Bot Routing Tutorial

Bot Routing for Jedi Academy and Jedi Outcast

Simply put, a bot route is a circuit of connecting waypoints that instructs bots on how to navigate a map. Bot's navigate the circuit by moving from waypoint to waypoint in numerical order. The three main things to consider about how bot's navigate are:

1. When they reach the end of the waypoints they reverse their direction and back track.

2. They will take waypoints out of numerical order whenever there is another bot nearby, they see a pickup item they want, or whenever they have to react to anything along the waypoints they are navigating. If a bot is at waypoint 10 and sees a health pack it needs near waypoint 25, it will ignore waypoints 11 through 24 and go directly to waypoint 25 to get it.

3. Waypoints can also be assigned "flags" to dictate certain conditions. More on flags later.

Routing is done from the console (to open the console use the shift + ` keys). However, to route a map, you have to be in bot route edit mode. There are two ways to get into bot route edit mode:

1. Load your map normally from the menu. This first step is especially important if you are routing a CTF map so the flags will show up after devmaping in the next step. Once the game loads normally from the menu, open the console and type in /devmap mapname and press enter. When the map reloads open the console again and type in /bot_wp_edit 1 and press enter, then type in /devmap mapname again and press enter. When the map reloads you will be in bot route edit mode. Go to the spot you want to start routing and open the console and type in bot_wp_add and hit enter. You will now see zero's floating upward and you can start routing.

2. I use a shortcut that loads my map with editing mode enabled. You can use this method as well by simply making a shortcut to the jk2mp.exe or jamp.exe file located in the Gamedata directory and adding +devmap mapname +set bot_wp_edit 1 on to the end of the 'target' box for the shortcut properties. You can download the shortcut I use for routing JO maps here.and JA maps here. To use either of them, change the map name from outlander to the name of your map, and the path to your jk2mp.exe or jamp.exe if your path is different than the default install directory.

Now the game is in bot waypoint edit mode. The commands used most often are these:

bot_wp_add : Adds a new waypoint.
bot_wp_rem : Removes a waypoint.
bot_wp_addflagged : Adds a waypoint with specific instructions.
bot_wp_switchflags : Changes the flags on a waypoint.

Here are the most useful flag commands:

j : Bots will jump on their way to this waypoint.
d : Bots will crouch on their way to this waypoint.
c : Bots that camp will use this waypoint as a camping spot.
x : Bots that camp will use this as a camping spot and crouch in the camping spot.
f : Bots will wait for a func brush (a lift or elevator) to be under this waypoint before they move onto it.

To save yourself a lot of typing, bind keys for the commands that will be used a lot. For example:

bind 1 bot_wp_add: Add waypoint
bind 2 bot_wp_addflagged j: Add jumping waypoint
bind 3 bot_wp_addflagged d: Add crouching waypoint
bind 4 bot_wp_addflagged c: Add camping waypoint

You can bind whatever keys you like. The ones above were just for example. On maps with a lot of lifts, adding a bind key for the "f" flag and on maps with lots of pick up items in high places adding a bind key for the "j" flag will speed things up. Just make sure to reset your keys after you finish routing.

At this point, you can start putting down the actual bot route. Using the normal keys you use to play and bound keys for adding waypoints, navigate the map and add waypoints. Go everywhere you want the Bots to go adding waypoints along your path using the key you bound for bot_wp_add. You will see the number 0 floating when you place the first waypoint and its coordinates in the upper left of your screen. Move along a short distance and add another bot_wp_add. You will see the number 1 floating this time, then 2, then 3 etc. Navigate the entire map adding waypoints as you navigate. Also, remember:

Bots will follow the route in sequential numerical order.
When they get to the the last waypoint, they will backtrack.
Put waypoints near all power ups and spawn points.
Put the last waypoint near the first one to ensure a "loop".
At corners and doors place more waypoints.

If you make a mistake placing a waypoint, use bot_wp_rem. This removes the last waypoint added. If you add a waypoint with the wrong flag, use bot_wp_switchflags. Multiple flags on the addflagged and switchflags commands can also be used. For example, bot_wp_addflagged j f will tag a waypoint telling the bot to jump up to it, but only if there is a func brush underneath it.

If you have certain areas of a map that bots have trouble in, you can always leave those areas out of the route entirely. Once you end up back near the first waypoint you added, use bot_wp_save. This saves the .wnt file which is the Bot route file for the map. It will be saved automatically in the GameData/base/botroutes/ directory. To edit this same Bot route file again to improve it or change something, just load the map up in bot waypoint edit mode again. The map will start this time with all the waypoints you added before now visible by floating numbers. When you are finished routing a map add the .wnt to the maps .pk3 file.

Test the route by watching the bots from spectator mode cycling through them all using the left mouse button. Once the route is finished, join in have some fun enjoying your work and efforts!

If you have any routing problems you can't figure out or if you have questions Email Darth T-Bone.

This fan site established 10 April 2002. Nothing on this site is made, distributed, or supported by LEC or any of its licensors. By using any information/files from this site you agree to assume the risk associated with altering or changing the original game files.