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<H1>Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</H1>
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<LI><em>To</em>: <<A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#null,net">mud-dev#null,net</A>></LI>
<LI><em>Subject</em>: Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</LI>
<LI><em>From</em>: "Travis Casey" <<A HREF="mailto:efindel#io,com">efindel#io,com</A>></LI>
<LI><em>Date</em>: Tue, 26 Aug 1997 19:39:13 -0400</LI>
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<PRE>
Caliban Tiresias Darklock <caliban#darklock,com> wrote:
>
> I used to run an AD&D adventure at conventions which illustrated, in my
> mind and several others, the exact failings of most online RPGs,
> computer RPGs, and the vast majority of DMs. I'll lay out the general
> structure of this adventure as background, but refrain from war stories
> and specific instances.
[details of creating characters, the opposition, and how the game was
run cut.]
> The problem we were pointing out was that kobolds, weak as they are,
> have an intelligence rating of 'average' in the Monster Manual. They
> don't charge headlong into combat. They have actual tactics. They
> operate as a group. And they're fiendishly efficient at guarding their
> homes. Which brings me to the actual question, finally.
I've often read about these kinds of scenarios, and I'd like to make a
couple of observations:
- The kobolds have an advantage, in that they're all being played by
one person. Thus, they can act with near-perfect coordination, while
most likely the players haven't had a chance to learn to work as a
team -- even if their characters have been working as a team for
years or even centuries.
- Kobolds may have average intelligence, but tech level and culture
should be considered. Did humans in medieval times build defenses
anywhere near as elaborate as these kobolds, or have military units
that acted with that level of coordination? After all, humans have
average intelligence too.
- While it's easy to imagine elaborate defenses and battle plans for
the kobolds, to be realistic, you have to consider whether they could
actually carry them out. Building traps and such takes time and
labor -- and the kobolds still have to find food, eat, sleep, have
and raise little kobolds, and carry on the other necessities of
life.
In short, while I think such things are interesting examples of what
low-powered monsters can do under the right conditions, they're not
realistic.
--
|\ _,,,---,,_ Travis S. Casey <efindel#io,com>
ZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ No one agrees with me. Not even me.
|,4- ) )-,_..;\ ( `'-' rec.games.design FAQ:
'---''(_/--' `-'\_) <A HREF="http://www.io.com/~efindel/design.html">http://www.io.com/~efindel/design.html</A>
</PRE>
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<li><strong><A NAME="00824" HREF="msg00824.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> caliban#darklock,com (Caliban Tiresias Darklock)</li></ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="00821" HREF="msg00821.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Jeff Kesselman <jeffk#tenetwork,com></li></ul>
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<ul><li>Thread context:
<BLOCKQUOTE><UL>
<LI><STRONG>Re: [MUD-Dev] MUD universe</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM>
<ul compact>
<ul compact>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01180" HREF="msg01180.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] MUD universe</A></strong>,
clawrenc <a href="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</a>, Thu 11 Sep 1997, 21:37 GMT
</LI>
</ul>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01106" HREF="msg01106.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] MUD universe</A></strong>,
Maddy <a href="mailto:maddy#fysh,org">maddy#fysh,org</a>, Fri 05 Sep 1997, 14:27 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01134" HREF="msg01134.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] MUD universe</A></strong>,
Felix A. Croes <a href="mailto:felix#xs1,simplex.nl">felix#xs1,simplex.nl</a>, Sat 06 Sep 1997, 19:19 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01184" HREF="msg01184.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] MUD universe</A></strong>,
clawrenc <a href="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</a>, Thu 11 Sep 1997, 21:38 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</ul>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00819" HREF="msg00819.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</A></strong>,
Travis Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#io,com">efindel#io,com</a>, Thu 28 Aug 1997, 23:36 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00821" HREF="msg00821.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</A></strong>,
Jeff Kesselman <a href="mailto:jeffk#tenetwork,com">jeffk#tenetwork,com</a>, Thu 28 Aug 1997, 23:53 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00824" HREF="msg00824.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</A></strong>,
Caliban Tiresias Darklock <a href="mailto:caliban#darklock,com">caliban#darklock,com</a>, Fri 29 Aug 1997, 00:08 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
<UL>
<li><Possible follow-up(s)><br>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00844" HREF="msg00844.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</A></strong>,
Travis Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#io,com">efindel#io,com</a>, Fri 29 Aug 1997, 21:23 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00865" HREF="msg00865.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] New topic: AI and NPCs</A></strong>,
Adam Wiggins <a href="mailto:nightfall#user2,inficad.com">nightfall#user2,inficad.com</a>, Sat 30 Aug 1997, 22:07 GMT
</LI>
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