[crossfire] improved monster AI

[Mark Wedel]

  It was brought up in another thread that monster AI needs to be improved.  I 
think for purpose of this discussion, monster AI pertains to the monster 
killing/stealing/otherwise harrassing the player, not about NPC & scripting.

  I'd like to discuss a bit more about improvements people would like to see. 
I'm not 100% sure it is a major project - it may be more a minor project, but 
that depends on what people are doing.  I say that because it could turn out to 
be improvements to the logic, and doing that is fairly localized.  Smarter 
monsters may mean some maps are tougher than before, but one would not have to 
go through every map to have the monsters use this new intelligence - in fact, 
they all would use it by default which is why some would be tougher.

  Quick thoughts off the top of my head:

- For monsters that use equipment (rings, swords, armor), they probably need to 
be smarter in what they pick up and use - in many cases, they may use the best 
based on straight values, but not look at how it affects movement, etc.  They 
should also drop equipment they seem worthless.

- Spell selection should be better - monsters are still dealt whatever spells 
they get, but what they decide to cast could be improved.

- Monsters should better tailor their attacks to their opponents.  If the player 
is vulnerable to cold, monster should hit it with cold more often than not if 
possible, and shouldn't hit fire immune characters with fire.  This applies to 
both spells and melee/weapon attacks (but for weapon attacks, monsters don't 
have lots of choices).

- There is already different logic in for monsters to use hit and run or circle 
player tactics - more monsters should be modified to use these less direct 
tactics, especially if they have missile weapons.  Lots of maps are not designed 
for this however (wall to wall monsters, so until a bunch are killed, no room to 
  move about0

- Monsters should be more careful about single row/column attacks, like arrows 
or bolts - there is little point casting the bolt spell if the monster can not 
line it up so it hits the player.  For example, if in a 2 wide hallway (going 
north/south) with the monster along the east wall and player to the south along 
the west wall, there is little point for the monster to cast a bolt spell south, 
as unless the player moves, he won't get hit by it.

- Related to point above, monsters should coordinate and/or have 
memory/planning.  In the above example, if that monster cast the bolt spell 
south, then moved west and cast another bolt south, the player is now caught 
with no place to go.  Or if there are two monsters at the top of the hall, after 
the first one casts the bolt spell, the second one sees it and does the same. 
Likewise, some form of planning for monsters like 'hit player with weakness to 
fire.  Then hit them with fireball' type of thing.  Right now, for every action 
the monster goes, it newly figures out what to do, which is largely random - do 
I hit them with a spell or bow (random chance of each).  What spell do I hit 
them with (random chance of each), etc.  If monsters had 5 or 6 tick plans what 
to do, could be much more deadly.

- Path to player logic to better find players/not get stuck would be good.  This 
seems to me at least less and issue, because there is usually few ways for the 
player to hit the monster if the monster can't hit the player, but having 
monsters be smart enough to circle around players, etc, would be really nice