[suggestion] Random roaming bands

[Danubian]

One of the biggest problems right now is the utter lack of random roaming enemy groups randomly roaming the map.

Again, lets take a look at Mount & Blade. You have these places on the map, spots that spawn a pre defined number of groups belonging to a certain faction. So for example you have a faction called “looters” and they have a XY coordinates place on the map where they spawn. If there are fewer than 36 looters groups on the map, every 72 game hours a group gets spawned. Each group can also have multiple unit types all spawned randomly between numbers X and Y (you can also set minimum number of each type that is guaranteed to spawn).

Why is this important?

Because it brings the variety to game, it allows you to do something while roaming the map, and most importantly if youre not fighting the same exact enemy composition non stop, the game doesnt become repetitive and predictable in very little time. Which is sort of the case with BB right now.

What i propose is that you come up with a design, something, some point on the map, that injects enemy bands of a certain faction. Lets say bandits. I realize that they spawn in game now, but i simply cannot figure out how it works, it seems to be completely random, i go to some wasteland part of the map and i encounter random group of human bandits roaming the same area as undead armies. Makes no sense. Bandits (living humans) should spawn around settlements, and ideally they should have some sort of task they want to achieve (attack caravans? pillage and loot small settlements? that sort of stuff).

Bottomline is game needs a comprehensible structure that generates groups of enemies that roam the map and give player something to do (obtain experience and loot).

[Meeky]

What i propose is that you come up with a design, something, some point on the map, that injects enemy bands of a certain faction. Lets say bandits. I realize that they spawn in game now, but i simply cannot figure out how it works, it seems to be completely random, i go to some wasteland part of the map and i encounter random group of human bandits roaming the same area as undead armies. Makes no sense. Bandits (living humans) should spawn around settlements, and ideally they should have some sort of task they want to achieve (attack caravans? pillage and loot small settlements? that sort of stuff).

Bottomline is game needs a comprehensible structure that generates groups of enemies that roam the map and give player something to do (obtain experience and loot).

So, this is already in the game. There’s a formula to how the bandits spawn; you probably just haven’t noticed it yet.

There are bandit camps (often located in the woods) from where bandits will launch their assault on villages and caravans. Their goal is generally to avoid fighting tough encounters and to attack stragglers and undefended villages for sackloads of loot. You’ll often find them roaming in the wilderness (where their camps are hidden) or along the roads (where they do their raiding) for that reason.

Bandit camps that spawn bandits are easily recognizable because their names are red.

Orcish camps that spawn orcs have green names.

Undead camps that spawn undead have purple names.

Locations with gray names do not spawn monsters at all and exist solely to be looted AFAIK… or to even the odds of a fight, but that’s another topic.

Basically, there’s already a pattern to how enemies spawn. Orcs will set up camps usually in the swamps and work their way toward civilization. Bandits will build camps either in the woods or near the road (but usually not near a settlement) so they can raid caravans with impunity. Goblins… I haven’t actually found any goblin camps yet. And undead seem to build far off to the north and work their way down toward civilization.

So, the pattern is there. If you want to find out where the bad guys are spawning from, visit a watchtower or castle and see if you can get a contract to wipe out a camp of bandits or orcs.

[Meeky]

Again, lets take a look at Mount & Blade. You have these places on the map, spots that spawn a pre defined number of groups belonging to a certain faction. So for example you have a faction called “looters” and they have a XY coordinates place on the map where they spawn. If there are fewer than 36 looters groups on the map, every 72 game hours a group gets spawned. Each group can also have multiple unit types all spawned randomly between numbers X and Y (you can also set minimum number of each type that is guaranteed to spawn).

There’s already a formula sort of like this:

Enemy camps will spawn onto the map from time to time, especially when you’re wiping them all out it seems. When they do, they’ll start with a finite number of resources, but will generate more resources by raiding caravans and villages and so forth. Every victory = resources for the camp. They use those resources to generate more troops which in turn get them more resources.

A big orc camp, for instance, will probably have a couple hunting parties, a large base defense, and a massive raiding party that tromps around toward villages and burns everything in sight. Each time one of those groups returns, it gives resources to the camp, and more dudes can be spawned.

Again, the system is there. You just haven’t seen it yet.

[Rap]

Maybe this video can help shed some light. Even though it is almost a year old by now, it still demonstrates how the AI acts on the worldmap independently of the player.

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[Danubian]

I realize that there are random parties running around (and thus i assumed that they do get spawned), the problem is, in the current version, the map is SO large that you can walk around for 30 minutes and never encounter any.
In my current game i walked up all the way to the north east, to an area of badlands thats dominated by undead, and as i walked around i saw a bandit group. Human bandit group. What are they doing in a wasteland? (also saw one that was way up the snowy area in the north just walking around)
Before that i have spent maybe 5 hours following roads between settlements and have encountered bandits only once, 2 groups, one with tough bandits and one with thugs (btw in my first game i also saw this, there was a section of the map where 3 bandit groups would hang around, i think there is possibly some bug there because they tend to stick together).
So, in other words there arent enough groups being spawned and they dont seem to stick around areas that make sense (human bandits hanging out near roads or towns). I have seen Undead and Orcs siege towns too, i know it happens, but there isnt enough stuff around the map for me to interact with (sieging orcs and undead tend to be super strong).

[Meeky]

Before that i have spent maybe 5 hours following roads between settlements and have encountered bandits only once, 2 groups, one with tough bandits and one with thugs (btw in my first game i also saw this, there was a section of the map where 3 bandit groups would hang around, i think there is possibly some bug there because they tend to stick together).

That… is really unusual. Most of my games are REALLY active and even have me struggling to keep up.

For instance, when last I played, there was a village that was located smack in the middle of a forest. It was plagued from the start by werewolves and goblins marching around the area, and the road leading from it toward the city (and the nearby citadel) was constantly under pressure from bandits and more goblins. Every time I passed by that area, there was bandit or goblin activity. I found myself playing whack-a-mole until my guys were experienced enough to take on bandit camps, and by that point orcs had dominated the more southerly regions and even established a base in the north-west (which was pretty surprising).

Not sure what to say. My games have been very active thus far. Dunno why the AI seems passive in yours.

[Danubian]

Ill restart again today or tomorrow and come back with stats (ill only follow roads for some hours).

[Meeky]

Arr, let me know how it goes. Also make sure your game is up to date.

I’ll do the same thing this weekend and see if I encounter the usual amount of patrols.

[Danubian]

I bought the game via steam, its up to date by default. I think so at least.

[Danubian]

Just played for a couple of hours. Its day 18. I have traveled the whole map like 10 times at least (im talking about road system) and i have seen 1 hunting party, 1 goblin party and 3 bandits. Now the weird part is, i have seen the 3 bandits in same exact spot, at different dates. I would show you in a screenshot but for some reason i cant seem to be able to take screenshots, i just get black screen of the game.

[Danubian]

Nevermind just saw bandits in the northern part of the map, but again 2 stacks running around together.

[Author]

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