08-29-2005, 04:09 PM
If the goal is randomness to cause dynamic gameplay then monster AI is not the only factor.
Higher level monsters have different consequences for killing them, damaging them, or even not killing them fast enough. One monster releases a point blank AoE poison cloud upon death that deals 350dps and persists for around 30 seconds. Another monster reflects magic spells and effects. Killing certain monsters will cause them to split into more monsters upon death and others will deal heavy explosion damage when killed. Monster effects like these require players to handle different encounters differently and yet are independent of AI depth.
As far as AI goes, as was mentioned earlier, monsters do become more complex (especially raid encounters). The (random) secondary target system and other variables can make different fights unpredictable. A couple monsters have abilities that either reduce or clear hate levels from players. Although the monsters may still attack whoever has the most hate on its list, staying at the top without casualties may be extremely difficult.
If anything, perhaps Blizzard should have made the lower/mid-level range monsters do more things.
Higher level monsters have different consequences for killing them, damaging them, or even not killing them fast enough. One monster releases a point blank AoE poison cloud upon death that deals 350dps and persists for around 30 seconds. Another monster reflects magic spells and effects. Killing certain monsters will cause them to split into more monsters upon death and others will deal heavy explosion damage when killed. Monster effects like these require players to handle different encounters differently and yet are independent of AI depth.
As far as AI goes, as was mentioned earlier, monsters do become more complex (especially raid encounters). The (random) secondary target system and other variables can make different fights unpredictable. A couple monsters have abilities that either reduce or clear hate levels from players. Although the monsters may still attack whoever has the most hate on its list, staying at the top without casualties may be extremely difficult.
If anything, perhaps Blizzard should have made the lower/mid-level range monsters do more things.