Enemy AI : Targeting Priority Manipulator

[Shad3 34]

Enemy AI : Targeting Priority Manipulator

By Shad3Light

 

 
The default VX Ace's enemy targeting behavior just pick a random target for any actions.
This script adds some AI targeting priority. With this script, the enemies become able to pick a target based on the action specific priority.

Download the script here, or grab it from my blog here.
 

Installation
Put this script below â–¼ Materials and above â–¼ Main Process.

Usage
The copy of the following instruction is included within the script.

In an enemy notebox, you can add some tags.

<target [action_id] [shortcut]>

where [action_id] corresponds to the enemy's action list, and [shortcut] corresponds to one of the implemented targeting priority method.

Example:

<target 1 high_hp>

This will make the enemy target the battlers with the highest HP value when using action number 1 (by default Attack).
 

<target 2 low_hp_rate>

This will make the enemy target the battler with the lowest HP percentage when using action number 2. If the action no. 2 is set to Heal, the enemy will proceed to heal its ally with the lowest percentage of health.

Available targeting shortcut is as follows:

low_hp
high_hp
low_hp_rate
high_hp_rate
low_mp
high_mp
low_mp_rate
high_mp_rate
low_tp
high_tp
low_tp_rate
high_tp_rate
self
not_self

 
If you want to make your own targeting condition, use

<target eval [action_id]>
[eval]
</target eval>

where [eval] is a ruby expression that takes returns -1, 0, or 1.
In the eval, a and b denotes the battlers that would be sorted.

For example, to make the enemy prioritize Eric when doing its ultimate skill, the tag will be

<target eval 8>
if a.name == "Eric"
-1
elsif b.name == "Eric"
1
else
a.hp <=> b.hp
end
</target eval>

Do note that target selection is done at the start of the turn, like actors. The enemy will not suddenly change target mid-turn, for example if its target had already healed.
Also, TGR have no effect on acquiring target with this script.

Patches
This script should work with most battle systems.
For users of Schala Battle System, there is a patch here.

Credits
Give credits to Shad3Light (me).
For use in commercial project, I expect to at least be contacted first.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Shad3

[+ Fisherolol 12]

so you decided to make a whole script after all

 

nice one

[Shad3 34]

Well, this script and the snippet I posted before is different in inner working but yeah, decided to make a whole script as the default targeting behavior is just randomness.

[Coolie 148]

Would it be possible with this script to allow enemies to target actors with states, only when the actor doesn't already have the state applied?

[Shad3 34]

Would it be possible with this script to allow enemies to target actors with states, only when the actor doesn't already have the state applied?

<target eval 3>
if !a.state?(18)
-1
elsif !b.state?(18)
1
else
rand(3) - 1
end
</target eval>

This will prioritize any target without the state id 18.

 

Though, if you want to make the enemy only consider using the skill only when there's opponent without said state, you'd want another script, either Hime's Enemy Action Conditions or my own (uncommented, beware) script. In case of my script:

<condition eval 3>
p.any? { |a| !a.state?(18) }
</condition eval>

For Hime's script, the code is basically the same.

 

 

As analogues to the player, Action condition script is like considering which skill to use, and my targeting script is like picking the target for said skill.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Shad3

[Coolie 148]

Got it, cool, thank you!

[Blackvivi 10]

And another better one!!! YAAAY!  And another better one, is that even a correct sentence? LoL... anyway

 

Your like my target man for the week Shad

 

Much Kudos to ya

[Shad3 34]

I've made a patch to make this script work with Schala Battle System here. I also edited the first post to reflect this.

[Zebraoracle 4]

I hope posting a month later isn't considered necroposting. :/

 

How would I make an enemy prioritize using a certain skill on a character with a certain state over using said skill to a character without the state?

 

 

Would it be possible with this script to allow enemies to target actors with states, only when the actor doesn't already have the state applied?

<target eval 3>
if !a.state?(18)
-1
elsif !b.state?(18)
1
else
rand(3) - 1
end
</target eval>

This will prioritize any target without the state id 18.

 

Would I use this, only slightly altered?

[Shad3 34]

Yes. Just delete the "!".

[Zebraoracle 4]

Thanks! I'll try it out.

[+ Sughayyer 163]

Is tgr totally disabled when this script is active or only when I configure the enemies' actions? If it is completely disabled, can I set attacking priority based on party lineup (position 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on)? If so, what would it look like?

 

Thanks!

[Euphoria 147]

I can't get it to work, I can't get any AI scripts to work actually... I don't know what the hell is going on.

[Shad3 34]

What are you trying to do?

[Euphoria 147]

I think it's incompatibility, I finally got DoubleX's to work, sort of, when placed in a certain spot on my script list. I just need something that can check if states are already applied, and then sort by parameters for targeting. I'm assuming through the custom eval, this is possible with this script?

[Shad3 34]

Yes, with custom eval it is possible.

[bloodyliao 5]

Is there a way to to target actors with highest/ lowest parameters like atk, def, mat?