Waypoint FAQ
Common Questions:
1) To many waypoints close together.
If you put too many waypoints very close together then you will have many paths to and from all of the waypoints. This could make the bots pause a lot and take a lot of paths backwards and forwards. This also increases the waypoint file size quite considerably making the CPU Usage a lot higher and so you can't add too many bots before things start to get jerky!
2) Too many paths assigned to one waypoint
You don't want to many paths assigned to one waypoint as the bot could end up walking in the wrong direction, you should try and limit all of the bots movements but not completely, you may want to keep some waypoints that connect to two waypoints directly in front of it but not in all cases you may not want this.
3) Paths make bots fall off ledges
waypoints that have paths connected to waypoints below them could more than likely make the bots fall off the ledge to follow this path, so to avoid this, remove the path(s) between any waypoints that would make bots fall off a thin ledge
4) Paths make bots run into walls
Waypoints are really thin so they are not as wide as the actual players! (Especially the HWGuy!) So they will sometimes make paths that are really tight and very close to the wall, if the bot chooses that waypoint then he will hit the wall and look like a right loony!!! So to stop that you will need to remove the path to and from the waypoint.
5) Broken paths
Sometimes two waypoints could be right next to each other but for some reason they are not linked with a "path". This can cause problems as the bots are looking through each path to find the flag or capture point! All you have to do is to create a path to and from the waypoints which should have a path between then (in most cases broken paths can happen up ramps etc.)
6) Ladders
This is a common error and as the bots don't have much ideas on how to climb up ladders it is best to do this with them:
You really want to put a small gap between the bottom of the ladder and the waypoint at ladder foot. Also crate a path between the two waypoints (top and bottom of ladder) at the top and bottom.
7) Two merging paths
If you have a large field then you don't want all the bots to follow one single path, you want to create several long paths BUT keep them continuing until the end where they may meet. e.g.
FIG 1 : The waypoints are added at the end of the path
FIG 2: The default paths between all of the waypoints
FIG 3: The result of removeing paths between many of the paths which could re direct the bots
8) Paths connecting to two waypoints directly infront of it
This can cause the bots to miss some waypoints and thus miss some routes through small passageways etc...
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Waypoint Tutorial 2.0
Waypointing Guide-by Reign
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Getting started
To get started you will need to bind a key to almost every waypoint command.
To bind a key
You can bind a key with the syntax(type the following in the console~):
bind
If you wanted to bind the key "a" to the command "waypoint add" then you should type:
bind a "waypoint add"
Waypoint commands
COMMAND DESCRIPTION
waypoint on- Turns on displaying of waypoints.
waypoint off- Turns off displaying of all waypoints.
waypoint add- Adds a waypoint at the current player location.
waypoint delete- Deletes the waypoint nearest to the player (see below).
waypoint save- Saves the current waypoint list to a file
waypoint load- Loads the waypoint list from a waypoint file
waypoint menu- Displays a menu for setting tags on a waypoint(See below).
waypoint info(or stat)- Shows information about the current waypoint
autowaypoint- Displays the status of the autowaypoint setting.
autowaypoint on- Turns on autowaypoint setting
autowaypoint off- Turns off autowaypoint setting.
pathwaypoint- Displays the status of the pathwaypoint setting.
pathwaypoint on- Turns on the pathwaypoint setting
pathwaypoint off- Turns off the pathwaypoint setting.
pathwaypoint create1- Sets the first waypoint in a manual path
pathwaypoint create2- Sets the second waypoint in a manual path
pathwaypoint remove1- Sets the first waypoint in removing a path.
pathwaypoint remove2- Sets the second waypoint in removing a path.
My waypoint binds
I have to bind keys to make up my waypoints so here are all of my waypoint keys with their commands
KEY COMMAND
a waypoint add
d waypoint delete
q waypoint menu
, pathwaypoint create1
. pathwaypoint create2
; pathwaypoint remove1
' pathwaypoint remove2
Making the waypoints
Now you know how to bind a key to a command that we will use so let's get started. We will start with the map "2fort" and just have a look at the respawn/resupply room and add waypoints into it, later we should remove some paths or add some paths to waypoints.
1)Waypointing Respawn/Supply Rooms-First you will start in the respawn room. You will want the bots to go through the door to get to the ammo/supply room. Place a waypoint(type add waypoint in the console, or push your binded key) in front of the respawn room door.(Turn Pathwaypoint on so that you can see if the bots will goto the next waypoint, if not do pathwaypoint create1 and create2 so that they will) Then go through the door and add another waypoint on the other side of the door(If you want you may use the "Door" command in the menu). Now the bots will go into the Supply room. Place a waypoint in a triangular shape. So that you have a waypoint on the medkits, Ammo Paks, and grenades(Put the waypoint in the middle of each row). Note: In ODD Bot you do not need to do this, for the bots automatically pick up the ammo paks etc. Now the bots will get ammo paks, and grenades. Just make a waypoint path that leads to the door, and the bots will goto the door and exit.
2)Waypoint Menu-
Use the waypoint menu to set tags on the waypoints you wish. Say you want a sniper to snipe in a specific spot. Go up to the waypoint you wish for the sniper to spot, face the way you want him to face then just select "Sniper" from the menu(note: On the two different bots there are seperate directories which the commands are in, For example... Enviroment for ODD Bot has the Sniper command in it, while on HPB Bot the sniper command is under a different directory). The same goes for SG's, check, and door. Lift is where an elevator is located. Put this command here to show that there is an elevator there and the bot will wait till it reaches the top.
Below are all the tags you can attach to waypoints.
Interesting- Use this to make the bots visit more often.
Guard- Use this for the bots to guard this area.
Check- Use this for the bots to check if a new path is available.
Door- Use this command to slow the bots down so they dont run into the door.
Lift- Use this command if an elevator is located there.
Sentry- Use this to tell a Engineer they can build a Sentry Gun here.
Dispensor- Use this to tell a Engineer they can build a dispensor here.
Detpack- Use this to tell a demoman they can place a detpack here.
Cancel- Use this command to cancel setting a tag for this waypoint.
3)Team Specific/Flag Location and Capture points-
If there are flags in the level you are waypointing you may wish for the bots to capture, and return a flag to base. To do this you will need to use the commands, "Team Specific" and "Flag Location" and "Flag Goal". To make a flag team specific select it in the waypoint menu, then you will need to select which team this waypoint is for. Here are the numbers that equals teams:
1-BLUE
2-RED
3-YELLOW
4-GREEN
select which team this waypoint is for, then select a command.
Capture/Return Waypoints. First set a waypoint on top of the flag. Then goto the menu and select "Team Specific" Select the number for the color this flag is for. Next on the menu select "Flag Location" This is where the flag is at. So the team you chose to make this team specific, that team will grab the flag, but they still don't know where to return it! well now goto the flag goal location for that team. Also make this waypoint team specific so that the team that just captured the flag will know where to return the flag to. Now Select "Flag Goal Location"(Or Similiar). Now you have the flag capturing down!
4)Saving/Loading Waypoints-
After you have waypointed a map or need to leave you must save your waypoints! Use your binded key , or in the console type "waypoint save" This will save all the waypoints you have done up to this point. Loading a waypoint- You don't need to do this everytime you load a map. Only use this command to "Undo" a section of waypoints if you decide you dont want them. It will load the waypoints from the point you saved them last.
5)Pathwaypoint create/Remove
Use the command Pathwaypoint Create1 to select the first waypoint you wish to create a path from. You should here a sound. Next goto the waypoint you wish to make a path To. now type Pathwaypoint create2. This will create a path from waypoint "A" to waypoint "B". Removing Waypoint Paths- To remove a path from one waypoint to another just do the same steps as "Creating a Waypoint" except type pathwaypoint remove1, and pathwaypoint remove2.
This is version 2.0 of the help files. Check back often as there will be many updates in the future.
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