1.19n Pop Lock Analysis here: https://forums.elementalgame.com/407995 Results: Gilden, Capitar, & Kraxis all pop locked twice each over 10 games - 20% chance of that occurring for those factions None of the other 6 factions (Pariden unknown since ran test as player Pariden) ever experien
Purpose: Analyze strategic AI behavior to identify issues with factions pop locking. Definition: Pop locking is defined as a faction sitting at max initial population of starting capital and not building improvements, units, etc. Not doing anything to expand their faction. Watching Oprah, Springer, or Judge Judy. Scope: Cycling 36 turns of same map from the same turn 1 save, same factions, same starting locations, same AI difficulty level, and assessing whether a faction
1.19n CTD. Was zoomed in on my capital on 3d map and cycling turns to test pop lock for AI. CTD'd. It was a fresh load of Elemental, and it looks like it crashed on turn 24 or so. Zip (debug, last autosave, dump) - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19969679/Elemental/119n/119n_ctd_24.zip
Yikes - 1.19n issue after a fresh load and ending one turn. Moving around on cloth map and boom! Zip (debug, save, no dump) - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19969679/Elemental/119n/119n_85_dxerror.zip
I've been diligently testing the AI this beta series. The last post is here: https://forums.elementalgame.com/407926 . I have links to prior test threads in each one so you can follow all the way back to the beginning of this beta. I purposefully didn't test tactical (well known gaps with the AI already) or the use of magic strategically (too difficult to quickly test). Regardless, to me the biggest gaps I've noticed are: <
Just to clarify my thoughts on the matter (from playing, testing, and reading various dev posts): Definitive oom's from loading a game from within a game due to garbage collection process not clearing crud from the prior game (I'm not a programmer, just read up on memory leaks and such a couple of weeks ago) Random oom's from bugs and normal playing I think 1 is on the backburner for post 1.2 and possible revamp of how the game handles memo
I agree. I haven't read Brad's book or really any history to the lore but a list of faction-specific names would be cool and should be easy to implement. OMG, I agree with Lord Xia! JK. [e digicons]:digichet:[/e]
[quote who="Lord Cobol" reply="1" id="2927289"]Yes, please fix. Then fix the other places where data shown on screen doesn't update properly, like your hit points not going up when you eat salted pork in combat until you eat another one.[/quote] Yeah, all of these are definitely polish issues. I've noticed them as well.
Hi mywhiskey, Were these oom's from loading a game from within a game? Or were they reloading after a fresh instance of Elemental? It appears reloading a game from within a game around 5-6 times will inevitable always lead to an oom (looks like garbage collection process leaves 40-50MB if garbage laying around per game). Just curious. Thanks. [Edit] You could test this by doing the following: Start new instance of Elemental Load last saved game</li
1.19n DX recovery: Zip (debug and save) - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19969679/Elemental/119n/119n_72_dxrecovery.zip
Nice work! I think the load a game from within a game OOM issue is due to the garbage collection process not picking up all the memory garbage left over from the previous game (from what I've read up on memory leaks). From reading various posts I think Derek and team know of this issue but it's going to be a post 1.2 fix, possibly with a revamp of how all memory is handled. But nice analysis! [e digicons]:beer:[/e]
[quote who="LightofAbraxas" reply="7" id="2927064"]Quoting AlLanMandragoran, reply 6I'm not sure to be honest. But Capitar is consistently pop locking on the ridiculous level so the evidence, to me at least, indiciates the factions have their own threads. Actually, they must have their own threads, right? We can choose different difficulty levels per faction so the rules that govern each faction can be different... I really have no idea other than for two builds in a row, same
[quote who="LightofAbraxas" reply="5" id="2927047"]Wait, does this suggest that the different factions have different AIs attached to them? That's kind of what it sounds like from this post, and I didn't think that was the case. [/quote] I'm not sure to be honest. But Capitar is consistently pop locking on the ridiculous level so the evidence, to me at least, indiciates the factions have their own threads. Actually, they must have their own threads, right? We can choo
[quote who="Lord Xia" reply="6" id="2926913"]I feel a rant coming on, so I will make my own topic. [/quote] Damnit, I read the rant first and then read this warning. Scarred for life!
One of my recent oom's was in the trade screen. I think Harpo and others have reported it too. There's definitely a gremlin in there somewhere!
[quote who="RexDaddy" reply="3" id="2926898"]ALM - Does Capitar somehow start in the exact same place in these tests? [/quote] Nope, same map but different starting locations between m and n. [Edit] I certainly do believe the pathing issues can/are specific to starting locations as I've seen consistency there. However, Capitar in m was in upper right hand corner of map and in n he was in bottom left (going off memory).
Yes, from my AI tests the AI does hire champions (at least on ridiculous level). They don't hire every single that's available one but they do hire. Here's my latest analysis: https://forums.elementalgame.com/407926 . The AI is douing a better job of gearing the champions but it doesn't gear like a player would (i.e. buy the best gear for the hero based on available tech and gildar).
[quote who="Phylast57" reply="2" id="2926775"]AlLanNandragoran--- I have been following some of your posts. Geez! You're a freaking beast with the bug hunt. I admire your patience & tenacity. Do you worK?? Question: what is a dmp file and where would I find it? I'm not much for the tech side of things--I just wanna play the game. Thanks~Phy [/quote] Thanks, Phy. Yeah, I work, but had been off work the pa
[quote who="EternalRequiem" reply="6" id="2926738"]one with the midnight stones, salted pork, the honey stuff, exp potions and other things all have this issue I've noticed [/quote] Yep, seems to be anything that has multiple counts. Should be easy to replicate and fix I imagine. The table counts are screwy or something.
[Edit] Removed my internet nerd-rage rant. I followed my own advice and sent a PM right after I wrote this post - had a response within a matter of hours of which I'm extremely grateful. The root cause of my DX errors isn't fixed yet but I'm optimistic I'll know more next week. Many thanks to Derek. [e digicons]:beer:[/e] Just want to acknowledge it's appreciated.
119n DX error: Zooming in and out - transition between cloth and 3d maps Zip (save, debug, no dump created) - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19969679/Elemental/119n/119n_dxerror_63.zip [Edit] This is weird. I just had another DX error and noticed that there is a dmp file in there. I think it was related to this crash. It wasn't there initially when I checked: <a href="http:/
[quote who="Grizzyloins" reply="1" id="2926723"]Some of you guys really do alot to help the devs, just wanted to say it's appreciated.[/quote] Thanks and you're welcome!
1.19n issue. Kael has 3 midnight stones per strategic screen yet 1 actual in inventory. Zip (debug, save, shots) - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19969679/Elemental/119n/119n_countproblem.zip 3 midnight stones count from strategic map: 1 midnight stone count from inve
Derek, 1.19n strategic AI analysis here: https://forums.elementalgame.com/407926 Capitar needs to be fixed... Summary of Observations: URGENT PROBLEM: Brad, something is desperately wrong with Capitar's AI as also noted in the prior 1.19m analysis. Can you please fix this? He's completely pop locked. Fun factor -10 when an enemy faction refuses to play the game. URGENT PROBLEM: Multiple spou
1.19n strategic AI analysis here: https://forums.elementalgame.com/407926 Summary of Observations: URGENT PROBLEM: Brad, something is desperately wrong with Capitar's AI as also noted in the prior 1.19m analysis. Can you please fix this? He's completely pop locked. Fun factor -10 when an enemy faction refuses to play the game. URGENT PROBLEM: Multiple spouses did not occupy their capitals and instea