Scripting Aliens as Players may be a good idea, but it would take a lot to program it. Maybe a script that calls other scripts when the need arises? The Alien AI script will have to know when to explore, when to SSM, when to PPT, when to attack and call the right script to do it for the alien player.

You could run multiple instnances of it and create an Alien Corp the players must compete against. The Alien Corp will build planets, farm them, and interact with each other.

Who needs players anymore, make them all bots and see which one wins after 30 days or so. Have different programmers create their own Bot AI programs/scripts. It would be like Robotwars meets Tradewars.

There is an AI file that the Gold Aliens are programmed to use. Does TW really use this? If so, how can one program it? Or is it another missing feature that has not yet been implemented yet?

BTW how come every capture script that I see only captures player ships and not alien ones? I just tried SWATH and J-TWAT capture scripts on aliens, and they don't even show up on the form to attack. So I have been capping alien ships by hand, which is harder.

I think there are three problems with aliens. The first one is that gold aliens used to make the game unstable. That's why people stopped playing with aliens in the first place. Three years ago, you would see aliens in almost every bang. Not so much now. I don't know if it's still the case that aliens lead to corrupted games. The other problem is that sysops make too many aliens. 30 aliens running around is really disruptive. I'd rather play in a game with about 5 or so total aliens. Just enough to keep it interesting, but not so many that they completly overwhelm my grid. And lastly, they are so freaking stupid. Give me a human opponent any day.

You know if aliens were so pointless why did the game Tradewars incorporate them in the first place. Players who want to play without aliens arent playing the real game. They just playing the preferred game like Shorty pointed out. Understandable that people dont like the AI because its so under developed, but you know many games come out everyday with a better AI an people play them. Its like playing Star Craft with no aliens and winning campaigns.

Human opponents are nice but I like aliens because they mess up the use of super scripts and make the game more challenging. BEcause no matter how good you are, if you make an alien bad enough it makes it very challenging to take over. You can be the top player in TW doesnt mean you'll break thru. If aliens were to stop when photon'd, or even get planet dropped an become more agressive then it would be truly a wild game. The chances of that ever happening is Nill. I dont think EIS will ever build a more agressive alien AI. Best way to go is a hacked AI that at least does some really kinky stuff to ya that the alien AI will never do.

-WooF!

I think alliens had a use at one time many years ago when there was only one node, (only one person could be logged into the game at a time), its the only way you came in contact with another live player while you were playing, albiet a computer generated one. Trade wars is not a video game and should not try to be one. It's all about beating the other guy and if alliens give one player an advantage over another its just not right. red players dont have to worry about alliens running down ports, it just doesnt affect them. Myself I would like to see the helpers get better.
It would sure be nice to have a helper that has macro's as well as trigger's, right now I run swath and zmud through twx so I can. also it would be nice if a helper had a script recorder like swath does for the macro's. In my opinion alliens will never level the playing field but helpers will.

What about a mercenary alien that could be payed to hunt down and kill another player for you?

Aliens and Ferrengi are very useful.
They soak up figs from idiots who attack them.

quote:Originally posted by Kavanagh

Aliens and Ferrengi are very useful.
They soak up figs from idiots who attack them.


Alien's are cool , they also take-out players grid fighters.
And in some edits have the best overall ships. [;)]