Baiting StrategyA monster being chased turns by small amounts to avoid facing the player as it backs up. The player turns to pursue it, which enables the player to eventually catch up with the monster, since turning slightly while moving puts less distance between player and monster than moving straight. However, since the player also turns to pursue the monster, the monsters chasing the player eventually catch up. Sometimes the monster being pursued will incur damage as a result of these slight turns, but regardless of whether the bait takes damage or not, any monsters pursuing from behind are eventually able to catch up and attack. One monster takes a risk so that the rest can catch up. Once the player is hit, the monsters are usually able to bounce the player back and forth for a few hits before it regains enough control to start pursuing a new monster. |
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Charging StrategyAlthough monsters using the baiting strategy avoid damage and do a good job inflicting damage, they waste a lot of simulation time avoiding the player when they could be hitting it.In some simulations a riskier strategy was learned that does not have this problem. It turns out that if the player moves forward after being hit, the monster that hit it can rush the player and hit it again in mid-swing. Being hit cancels the player's swing and knocks it back again. As long as the player rushes forward it is vulnerable to attack, because moving forward gives the monster just enough time to reach the player before the bat reaches the monster. |
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Wait and Strike StrategyRecent experiments have revealed another effective strategy learned by multi-objective neuroevolution in this domain. This strategy involves waiting for just the right moment to rush in and strike the player.Monsters start out surrounding the player, and approach it if they are not at risk of being hit by the bat. If the player is swinging at them they try to spread out off to the sides. If a monster can angle itself directly towards the player's left side, it will rush in to hit. This works because the player's bat swings from right to left, leaving a small opening on the left side. The manner in which the monsters spread out around the player also makes it easier for other monsters to find their chance to rush in. After rushing in, these monsters will sometimes knock the player back several times the way that charging monsters do. |