New ai type: Zombie AI

[chemical_art]

This ai has three different potential levels, in scaling difficulty. The idea is if you want to mix and match you may. In other words, the ai could have all three levels while brainstorming, or just one, but in the end its not like a minor plot but rather an ai, so you just pick "zombie ai" and get the effects somewhat like described below.

Level 1: AI command stations are equipped with long range cannons. These cannons do little damage directly, but mark the [human] ship to raise as a zombie.

Level 2: AI command stations act as a form of regenerator golem, except they can do so indefinitely but resurrect zombies at the command station. It cannot re resurrect zombie again.

Level 3: AI waves are pre set to be zombies, so every ai wave must in effect be killed twice.

Level 2 and 3 need extra work so player reclamation can still work if so desired. I would assume anything more then level 1 almost warrents the red color for the ai type.


What do you think?

[Mánagarmr]

Hmm...it would make for a vastly different game, so I think it sounds interesting so far.

[Toranth]

Not sure about your idea #1, but 2 and 3 could be fun.

I'll also resuggest my idea:
Since the Zombie Apocolpyse is all about hordes of undead shambling relentlessly after you, and your own dead rising against you...
The Zombie AI doesn't launch waves, instead it continuously streams zombie ships from the AI homeworld straight to the human homeworld.  The never stop, never hesitate, just keep coming... AIP would determine spawn Mk and rate/clump size.  For added fun, make all ships spawned this way also become zombie reclaimers.
You'd need to have serious defenses if you let the AIP rise, because you'd NEVER catch a break, no time to refleet, send your defenders off on offense, etc.
You could probably implement this using mostly existing game mechanics if you treated the Zombie AI as spawning a small Zombie exowave every 30 seconds, minute, whatever.  Start with each ZExo being a dozen Mk I ships.  By AIP 1000, you could have Zombie reclaiming H/Ks leading their Zombie reclaiming Golem brethren to eat your face.

Another idea - Have a in-system AI only structure that causes all non-zombie ships that die in that system to respawn as Zombies for the AI?  A Core Undead Guardpost?  The icon could look like a tombstone.

[Draco18s]

Another idea - Have a in-system AI only structure that causes all non-zombie ships that die in that system to respawn as Zombies for the AI?  A Core Undead Guardpost?  The icon could look like a tombstone.

No no no, it'd look like this:

(Thank you 700+ RPG Icons, plus a little editing to combine #7 and #38)

[doctorfrog]

How 'bout "Defiler AI?" Everything's a zombie these days. Or maybe "Beast AI" or "Cataclysmic AI," as a nod toward the Homeworld sequel.

[LaughingThesaurus]

A Defiler AI sounds like something different entirely.
Hmm... maybe Invader?

Defiler sounds like something along the lines of...
1: The AI highly prioritizes ships that debilitate other ships, such as armor rotters and anything that causes engine damage. The AI also loves Leech Starships, but does not necessarily go for other reclamation ships.
2: The AI has a reasonably higher chance of having planetary and interplanetary inhibitors on its planets.
3: The AI will contribute passive debuffers to its partner's waves, in addition to having waves of its own.

[Hearteater]

I support that idea LaughingThesaurus.  To mantis with it!

[LaughingThesaurus]

Mantis'd
As a bonus, it includes Siege Master so it can't vanish into the depths of the forum.

[LordSloth]

As a bonus, I dug up your original post for you, and stuck the relevant bits from the discussion into the issue.

I remembered where it was because it was in the same thread I suggested a sniper themed AI. I haven't been as industrious to mantis my own idea, however.

[LaughingThesaurus]

Oh, thanks a bunch Sloth. You're awesome.