Waylander - Robo Wiki -= Collecting Robocode Knowledge =-

Author

Extends

Description

The gun for Waylander was a result of seeing how simple it would be to add pattern matching to the CodeSnippets/Nano Circular Linear Predictor, simply by replacing the values of ww and speed every iteration. I built it in my first week of Robocoding, so it's my toy. After this I tested it in the PatternMatcherChallenge to get all the bugs out, and by the end it was getting 99%. While still fitting in a micro. I knew RaikoNano had a strong, small movement, so I copy-pasted the code in, and Waylander 0.1 was born. Since then I've added StopAndGo, made the pattern-matcher less picky about patterns, and substituted my own flattener for RaikoNano's. I've also added some anti-rambot code, and a bit of smooth distanceing (my own formula).

What's special about it?

It's my first attempt at a competitive bot, and it ranks pretty high in the MicroRumble?.

Great, I want to try it. Where can I download it?

[1]

How competitive is it?

1st in MicroRumble? , 1985 points as of 2007-09-08

How does it move?

StopAndGo, which switches to RandomMovement if it loses in the first 5 rounds. Creds go to Thorn for the StopAndGo idea.

How does it fire?

See the description. Basically, a variable keylength PatternMatcher, matching on AngularVelocity and Velocity

How does it dodge bullets?

It does StopAndGo to fool HOT, LT and CT. If it loses in the first 3 rounds it switches to RandomMovement, in an attempt to fool all the GF bots and pattern matchers out there.

How does the melee strategy differ from one-on-one strategy?

This is a purely 1v1 bot.

What does it save between rounds and matches?

Between rounds it saves the patterns, whether to use StopAndGo, and whether it thinks the enemy is a RamBot, between matches nothing. Due to both codesize and filesize restaints.

Where did you get the name?

According to David Gemmel, Waylander was an assassin with a small double-barreled crossbow. He renounced his ways and went on to lead an army and defeat invading creatures from another realm.

Can I use your code?

Under the following terms:

You ask me first (if I don't reply within 2 weeks, go ahead and use it). This is just common decency =).
Your bot MUST be OpenSource.
You give credit in your code, and in any documentation of your bot.
Pleeaase don't just take my bot, tweak it and release it under another name. Rather tell me about the changes, and I'll give you credit. =)

What's next for your robot?

um...I have spare codesize and need ideas!

Does it have any WhiteWhales?

RaikoMicro Aristocles Smoke, sometimes Spark

What other robot(s) is it based on?

RaikoNano (not that much any more), CodeSnippets/Nano Circular Linear Predictor

Comments, questions, feedback:

Good job! Rank 1 and still no country Flag, you are definitely too fast! --Krabb

Thanks! It seems Pulsar doesn't check the Roborumble/CountryFlags? page anymore, does anybody have his contact details? -- Skilgannon

I've got lots of free codesize. Who thinks I can squeeze another 10 points out, and join the The2000Club/Micro? :-) -- Skilgannon

Are you sure you want to join that club? It is a very lonely club ;-) Looking at the way you rocketed up to nr 1 (and ~~beat~~ pulverized me for outranking RaikoMicro), I think you are able to find those points. Alas I have no idea what the weak/to be improved parts of Waylander are, but you are smart enough to think of some yourself. Congrats for being nr 1 and good luck in your hunt. -- GrubbmGait

You do seem to have some difficulties with Stelokim's bots though. -- GrubbmGait
- I know that I can improve my score against MirrorMicro by decreasing my favourite distance, but that weakens me against almost everyone else. Also, that loss against WeekendObsession doesn't look good - I'm guessing that my flattener didn't enable in one of the matches. But what makes me lose against him is one of the things that really raised my score against everyone else, so I'll have to think of something else. Ah well. Here's a comparison between 0.3.2 and 0.1.9, my first version to get above 1960. [2]. I didn't think (then) that I would be able to increase my score at all, but it just goes to show. =) -- Skilgannon