Game Coding Q&A

[OldTrees]

Now that the trick is revealed, I think I have to give an explanation here before someone asks "how do you decompile a swf".

So yes, I used a decompiler to look at the source code and to extract some pieces of information from it that weren't well known (drop rates, mutation effect, AI algorithm, ...)
Inside the source code, I spotted half a dozen bugs that I wrote in the wiki page and I also found a few major security holes. Chances are high that those holes are the ones abused by cheaters to get a score in t50 ten minutes after their account creation.
I wrote to Zanzarino immediatly to offer my help in solving those issues. But for now, I got no answer.

So I ask everyone who has some knowledge in engineering NOT TO give advices on how to decompile and how to read an actionscript code until those problems are fixed.
I hope you understand that having a "cheater free" game is more important than anything else.

chriskang went on to help Zanzarino for a while before disappearing.

[Xenocidius]

That sums it up well. Though I certainly won't cheat I can't say the same for others. So I won't post the source or give any advice on decompiling.

Now let's get back on-topic or I'll lock the thread myself.

[bored_ninja777]

im all for helping people just the methods of doing so i dont necessarily approve of, as in without asking Zanz first. even with prior actions that were "ok" doesnt always mean it is now.. but maybe thats just me.

Is there any way to fix the priority system that is in place based on what youve seen?

[dragonsdemesne]

Okay, you're right. I found the piece of code controlling it.

So the algorithm is:

1. Pick a random card.
2. If it is a nymph, then 50% chance to select another card.

Assuming that this is correct, I calculate the chance for an oracle visit to yield a nymph as 3.015%

I assumed that all cards had an equal chance of being selected, with the exception for the nymph.  This might be wrong if, for example, the element is picked first and then a card within that element is picked, because different elements have differing numbers of cards.  It could also be wrong if pillars/pends/rares have different chances to be picked than base cards, and how "other" element cards are factored in.  (it also assumes the purple nymph bug is fixed!)

[The_Mormegil]

Is there any way to fix the priority system that is in place based on what youve seen?

More specifically, how much would it hinder the code or the speed of the AI if instead of the score / estimate system you introduced an array (or better yet a hash if that's possible in Flash) for every targeting effect?

For instance, if we created a community project that would create a "ladder" for every effect, possibly with some conditionals to spice it up, would it hinder the game if it was introduced? I don't think that Zanz would go with that as it is a major change to the game and everything, but I'm curious.

[Xenocidius]

Do you mean a list of permanents by order of priority or something else?

I don't imagine it would hinder the game at all; a small amount of processing like that is insignificant.

[OldTrees]

Is there any way to fix the priority system that is in place based on what youve seen?

More specifically, how much would it hinder the code or the speed of the AI if instead of the score / estimate system you introduced an array (or better yet a hash if that's possible in Flash) for every targeting effect?

For instance, if we created a community project that would create a "ladder" for every effect, possibly with some conditionals to spice it up, would it hinder the game if it was introduced? I don't think that Zanz would go with that as it is a major change to the game and everything, but I'm curious.

The score /estimate system was an improvement in the intelligence of the AI. It allowed it to target the highest priority target with reasonable accuracy and have the importance of the target factor into the decision to play now or wait till later for a better play. This decision is being made based on the current variables of the target.


Question: Does the AI recognize if a weapon is frozen when considering using PC?
Question2: Does the AI notice if its weapon is Frozen, Delayed or Protected when considering Flying weapon?

[furballdn]

When does the AI play a dim shield? I noticed they won't play it if you have no creatures on the field even if they have the shields in their hand and enough quanta.

[pikachufan2164]

When does the AI play a dim shield? I noticed they won't play it if you have no creatures on the field even if they have the shields in their hand and enough quanta.

The AI will only play and chain Dim Shields when they're in enough danger. According to Chriskang's AI notes,

If card is (Dimensional Shield or Phase Shield) and (the currently equipped shield is not invulnerable) and (current HP) / (yellow part of HP bar + 1) < 15 then play card

[Jenkar]

Okay, you're right. I found the piece of code controlling it.

So the algorithm is:

1. Pick a random card.
2. If it is a nymph, then 50% chance to select another card.

Assuming that this is correct, I calculate the chance for an oracle visit to yield a nymph as 3.015%

I assumed that all cards had an equal chance of being selected, with the exception for the nymph.  This might be wrong if, for example, the element is picked first and then a card within that element is picked, because different elements have differing numbers of cards.  It could also be wrong if pillars/pends/rares have different chances to be picked than base cards, and how "other" element cards are factored in.  (it also assumes the purple nymph bug is fixed!)

Miracle's not in the pool.

[Xenocidius]

Question: Does the AI recognize if a weapon is frozen when considering using PC?
Question2: Does the AI notice if its weapon is Frozen, Delayed or Protected when considering Flying weapon?

No.
No.

When does the AI play a dim shield? I noticed they won't play it if you have no creatures on the field even if they have the shields in their hand and enough quanta.

The AI will only play and chain Dim Shields when they're in enough danger. According to Chriskang's AI notes,

If card is (Dimensional Shield or Phase Shield) and (the currently equipped shield is not invulnerable) and (current HP) / (yellow part of HP bar + 1) < 15 then play card

Yep, that's still accurate, but is also the same for Wings. Also, it only does it if the counter of the current shield is 0 or nonexistent (if it has counters left on Wings it will not play Phase Shield).

[10 men]

What's the AI priority with permanents? I noticed the AI tends to hate my hourglass more than my arsenic more than my fog shield.

For permanents, this formula is used for score. Destroy and steal both have an estimate of -1.

Score = (permanent cost + 1)  * -estimate / 20

That means that the permanent with the highest cost will get targeted. If two permanents have the same cost the one with a lower slot number will be targeted.

That's not entirely true, from my experience in game the AI will target Eternity over anything else (including for example Permafrost Shield) and Hourglass over everything other than Eternity. I think there could also be an exception for Bone Wall (I think it takes Pulverizer over BW).
edit. Also Fahrenheit over Fire Buckler.