ArenaNet talk:AI bugs/resolved

Control Panel issues

Hero Control Panel -- Heroes canceling skills which were manually clicked

Issue: If a player manually clicks a skill on the Hero Control Panel and the hero happens to be activating that skill at the same time, the hero will cancel the skill and then activate it again. This causes them to unnecessarily lose energy.
How to fix: When a hero is ordered to use a skill which he’s already activating, the hero should simply continue to activate the skill instead of canceling it.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:24, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

This issue has been reported. I will post again when I get more information. Ben Kirsch 20:04, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for looking into these issues. --Draikin 16:57, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

Hero Control Panel -- Problem activating Aggressive Refrain

Issue: When this skill is clicked manually on the Hero Control Panel and the player currently has no target (ally or foe) selected, the hero will not use the skill. The only way to get the hero to react is to uncheck the skill, select a target and then click the skill again.
How to fix: Update the AI so that the hero always uses Aggressive Refrain when selected on the Hero Control Panel.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 00:36, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

This issue has been forwarded to design. Ben Kirsch 19:05, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

This bug has been fixed in the February 29, 2008 update, thanks ArenaNet. --Draikin 20:27, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

Hero Control Panel -- Skill activation delay

Issue: Currently there can be an up to 3 second delay between selecting a skill on the Hero Control Panel and the hero using that skill. This random delay introduces an element of luck in Hero Battles when it comes to saving your heroes from assassin spikes. The delay only seems to occur with skills that have an activation time, so stances are activated instantly. For some reason Burning Shield is an exception and also suffers from the delay despite having no activation time, while the very similar skill Shield Bash is activated instantly. Worthy of note is that all skills that show the checkmark on the Hero Control Panel when clicked suffer from the delay, while clicking stances will not show the checkmark (if the skill is recharging, it will always show the checkmark).
How to fix: Update the AI so that skills are executed instantly when clicked on the Hero Control Panel
Additional info: none

--Draikin 00:36, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

Whoever changed this to reported, could you clarify why? I would prefer to let the Q&A team mark the issues as reported here, since things might get confusing if people mark the issues as reported while the Q&A team didn't actually look into the issue yet. --Draikin 22:53, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

The latest update shows considerable improvements in hero reaction time, thanks ArenaNet. --Draikin 22:43, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

Flagging and Movement Issues

Heroes & Henchies -- All

Issue: When the H&H encounter a NPC group containing spirits, occasionally they stall and do not move for a couple of seconds. This happens with Nature Rituals, as well as Binding Rituals.
How to fix: Fix the AI to make the H&H ignore those spirits and follow the designated target.
Additional info: none

--  (CoRrRan / talk) 01:49, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

It seems that they only stall or stop when you did not set a flag for them. When they're walking towards a flag they will try to evade the spirits like they do with other objects although that's still no guarantee that they won't get blocked by them. --Draikin 20:39, 24 November 2007 (UTC)

Skill Usage Issues

Assassin

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Augury of Death, Mark of Death

Issue: The AI doesn't use these hexes at all.
How to fix: Update the AI so that is does use them.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:49, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

These issues have been reported. Ben Kirsch 00:06, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Assassin combos

Issue: There are several problems with the current assassin hero AI:

• Heroes frequently auto attack while they could have used an attack skill (this is usually limited to one or two auto attacks before using another attack skill). Although this is a global AI problem, it becomes a significant problem with assassins who deal practically no damage with their auto attacks.
• Heroes refuse to use a Lead attack (or skills that count as a lead attack) after using a Dual attack for a period of 15 seconds (which is the time during which the "must follow dual attack" skills can be used). Exhausting Assault is the only exception.
• Giving the hero a LOD combo and disabling the Dual attack will cause the hero to wait 15 seconds after using the Off-hand attack to use the Lead attack again. Disabling the Off-hand attack in a LO combo does not trigger this delay.
• When given 2 Dual attack skills, the AI will often try to chain them which of course causes the second Dual attack to miss.
  

How to fix: Fix the bugs causing these problems.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:24, 27 November 2007 (UTC)

The bug with the AI chaining Dual Attack skills was solved in the May 8th update (Game_updates/20080508#Bug_Fixes_2), but unfortunately that update is meaningless since the Lead + Dual attack bug I mentioned above still ruins just about every possible dagger build. --Draikin 13:39, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

Additional improvements are in the testing stage. --Andrew Patrick 23:19, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Thanks, looking forward to them. --Draikin 23:54, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

The 15 seconds delay after a Dual attack was fixed in the May 22th update.--Evenfall 14:07, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

I can confirm the third bug (disabling dual attack also causing a delay) was also fixed, nice work ArenaNet. --Draikin 17:18, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Dervish

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Ebon Dust Aura, Grenth's Grasp

Issue: Heroes only uses Ebon Dust Aura when they're equipped with an earth damage mod and not in combination with skills like Staggering Force which makes them deal earth damage regardless of their weapon. Similarly, Grenth's Grasp is not used in combination with Grenth's Fingers.
How to fix: Update the AI so that is does use these skills in combination with other skills that let them deal earth/cold damage.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 19:20, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

This has been reported. --Andrew Patrick 00:04, 15 May 2008 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Pious Assault

Issue: After the Thursday, January 17 (2008) update, the AI now uses this skill incorrectly since they'll only use it when they're enchanted.
How to fix: Update the AI so that it also uses the skill while not enchanted.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 02:05, 18 January 2008 (UTC)

This has been reported. --Andrew Patrick 00:38, 15 May 2008 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Conviction

Issue: This skill is correctly used when the ally is enchanted during battle, but if the ally is not enchanted then the skill is not used even though in that case they would still get health regeneration instead of the armor bonus.
How to fix: Update the AI so that it also uses the skill when they're not enchanted and not at full health.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 12:24, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

This has been reported. --Andrew Patrick 00:38, 15 May 2008 (UTC)

Elementalist

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Elemental Attunement

Issue: This skill is not automatically maintained.
How to fix: Update the AI so that heroes will use this similarily to non-elite attunements, and apply it whenever they are not already under its effects.
Additional info: none

-- Arkhar 06:42, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

When I tested this my hero would continually recast Elemental Attunement as soon as it would wear off. Is this problem still occurring for you? Ben Kirsch 00:13, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

The AI does seem to maintain this skill like the other attunements, I'm not sure if they always used it like that but it doesn't seem to be an issue now. --Draikin 16:57, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

Marking this with a Green check since the issue no longer seems to occur. Ben Kirsch 22:33, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Vapor Blade

Issue: The AI only uses this skill on enchanted targets, which is exactly the opposite of what it should be doing.
How to fix: Update the AI so that Vapor Blade is used on targets that do not have an enchantment on them.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:38, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

This issue has been reported. Ben Kirsch 00:06, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

Mesmer

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Drain Delusions

Issue: This skill is used on foes who aren't hexed, on which it has no effect.
How to fix: This skill should only be used on hexed foes.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 21:17, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

This issue has been reported. Thanks for the post. Ben Kirsch 22:35, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Monk

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Patient Spirit

Issue: Heroes only uses this skill on other allies and not on themselves.
How to fix: Update the AI so that heroes use the skill to heal themselves as well.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 12:08, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Holy Veil

Issue: Heroes and henches using this skill do not use it to remove hexes from themselves.
How to fix: Update the AI so that heroes/henchmen use Holy Veil on themselves.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:38, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

This has been reported. Thank you. -Kim Chase 00:17, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Dismiss Condition

Issue: Heroes and henches using this skill do not use it to remove conditions from themselves.
How to fix: Update the AI so that heroes/henchmen use Dismiss Condition on themselves.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 00:24, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

This issue has been reported. Ben Kirsch 23:20, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Ritualist

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Weapon Spells

Issue: There are a lot of individual problems with just about every weapon spell, but a considerable flaw with the AI is that they cast weapon spells on allies that already have one, meaning the previous weapon spell is cancelled since weapon spells don’t stack. Most weapon spells are intended to buff the attacks of other allies but they are used even on allies who are not attacking. Furthermore, they use Weapon spells primarily intended to buff melee characters also on casters that can only wand the opponent and even on allies that are not attacking. The following Weapon spells fall under this category: Guided Weapon, Splinter Weapon, Brutal Weapon, Warmonger’s Weapon, Sundering Weapon, Wailing Weapon, Weapon of Fury, Weapon of Aggression, Weapon of Renewal.
How to fix: Update the AI so that it doesn't cast weapon spells on allies that already have a weapon spell on them, and not on allies who aren't attacking or who are wielding a staff/wand.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:49, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Ghostly Weapon, Nightmare Weapon

Issue: For some reason these Weapon Spells are used differently than most other weapon spells intended to buff attacks from other allies. Most of the time they are simply not used at all. Strangely enough Nightmare Weapon only seems to be used when the opponent dies (perhaps this has something to do with the targeting system). During the time I tested these skills Ghostly Weapon was only used for a brief moment where the AI suddenly used it several times on recharge, only to completely ignore afterwards. The two skills do have something in common: if you and your ritualist hero attack a foe and you specifically target that foe (for example by pressing C) and then manually click the skill, the AI will still refuse to use it. With other weapon spells the AI would use the spell and pick a random ally to use it on.
How to fix: Update the AI so that they function like other weapon spells.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:49, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Weapon of Shadow, Weapon of Warding, Spirit Light Weapon

Issue: The AI uses these skills (Weapon of Shadow and Weapon of Warding are only used during combat, Spirit Light Weapon however is used all the time whenever a spirit is in earshot) but selects completely random allies to use them on, regardless of whether or not that ally is under attack (meaning for example that Spirit Light Weapon is used on allies with full health while the other ally at 50% health is ignored). Even if nobody is taking damage the AI still uses the spells. Basically they seem to regard these skills as weapon buffs like Splinter Weapon.
How to fix: Update the AI so that these skills are used only on allies (in the case of Weapon of Warding/Shadow, those that are under attack from ranged or melee attacks and in the case of Spirit Light Weapon those that need to be healed.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:49, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Vital Weapon

Issue: Quite possibly the most broken skill in the game when it comes to the AI using it. They only spam it on themselves during combat and, even worse, they do so on recharge even if Vital Weapon is already active on them (which they also do with other weapon spells but this one has a recharge of 2 seconds making the impact a lot worse).
How to fix: Update the AI so that the skill is used to maintain Vital Weapon on themselves (primarily) and also on other allies (secondarily).
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:49, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Vengeful Weapon, Weapon of Remedy

Issue: This skill is actually used as a heal, which is the same problem that a lot of protection spells suffer from. Basically the AI only checks to see if the ally has less than 100% health (and in the case of Weapon of Remedy, if he’s also suffering from a condition) and if he does the skill is used on that ally.
How to fix: Update the AI so that the skills are used only on allies that are actually taking damage.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:49, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Hero & Henchmen skill usage -- Resilient Weapon, Weapon of Quickening

Issue: Although Resilient Weapon is indeed used only when suffering from a condition/hex, the AI only uses the skill on themselves and uses it on recharge, cancelling any weapon spells that were already active on themselves. Weapon Of Quickening is also not used on other allies and also used on recharge.
How to fix: Update the AI so that the skills are also used on allies that do not already have an weapon spell on them.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:49, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Spirits -- Spirits stop attacking

Issue: Offensive spirits like Pain or Bloodsong will sometimes stop attacking despite the fact there are foes nearby.
How to fix: Fix the bug causing this problem.
Additional info: none

--Draikin 23:46, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

This seems to happen when the character that used the spirits moves out of their radar range. --Draikin 12:54, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Thank you for pointing this out. We have a report in on this. As Draikin says, it is caused by the caster moving out of range. -Kim Chase 21:57, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Fixed in the 17/04 update, thanks. I have to say though that this really was a minor issue, I don't understand why this was prioritized over all the other issues posted here. The assassin combos issue for example ruins practically every possible hero builds using daggers, which is a much more important issue with the AI right now. --Draikin 03:12, 18 April 2008 (UTC)

General & Miscellaneous issues

Bug with Hero Gwen?

→ moved from User talk:Gaile Gray

I already posted this on Gwen's page but I thought it would be better if I post it here aswell. When I went to kill Shiro using Gwen, she went under the effect of Meditation of the Reaper when Shiro did. Although it did not do any effect I thought it would be better If you would know about this. --MageMontu 17:36, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

This should go under Gaile's bug reports page, no? Kokuou 18:03, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

The effect icon that appears on all players when Shiro uses Meditation of the Reaper remains on Heroes for the full duration even if he is knocked out of it early. This has been reported. Thank you. -Kim Chase 02:00, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Fixed with the 2/6/08 update, today. -Kim Chase 01:40, 7 February 2008 (UTC)