AI attacking and blocking Observations

[Jaedayr]

AI played Feral Lightning but did not attack with all three tokens, only two of them attacked. I had a 3/3 and a 5/5 to block so I could only have blocked two of them, not sure why they did not all attack.

[Professor]

AI had created about 25 squirrel tokens, but never attacked for lethal damage, when I only could have blocked and killed 3.

In another game AI created a dozen elf warrior tokens but wouldn't attack for lethal damage until his smallest elf was big enough to kill my biggest blockers. Finally, he attacked for about 100.

If it matters, I'm on r4609, but I think this has been for a while.

[timmermac]

Wow... The computer is really dumb. I should be dead right about now with what the computer has out.

[timmermac]

The computer's decision making regarding attacking and blocking is really not the best. It's had a pair of Scute Mob out for a while now, and could have killed me at any time. Now my Dragonmaster Outcast is going to start pumping out tokens, and I can start playing dragons.

Edit: oops... not enough land yet for the Outcast to start doing his thing... but I can still start casting dragons.

[koravain]

I had out a Jace with 1 loyalty counter on it and one available defender. The CPU attacked me with 5 creatures and all 5 of them targetted Jace. It could have dealt lethal damage to me if all 5 had attacked me, but even regardless of that a "smart" AI would've only had 2 creatures at most attack Jace (in case I defended one) and the other three attack me.

[lazylockie]

I don't know if this fits exactly here, but could you make Bitterblossom, Elspeth, Knight-Errant and Awakening Zone tokens the first chump blockers of non-tramplers? Even if AI's life isn't low, chump blocking with those tokens is essentially free.

Besides a Faerie deck, which would want the Faerie tokens, I think those are the primary chump blockers and it seems they keep accumulating and do absolutely nothing. Eldrazi Spawns also don't block, although it seems they are sometimes used to pay some costs.

On an additional note, IMO Eldrazi Spawns after blocking a creature should immediately be sacrificed, since it'll never trigger lifelink and other stuff.

[friarsol]

My opponent is at 2. I attack with 3 creatures a 3/3, 2/1, 1/1 flyer. AI has a 2/2 flyer, and a regular 2/2. Instead of trading with the 2/1 and chump blocking the 3/3. He trades with the 2/1 and kills the 1/1, and dies in the process.

[Sloth]

My opponent is at 2. I attack with 3 creatures a 3/3, 2/1, 1/1 flyer. AI has a 2/2 flyer, and a regular 2/2. Instead of trading with the 2/1 and chump blocking the 3/3. He trades with the 2/1 and kills the 1/1, and dies in the process.

After the next beta is released, I will try to find some time to tweak AI combat some more.

[lazylockie]

Sloth, do you know if AI is taking into consideration First Strike (coupled with multiple blockers) when blocking?

Say, when AI has two 2/2s First Strike and I'm attacking with a N/4 creature without First Strike. AI could block with both 2/2s and lose nothing in the process. Look at the example:



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[Masher8]

I can also report a deep unwillingness of the AI to attack when it has superiority. Even in simple situations, for example two 2/1s against my own 2/1 flyer, both players on 20 life very early in the game, the AI doesn't attack.

If I block I lose 2 life and the AI has the only creature left on the board. If I don't block I lose 4 life and I can only hit back for 2. It seems like the AI should be attacking me.

[Sloth]

Sloth, do you know if AI is taking into consideration First Strike (coupled with multiple blockers) when blocking?

Say, when AI has two 2/2s First Strike and I'm attacking with a N/4 creature without First Strike. AI could block with both 2/2s and lose nothing in the process. Look at the example:

The AI would only block with both if one blocker would also survive alone. Gangblocks are only supported in corner cases.

I can also report a deep unwillingness of the AI to attack when it has superiority. Even in simple situations, for example two 2/1s against my own 2/1 flyer, both players on 20 life very early in the game, the AI doesn't attack.

If I block I lose 2 life and the AI has the only creature left on the board. If I don't block I lose 4 life and I can only hit back for 2. It seems like the AI should be attacking me.

The attacking AI is still very old. I didn't get to recoding it. It's on my Todo list though.

[Masher8]

The attacking AI is still very old. I didn't get to recoding it. It's on my Todo list though.

I've been looking at the source today, and I have some ideas that might improve things. I dont't want to step on anybody's toes, but if I get round to having a crack at it myself, and I get any success, I'll let you know what I've done and you can consider it for inclusion.

[Sloth]

I've been looking at the source today, and I have some ideas that might improve things. I dont't want to step on anybody's toes, but if I get round to having a crack at it myself, and I get any success, I'll let you know what I've done and you can consider it for inclusion.

Please try to improve the AI attacking code. I didn't really finish completing the blocking code. It would be a great help.

PS: You can have commiter status if you send a PM to DennisBergkamp.

[Chris H.]

I am with Sloth on your offer to try to improve the AI attacking code. We are a good group of people but we realize that no one man can do it all by himself. I think that Sloth was mainly trying to improve the blocking code, I'm sure that he would appreciate another set of hands with the attacking code.

This topic provides a good place to get input from the various testers.

[Masher8]

OK, I can't make any promises but if I manage to improve things I will certainly contribute the code.