Tutorial: Simple AI

Add basic NPC targeting behavior to an Artemis Cosmos mission.

Create mission

Start from a starter template.

MAST

.\fetch artemis-sbs mast_starter simple_ai

Add stations

Spawn two friendly stations at known positions.

MAST

ds1 = npc_spawn(1000, 0, 1000, "DS1", "tsn", "starbase_command", "behav_station")
ds2 = npc_spawn(1000, 0, -1000, "DS2", "tsn", "starbase_command", "behav_station")

Add a spawn route

A //spawn route fires whenever any object is spawned. SPAWNED_ID is automatically set to the ID of the spawned object. Use it to start an AI task for each enemy ship.

MAST

//spawn
    ->END if not has_role(SPAWNED_ID, "raider")
    task_schedule(npc_targeting_ai, {"ship_id": SPAWNED_ID})
    ->END

Add the AI targeting task

The targeting loop runs every 5 seconds. The ->END guard stops the task if the ship was destroyed between ticks.

MAST

== npc_targeting_ai ==
--- loop
    ->END if not object_exists(ship_id)
    players = to_object_list(role("__player__"))
    if players:
        target(ship_id, to_id(players[0]), True, 1.0)
    await delay_sim(5)
    jump loop

Spawn some enemies

Now spawn enemy ships so the //spawn route has something to give AI to.

MAST

fleet_pos = Vec3.rand_in_sphere(5000, 10000, False, True)
prefab_spawn(prefab_fleet_raider, {
    "race": "skaraan",
    "fleet_difficulty": 3,
    "START_X": fleet_pos.x,
    "START_Y": fleet_pos.y,
    "START_Z": fleet_pos.z
})

When these ships spawn, the //spawn route will fire for each one, and each raider will get its own targeting task.