The command menu and AI behavior

[LachenKrieg]

Someone suggested that I use autopilot and the command menu as a way to improve gun accuracy while traversing rough terrain. I though it was a great suggestion and worth a "look-see", so I tried it out in the linked video below. The intent was to see if the AI would act as sort of a gun stabilizer, but it was too hard to tell what input if any the AI had on gun control while moving because the gun itself is going up and down with the hull. There is a good chance though that using the gunner AI might give an advantage in a player vs player match, because there is a good chance the AI will fire first, assuming the other player also waits until his/her tank is stopped before shooting.

 

But while trying this out, I thought of the following points that might help improve player control of the Tank Crew AI.

 

There is no command to give direction/a way-point to just the turret from the commanders position. This could be useful if you want to track a target that is moving away from you, as well as when you want to bring the turret back to center. Currently, the only way to do this other then re centering it from the gunners position would be to find another target in the direction you want your turret to face, assuming there is a target there. 

 

Using the mouse/secondary command menu to target an enemy is too difficult if either vehicle is moving, especially at long range. A better way to select/prioritize targets would be helpful.

 

 Near the end of the linked video, I had both a "move to" command, and an "attack" command set. But when the left track was cut, the tank continued to move in a circle as if it was trying to complete the "move to" command, but would not use the turret to track the target and complete the "attack" command. This might be a problem with the AI behavior itself, and the way it prioritizes each command. Ideally, if the tank becomes immobilized and cannot complete a "move to" command, then the priority should be the "attack" command and the AI should reposition the turret to engage the enemy.

 

The only other explanation would be that when I switched to the external view (F2) just before the Lt track was cut, it somehow broke the command link to the AI. But as shown in the video, I switch back and forth between the commander and external views numerous times before this event, and the AI successfully completed the commands I gave. 

 

 

[LachenKrieg]

So that was quick! After the last patch, I notice that the AI now seem to be repositioning the turret to engage the enemy when a track gets cut, and the AI tank cannot complete a "move to" command. In the linked video below, you can see that the AI tank still turned 180 degrees before stopping, as the rear was facing the enemies position. And I am not sure why, or what it means, but the turret started to center with the hull several minutes after all enemy vehicles were destroyed and only after I drove up to it. Great to see this improvement in Tank Crew's AI.

 

I wonder if repairs will ever be considered for AI tanks?