Quote:
Originally Posted by ben_wh
Interesting - can you elaborate what you mean by this and how this can be accomplished in-game?
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First of all, I’m not an expert in AI coding, so my suggestions can be only generic. That said I would start from the simplest problem (or from the one that looks simplest to me): the damaged plane in the landing pattern. The rationale of the solution is simple: when the situation is so complex that AI pilots and control tower are unable to take the right decision, the player should take over. To say it with more details:
The player sees a plane smoking being sent around by control tower, or the player’s plane is smoking, or leaking fuel, and is sent around.
The player hits a key meaning: “Taking Over Mode”.
He hits a second key meaning: “Controller”. He assumes the controller role, the same way as shifting through crew positions.
He hits a third key meaning: “This Plane Must Land First.”
He hits the call number of the plane.
He hits again the first key, returning to his pilot’s position.
The controller’s voice imparts the correct orders, and AI planes shift positions allowing the correct landing sequence.
It’s perhaps possible to make the whole thing even simpler, but the only real issue I see is… numbering of the planes, when there are several planes with the same call number. A smart and realistic numbering would be of help in many other situations, but is outside the scope of this post.
Another situation is absurd concentration of AI planes on the same target. Again, we can think of an appropriate list of commands.
First key: “Taking Over Mode”.
Second key: AI pilots behaviour.
Call numbers of AI controlled planes’ affected by order.
Third key: order: “Ignore your present target”.
First key again: exiting “taking over mode” and returning to your pilot’s position.
I say it again: I’m not expert and I’m using just common sense, but the whole thing looks reasonable to me, and can be reduced to just one concept: player takes decisions.