Bridges and AI

[Angiel]

Hi
Is it possible that the bridges block the movement of AI units towards the objectives?
In my test scenario AI units do not cross the bridge; if I replace the bridge with clear terrain, then they move towards the target.
thanks

[Paullus]

No the bridge will not block the path for the AI units. AI will move across the bridge. You need to have some good VP objectives nicely placed or AI Special "Attack Hex" Commands for the units.

[Angiel]

Thanks for the answer BUT the German units have AI Attitude = Advance and all are set "Attack x, y", BUT if there is a bridge they do not advance towards the target (Victory objective). What am I wrong?
Here is the scenario file with the bridge.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/fdu09633 ... 2.scn/file

[Paullus]

Angiel the scenario works fine. The units moved as they should across the bridge the very first turn.

[Paullus]

Test on Normal difficulty without Fog of War so you can see what is happening. Are you running the latest version of the game?

[UP844]

Just tested in v.1.1.20 at Very Hard level with no Fog of War and the German units moved exactly as they did in Paullus' test.

[Angiel]

Thanks all.
I solved the problem ..... [:)] using the original counters the game works, using the Mod JMass Small_markers or JMass_TotH_VASL, the Germans do not advance towards the objectives.

@ UP844 where can I find version v.1.1.20?

[UP844]

Hello Angiel,

v.1.1.20 is available for download HERE.

I strongly doubt a graphics mod can affect unit behaviour. In the worst hypothesis, the terrain picture would not match the terrain type, but even this looks very unlikely, as bridges are road overlays.

What terrain type appears in the upper right corner if you place the cursor on the bridge hexes?
If you play with the Germans, can your units move through the bridge hexes?

[technikzauberer]

UP844,

I have encountered 'graphics glitches' impacting unit movement behavior, yet, only in modified terrain sets. I had created some very heavily modified terrain sets to try out completely different looks, shading, and perhaps even have alternate terrain types in place of others [bearing in mind the TE] and have run into 'blocking issues' with some terrain types when I didn't have an exact edge match to original; particularly around water hexes.

[Angiel]

Here is the last test:
--With original counter -> Germans to the south and north move
--With Mod Advanced Squad Leader mod Rev 1 -> Germans to the south and north move
--With the Mods JMass_TotH_VASL_mod_v1.1 and JMass-Small_markers_Terrain_Originale -> Germans to the south DO NOT move, those to the north, yes.
I can not understand why this happens.[&:]

For @ UP844
--What terrain type appears in the upper right corner if you place the cursor on the bridge hexes?
Bridge (with all mods)
--If you play with the Germans, can your units move through the bridge hexes?
Yes (with all mods)

[UP844]

I can not understand why this happens.[&:]

Me too.

I never thought a graphics mod could interfere with the AI, but both your post and technikzauberer's previous one prove this could happen. I still cannot see how changing a graphic file can affect the AI [&:].

[Peter Fisla]

If a terrain mask and terrain sprite/block terrain don't match (alpha channel is not used properly - meaning transparency) then you will have unwanted LOS changes and this will affect AI behaviour

[Angiel]

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

If a terrain mask and terrain sprite/block terrain don't match (alpha channel is not used properly - meaning transparency) that you will have unwanted LOS changes and this will affect AI behaviour

It must be just like that.
Thanks for the reply.[:)]

[technikzauberer]

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla

If a terrain mask and terrain sprite/block terrain don't match (alpha channel is not used properly - meaning transparency) then you will have unwanted LOS changes and this will affect AI behaviour

Thanks Peter, explains it perfectly! [now to check on some terrain files...]

I'm so enjoying your labor of love! [&o]

[UP844]

I complained about several aspects of the AI behaviour [:D], but I never noticed it not moving because it had no LOS to a VP hex [&:].

[Peter Fisla]

ORIGINAL: UP844

I complained about several aspects of the AI behaviour [:D], but I never noticed it not moving because it had no LOS to a VP hex [&:].

AI doesn't need LOS to a VP, in order to move towards it.

[UP844]

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla
AI doesn't need LOS to a VP, in order to move towards it.

That's what I thought (and observed in game) and is the reason I don't understand this statement:

If a terrain mask and terrain sprite/block terrain don't match (alpha channel is not used properly - meaning transparency) then you will have unwanted LOS changes and this will affect AI behaviour

If the AI does not need a LOS to move towards a VP, how can unwanted LOS changes affect its behaviour? [&:]

[Peter Fisla]

ORIGINAL: UP844

ORIGINAL: Peter Fisla
AI doesn't need LOS to a VP, in order to move towards it.

That's what I thought (and observed in game) and is the reason I don't understand this statement:

If a terrain mask and terrain sprite/block terrain don't match (alpha channel is not used properly - meaning transparency) then you will have unwanted LOS changes and this will affect AI behaviour

If the AI does not need a LOS to move towards a VP, how can unwanted LOS changes affect its behaviour? [&:]

If AI units are moving towards an objective (regardless if the VPO is in LOS or not) and no human units are in LOS, then AI moves differently than when human units are in LOS (in which case AI might consider engaging some/all human units.

[UP844]

I am aware of this. The only British units in the scenario, however, are the ones shown in the screenshot attached to the initial post. Since they are much farther away than the VP hexes, I doubt the AI takes them into consideration. Moreover, it would have to close with them to come into range (and to cross the river, unless it intends to fire at the southernmost British stack from the south bank). In any case, the units on the south bank should have to move, but - as Angiel reported - they remain stationary.

I was thinking about the possibility that the bridge overlay has a wrong alpha channel - in the sole graphic mod that causes problems - not matching the road.

The two bridge hexes are oriented from SW to NE (/). If the alpha channel is oriented in any other different way, i.e. SE to NW (\), or E to W (-) the two hexes are not connected and so the units on the south bank have no path to reach the VP hexes. As a consequence, they won't move.

@Angiel:

Can you check - in Photoshop or in a similar graphics software - if the alpha channel in the mod causing the issue? Do other bridge hexes cause similar problems?

[technikzauberer]

I was thinking of checking it out... but out of all the terrain mods out there, which ones are JMass_TotH_VASL_mod_v1.1 and JMass-Small_markers_Terrain_Originale?