots will not use this node for pathfinding if the current wave is greater than the given value.
    • DMGPerSecond: Apply damage to human players and entities located on this node. Can be disabled globally in sv_config.lua by setting D3bot.DisableNodeDamage = true.
    • BotMod: Once a non bot player passes this node, the given offset will be applied to the zombie count target. Useful to adjust the bot count on objective maps.
    • MaxHeight: Prevents bots with a crouching/ducking height larger than the provided value from passing through this node. Bots that are taller when standing will crouch automatically when they pass this node.
  • Link parameters:
    • Cost: Add a penalty for paths using this link. Higher values makes it less likely for bots to use a path containing this link.
    • Direction = Forward: Only allow paths from the first to the second element of the link. !bot setparam 1-2 Direction Forward will only allow the bot to move from 1 to 2.
    • Direction = Backward: Same as above, but backwards.
    • Pouncing = Needed: Only classes with the ability to pounce/leap can use this link.
    • CrabPouncing = Needed: Only (headcrab like) classes with the ability to pounce/leap can use this link.
    • Jumping = Needed: Only bots that can jump high enough can pass this link. The needed jump height is automatically determined from the height difference of the two nodes.

• Use !bot reloadmesh to discard changes.

• Use !bot savemesh to save the changes to garrysmod/data/d3bot/navmesh/map/<mapname>.txt.

• Use !bot setmapparam <name> <value> (example: !bot setmapparam botmod 5) to set or unset (by omitting <value>) map specific parameters:

  • BotMod: Map specific zombie count formula offset.
  • ZPH: Zombie per Human ratio override.
  • ZPHM: Zombie per Human ratio maximum override. Max amount of the zombie count target. (BotMod can offset the target beyond this limit)
  • ZPHW: Zombies per (Human * Wave) override.
  • ZPM: Zombies per minute override.
  • ZPW: Zombies per wave override.
  • SPP: Survivor bots per total player (non bot) count.
  • SCA: Similar to BotMod, but for the survivor bot count. Survivors will only spawn pre round.

• The same commands can be used from the console, just replace !bot with d3bot. (example: d3bot editmesh ^)

Notes

• Restart the map after saving the mesh for the first time. Every map that has a navmesh at addon loading time is treated as a bot map (enabling the bot count director, !human command and survivor bonuses if configured). Move the navmesh file if that effect is not desired.
• Use !botmod to change the desired zombies count. Examples: !botmod -100 for no bots, !botmod 100 for full server minus 2 slots for joining players, default is !botmod 0.
• Navmeshes can be edited on the fly. Feel free to fix your meshes during testing.
• This sketch might help: navmesh2.png
• Having sized nodes helps locating (= "what node are you in?"). Nodes without an area use a small sphere instead.
• Once a bot enters a node's area/sphere, he immediately moves towards the next node's position.
• It is recommended to use sized nodes for rooms/areas and nodes without an area for doors. Each hallway, intersection and groove should have their own sized node. For ladders, two nodes without an area, one at bottom and one at top, suffice.
• Locating works by proximity check. If a separate node lies behind a wall but closer to the middle of two distant linked nodes than them, bots may assume wrongly that they are located at the other node if they're in the middle. Avoid that by using a third sized node for the gap between the two linked nodes and re-link them.
• Once a bot sees the target, he moves straight for it (see also: See = Disabled parameter).
• All links are normally bidirectional (see also: Wall = Suicide parameter or Direction = Forward/Backward).
• Bots can take any route with tendency towards the shortest.
• Bots stubbornly move towards the next node unless they enter another node at time of path refresh (occurs roughly every second). Link wisely.
• Bots may aim too perfect, the precision can be changed inside sv_config.lua with the option D3bot.FaceTargetOffshootFactor.

ToDo

Starting with highest public priority:

• Making a config.txt for the static variables.
• Refactoring, e.g. stable API, stable navmesh standard, consistency, bot metatable, gamemode independence by adding hooks usable by gamemodes or gamemode-based plugins, ...
• Detailed linking e.g. required jump height, movement behavior (gap-jumping, ...), more link unlock conditions, ...
• Map information in navmeshes using a singleton item type solely for storing parameters (e.g. zombie count multiplier).
• Sloped nodes for more accurate locating of entities.
• Triangle-based nodes using vertices with automatic adjacent linking.
• Sub-paths in nodes for more accurate movement (no "wall-sliding").
• Equipment upgrading behavior for survivor bots.
• Caching of non-branching paths as a single node to optimize the pathfinding performance.