r/BattleTechMods • u/pstryder • 7d ago
Alpha testers wanted: BattleTech mod that lets an AI (Claude, ChatGPT, Local LLMs) play the game, fight you as the OpFor, and more. Windows and macOS
/r/Battletechgame/comments/1wzez3y/alpha_testers_wanted_battletech_mod_that_lets_an/2
u/bigangry 7d ago edited 7d ago
So... as far as I can see, it plays everything but the fighting part of the game for you? EDIT: No, it does that too, issuing commands to allies, to an extent, apparently?
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u/StandByReadySetUp 6d ago
From the sounds of it, playing the game for you is a capability it has, not that it is its purpose, and that you can pick and choose what it does and does not do. So you could have it only play as the enemies, which could be an interesting mixup from always fighting the game's built-in logic.
Personally, if I were to use the "play for you" function, I'd use it like a 2nd lance dropping on separate contracts from you. Like, on worlds with multiple contracts, you personally play a contract, and then you roleplay the other contracts like they're happening simultaneously under other commanders' control. Gives the feeling of running a larger merc company and you have to deal with any consequences if your other commanders fuck up. It's something I'd love to be able to do with friends, actually, but no one else I know plays this game.
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u/pstryder 7d ago
It can control combat too. You decide what role the agent gets. It can run your lance, run the OpFor so you can fight against it, or handle campaign actions between missions. The bridge exposes the game’s native state and legal actions, so the AI is making actual BattleTech decisions rather than clicking pixels or inventing commands.
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u/bigangry 7d ago
I guess my main question is, "Why would someone want something to play the game for them?"
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u/pstryder 7d ago
Well, I started with "Can I hook an AI into the game to play the OpFor" - and just kinda kept going. I got to where I wanted the AI to be able to play the entire game, just to see how far I could push it - it's not doing screen grabs and mouse clicks - the AI is able to send commands - what this means is the AI can act as a co-player, or as the opposition force, or you can launch the game and tell the AI to play through a full campaign.
Part of it was just an experiment - can I teach AI to play Battletech? - turns out the answer was yes.
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u/bigangry 7d ago
Again, though, why would someone want a mod that plays the game for them? The point of games is to play them yourself, yeah? This feels like an instance of:
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should..."
It feels like it's something that doesn't need to be released. I mean, if you're happy with it, awesome. But a mod for the computer to play the game in place of you? Why?
3
u/bloodydoves 6d ago
Believe it or not, but I've been asked to make precisely that mod a few times over BTA's history. I've never done it because I don't get the appeal but it does appeal to some people.
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u/bigangry 6d ago
Just goes to show, I guess! (And thank you for all the work you've done in the HBSBT community, bloodydoves! I've mostly been playing BEX/BEXT, but BTAU is next on my channel's playthrough itinerary, and it'll be a first-time run! SO looking forward to it!)
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u/bloodydoves 6d ago
No worries, I'm glad people play with my silliness. BEX is good stuff though, hope it's been fun for you! Do be sure to come to the BTA discord and let us know what you think of the mod when/if you get into it, BTA can be a little overwhelming to experience for the first time and there is a lot going on with it so you may want to get some advice early on.
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u/bigangry 6d ago
I plan on it, I've watched a few friends play BTA on-stream and it looks like a whole new game, so there'll be a big knowledge jump between eps 1 and 2, I'm sure, when I hit up the BTA discord for advice, tips, and tricks.
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u/bloodydoves 5d ago
Sounds good chief. Let me know when you're there so I can give you access to the Streams channel so you can post your videos. :)
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u/pstryder 7d ago
> "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should..."
That is pretty much exactly what happened, LOL
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u/OkBet2532 7d ago
Gross