Evaders (Coding challenge idea)

Evaders is a game completely made for and played by bots. The author of the best bot (on the day the challenge ends) is the winner.

Basically:

• Shoot projectiles
• Dodge enemy projectiles
• Collect resources while doing so
• Spawn or upgrade units

How will this work with bots?

Apart from the math needed to dodge (multiple) enemy projectiles, lots of decision-making is needed:

• Should I get hit on purpose to collect a resource?
• How should I shoot to make the enemy run into it / waste time dodging it?
• Should a unit "buddyblock" for another unit?
• Can I shoot with multiple units to create a "wall" of projectiles (that the enemy cannot dodge)?

Other game mechanics:

• No collision. Moving all units as one may be strong but you won't be able to collect ressources as fast
• Create units with collected resources
• Exchange stats with resources (e.g. Health <=> Projectile speed)
• Collect healing orbs
• Going out of the map damages units

Who wins?

I have a few ideas regarding this:

• Queue into competitors / standard bot (ranked, simple ELO system)
• Submit executable (run in non-network VM) to simulate many matches
• Normal competition at the end

Development

Can be done however you want. You get the packet specification (mostly JSON) and maybe a library for a few select languages. You also get:

• A spectator client (to spectate own / other matches)
• (A local server)

Please join the discussion in the issues!