The Assassin Lord has a death wish (an AI issue)
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:56 am
So, there I was, down in a hole with a bunch of rogues. Being a relatively powerful wizard by this time, I made quick work of those folks upstairs, blasting holes in them with manathrust or setting them ablaze with flame. Amateurs...
But then I got downstairs, and suddenly felt very vulnerable. There I was, in a large room, with some empty closets. A merchant was being held hostage. Shadowy figures flickered around in the room, so many it was hard to see but for the glistening of their daggers. Beside the merchant stood a thief so dark, so cunning that the only reason I knew he was there at all was the vaguely purple threat of something terribly cunning and evil.
Thinking quickly, I...dealt with...the merchant so he would not die (let those who have eyes read.) Then I zapped the boss rogue as quickly as I could. Oh crap, I thought, now they're all coming right at me...
Being a wizard, my next instinctive reaction was to set the entire room on fire, tossing in a fireball for good measure. I figure it wouldn't stop them, but it might slow them down so I could deal with this guy who was getting a bit too close, and then that one over there, wait a second...
As I watched, the shadow figures suddenly burst into flame. I know I didn't extend the range that far. I'm not that powerful. He isn't...no...couldn't be that dumb. Heck, he couldn't be that tough. But he...another step...what?
As I watched, an entire band of rogues, their fearless leader following behind, walked a path of self-immolation. Were they so focused on killing me that the pain of their incineration didn't register? Did they think they were wearing asbestos? Were they part of some strange cult that believed in self sacrifice via incineration to their god, represented by the next unfortunate soul to wander in the door?
And then, as the time-bubble collapsed, this merchant starts following them into the same literal inferno! WHAT???
So, I cast a phase door to try to move him, which failed.
But then the flames whooshed out just in time. I wandered among the ashes, picking up a stray dagger here and there, and showed the merchant a secret passage that the lord had somehow opened up in the midst of the incineration.
Now, I guess making the escorts dumber than a brick that failed the school for delinquent bricks makes the game a bit more *ahem* challenging, but surely we could make the AI at least clever enough not to walk into a blazing inferno from which there is no escape, right?
But then I got downstairs, and suddenly felt very vulnerable. There I was, in a large room, with some empty closets. A merchant was being held hostage. Shadowy figures flickered around in the room, so many it was hard to see but for the glistening of their daggers. Beside the merchant stood a thief so dark, so cunning that the only reason I knew he was there at all was the vaguely purple threat of something terribly cunning and evil.
Thinking quickly, I...dealt with...the merchant so he would not die (let those who have eyes read.) Then I zapped the boss rogue as quickly as I could. Oh crap, I thought, now they're all coming right at me...
Being a wizard, my next instinctive reaction was to set the entire room on fire, tossing in a fireball for good measure. I figure it wouldn't stop them, but it might slow them down so I could deal with this guy who was getting a bit too close, and then that one over there, wait a second...
As I watched, the shadow figures suddenly burst into flame. I know I didn't extend the range that far. I'm not that powerful. He isn't...no...couldn't be that dumb. Heck, he couldn't be that tough. But he...another step...what?
As I watched, an entire band of rogues, their fearless leader following behind, walked a path of self-immolation. Were they so focused on killing me that the pain of their incineration didn't register? Did they think they were wearing asbestos? Were they part of some strange cult that believed in self sacrifice via incineration to their god, represented by the next unfortunate soul to wander in the door?
And then, as the time-bubble collapsed, this merchant starts following them into the same literal inferno! WHAT???
So, I cast a phase door to try to move him, which failed.
But then the flames whooshed out just in time. I wandered among the ashes, picking up a stray dagger here and there, and showed the merchant a secret passage that the lord had somehow opened up in the midst of the incineration.
Now, I guess making the escorts dumber than a brick that failed the school for delinquent bricks makes the game a bit more *ahem* challenging, but surely we could make the AI at least clever enough not to walk into a blazing inferno from which there is no escape, right?