SIDEWINDER'S RETRO-ENGINEERING OF TIM'S GROUND COMBAT ALGORITHMS

THE FOLLOWING WAS PUT TOGETHER BY SIDEWINDER IN AUTUMN 2000 AFTER STUDYING SOME OF TIM'S CODE. SIDEWINDER WAS INTERESTED IN DIPLOMAT BEING ABLE TO SIMULATE GROUND ASSAULTS, SO HE PASSED THE INFO TO ME. THE CODE HAS MUTATED A BIT SINCE THEN BUT MY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS MIGHT HELP THERE.
- PAUL HONIGMANN

Note:
Email between Tim and I, 3.2.2001:

That's odd:

whilst looking at updating Diplomat to takeinto account the new 10,000
colonists required to kill a mech, I noticed:

there doesn't seem to be any phase where attacking troops, crew or
colonists attack defending base's mechs.

Maybe just an error inSidewinder's deconstruction of your algorithms,
which I followed?

Roughly where should this lie - between which phases of KKK?

  Sidewinder was correct the defending mechs can only be harmed by attacking
mechs or fighters.
However the base will fall all the same if all the base colonists / troops /
crew are overrun by the attackers, even if mechs remain alive.

  I will consider changing this and adding troop VS base_mech attack phases.

BTW - I take it it takes 10000 colonists to kill a lasercannon?

  Yes was 400 now it is 10000

 ==========

Base attack modes:
Roaming Defence: 1/4 troops go
Deep Ground Patrol: 1/2 troops, 1/2 each mech and fighter type go
Attack And Run: 90% of troops and all fighters and all mechs go
Kill Kill Kill!: 95% troops and crew, 90% colonists up to 100 000 000 and 
all mechs and fighters go

General casualty formula:
DefenderUnits - (AttackPower * HGF * RND)

Where
RND = random 0-1,
HGF = 1 - ((Defender High Guard count * Defender HG ground combat value) / 
1000)
If HGF < 0.5 then HGF = 0.5


Roaming Defence:

General personnel combat formula
AttackPower = PM * ((Attacking Personnel * Attacker "Ground Combat" Value / 
APM) + (Attacking Personnel * (Attacker "Dark Force" Value / DFM))

Personnel against mechs and fighters:
AttackPower = PM * (Attacking Personnel * Attacker "Ground Combat" Value / 
APM) * ((DM - Defending Mech/Fighter "Defence from Ground Troops" Value) / DM)

Mechs against personnel:
AttackPower = PM * (Attacking Mechs/Fighters * Attacker "Attack Ground 
Troops" Value) * ((DM - Defending Personnel "Ground Combat" Value) / DM)

1) Troops attack Troops
APM=100, DFM=100, PM=1

1A) Defending Troops counter attack (defenders are now attackers)
APM=150, DFM=50, PM=1

2) Troops attack Crew
APM=100, DFM=100, PM=2

2A) Defending Crew counter attack
APM=150, DFM=100, PM=2

3) Troops attack Colonists
APM=100, DFM=100, PM=8

3A) Defending Colonists counter attack
APM=100, DFM=100, PM=0.5

4) Troops attack Mechs
APM=10, DM=200, PM=.025

4A) Defending Mechs counter attack with 70% probability
DM=200, PM=0.2

4 and 4A are used three times for each defending mech type (1-3), each with 
attack and counter attack before the next type.

5) Troops attack Fighters
APM=20, DM=200, PM=.02

5A) Defending Fighters counter attack with 50% probability
DM=200, PM=.33

5 and 5A are used three times for each defending fighter type (1-3), each 
with attack and counter attack before the next type.


Deep Ground Patrol:

1) Troops attack Troops
APM=150, DFM=150, PM=1

1A) Defending Troops counter attack (defenders are now attackers)
APM=150, DFM=80, PM=1

2) Troops attack Crew
APM=150, DFM=150, PM=1.5

2A) Defending Crew counter attack
APM=150, DFM=100, PM=2

3) Troops attack Colonists
APM=100, DFM=100, PM=8

3A) Defending Colonists counter attack
APM=100, DFM=100, PM=0.5

Personnel against mechs and fighters:
AttackPower = PM * (Attacking Personnel * Attacker "Ground Combat" Value / 
APM) * ((DM - Defending Mech/Fighter "Defence from Ground Troops" Value) / DM)

Mechs against personnel:
AttackPower = PM * (Attacking Mechs/Fighters * Attacker "Attack Ground 
Troops" Value) * ((DM - Defending Personnel "Ground Combat" Value) / DM)

4) Troops attack Mechs
APM=10, DM=200, PM=.025

4A) Defending Mechs counter attack with 70% probability
DM=200, PM=0.2

4 and 4A are used three times for each defending mech type (1-3), each with 
attack and counter attack before the next type.

5) Troops attack Fighters
APM=20, DM=200, PM=.02

5A) Defending Fighters counter attack with 50% probability
DM=200, PM=.33

5 and 5A are used three times for each defending fighter type (1-3), each 
with attack and counter attack before the next type.


Attack And Run & Kill Kill Kill!:

1) Defending AA Guns fire against attacking Fighters
DM = (120 - Attacking fighter "Defense From Ground Units")  / 100
if DM < 0.1 then DM = 0.1
AttackPower = AA Guns * DM
[NOTE: THERE IS A BUG IN THIS PART, ACTUALLY FIGHTERS MAY SUFFER ONLY 1 LOSS]

1A) Attacking Fighters attack AA Guns
AM = Attacking fighter "Attack Cities"  / 100
if AM < 0.1 then AM = 0.1
AttackPower = Fighters * AM
AA Gun Losses = AttackPower * RND

1 and 1A are used three times for each defending fighter type (1-3), each 
with counter attack and attack before the next type.

Fighter to Fighter formula:
AttackPower = Attacking Fighters * AM
AM = (Attacking Fighter "Attack Air" value /
100) * (DM - (Defending Fighter "Defence From Air Attack" value) / DM)
AM < 0.1 then AM = 0.1

2) Attacking Fighters attack Defending Fighters
DM=200

2A) Defending Fighters counter attack Attacking Fighters
DM=250

2 and 2A are used three times for each attacking fighter type against each 
defending three fighter type (1 vs 1,2,3, 2 vs 1,2,3 and 3 vs 1,2,3). All 
types attack before counter attack.

Mechs and Fighters formula:
AttackPower = Attackers * AM
AM = (Attacker "Attack Against Defender" value /
100) * (DM - (Defenderr "Defence From Attacker" value) / DM)
AM < 0.1 then AM = 0.1

3) Defending Mechs counter attack Attacking Fighters
DM=200

3A) Attacking Fighters attack Defending Mechs
DM=150

3 and 3A are used three times for each attacking fighter type against each 
defending three fighter type (1 vs 1,2,3, 2 vs 1,2,3 and 3 vs 1,2,3). All 
types attack before counter attack.

4) Attacking Mechs attack defending Laser Cannons
Laser Cannon Losses = Mechs * Mechs "Attack City / 100

4A) Defending Laser Cannons counter attack Attacking Mechs
AttackPower = Laser Cannons

4 and 4A are used three times, once for each mech type (1-3).

Mechs and Mechs formula:
AttackPower = Attackers * AM
AM = (Attacker "Attack Against Defender" value /
100) * (DM - (Defenderr "Defence From Attacker" value) / DM)
AttackPower < 0.1 AttackPower = 0.1
[This last one makes no sense, should probably be for AM, not AttackPower]

5) Attacking Mechs attack Defending Mechs
DM=200

5A) Defending Mechs counter attack Attacking Mechs
DM=200

5 and 5A are used three times for each attacking mech type against each 
defending three mech type (1 vs 1,2,3, 2 vs 1,2,3 and 3 vs 1,2,3). All 
types attack before counter attack.

Mechs to Personnel:
AttackPower = PM * Mechs * Mechs "Attack Ground Troops"

6) Attacking Mechs attack Defending Troops
PM=1

7) Attacking Mechs attack Defending Crew
PM=1.5

8) Attacking Mechs attack Defending Colonists
PM=1.6

6, 7 and 8 are used three times, once for each mech type (1-3).

Personnel to Mechs:
AttackPower= Personnel / AM * (200 - Mech "Defence From Ground Troops") / 200

9) Defending Troops counter attack Attacking Mechs
AM=100

10) Defending Crew counter attack Attacking Mechs
AM=200

11) Defending Colonists counter attack Attacking Mechs
AM=500

9, 10 and 11 are used three times, once for each mech type (1-3).

Mechs to personnel:
AttackPower=Mechs * Mech "Attack Ground Troops"

12) Defending Mechs counter attack Attacking Troops

13) Defending Mechs counter attack Attacking Crew

14) Defending Mechs counter attack Attacking Colonists

12, 13 and 14 are used three times, once for each mech type (1-3).

15) Defending Laser Cannons counter attack Attacking Troops
AttackPower = Laser Cannons

16) Attacking Troops attack Defending Laser Cannons
Laser Cannon Losses = Troops * Troops "Ground Combat" / 400 * RND

17) Defending Laser Cannons counter attack Attacking Crew
AttackPower = Laser Cannons

18) Defending Laser Cannons counter attack Attacking Colonists
AttackPower = Laser Cannons

19) Attacking Crew attack Defending Laser Cannons
Laser Cannon Losses = Crew * Crew "Ground Combat" / 400 * RND

Personnel to AA Guns
AA Gun Losses = Personnel * Personnel "Ground Combat" / 100 * RND
[NOTE: due to a bug none of these three combat takes place if there aren't 
any laser cannons in the defending base]

20) Attacking Troops attack Defending AA Guns

21) Attacking Crew attack Defending AA Guns

22) Attacking Colonists attack Defending AA Guns

Fighters to Personnel
AttackPower = Fighters * Fighters "Attack Ground Troops"

23) Attacking Fighters attack Defending Troops

24) Attacking Fighters attack Defending Crew

25) Attacking Fighters attack Defending Colonists

23, 24 and 25 are used three times, once for each fighter type (1-3).

Personnel to Fighters
AttackPower = Personnel * Personnel "Ground Combat" / 20 * ((150 - Fighters 
"Defence From Ground Troops") / 150)

26) Defending Troops counter attack Attacking Fighters

27) Defending Crew counter attack Attacking Fighters

28) Defending Colonists counter attack Attacking Fighters

Using general personnel combat formula and values
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=100:

29) Defending Troops counter attack Attacking Troops

30) Attacking Troops attack Defending Troops

31) Defending Troops counter attack Attacking Crew

32) Defending Troops counter attack Attacking Colonists

33) Attacking Crews attack Defending Troops

34) Attacking Colonists attack Defending Troops
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=200

35) Defending Crew counter attack Attacking Crew
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=100

36) Attacking Crews attack Defending Crew
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=200

37) Defending Colonists counter attack Attacking Crew
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=100

38) Defending Colonists counter attack Attacking Colonists
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=100

39) Attacking Colonists attack Defending Crew
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=100

40) Attacking Crew attack Defending Colonists
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=100

41) Attacking Colonists attack Defending Colonists
PM=1, APM=100, DFM=100

42) Remaining Attackers return home (mode 3)

43) Surrender (overrun) resolution, mode 4 only
ForcePower=Colonists * Colonist "Ground Combat" + Crew * Crew GC + Troops * 
Troop GC + HG * HG GC
If Participant A ForcePower > Participant B ForcePower * 3 then defending 
base surrenders.
Note that both the attacking and the defending base are checked against 
surrender.

44) Overrun base personnel is taken prisoners

45) In case there was NOT 3 times superiority by either side, bloodbath 
commences
If there is less defender ForcePower, all defenders are killed and attacker 
losses are 1 - (Defender ForcePower / Attacker ForcePower) * each personnel 
type.
If defenders are stronger, all attackers are killed and defender losses are 
complemented:
1 - (Attacker ForcePower / Defender ForcePower)

46) Defeated bases are looted
This is a sub not included in the source (named LootBase)

47) Own race prisoners in the captured base are released

48) Remaining Attackers return home (mode 4)

50) Maintenance tasks (several loops)
[The problem with the losses reports is most probably in CasualtyReport sub.]
All surviving HG run away from destroyed bases (all manage to escape, but 
what happens to them after that is in another sub somewhere). Also some 
stuff from the destroyed base is transfered to the planet (not listed 
EmptyBase sub).

Notes:
- Attacking an enemy base with Kill*3 and resulting in three times less 
power remaining at the end leads to the capture of the attacking base!
- High Guard can drop most losses (HG of both sides for their own side 
losses) by 50% at most
- In most combats fighters suffer the highest losses (prosentual), then 
mechs and then personnel
- Most losses are from 0-max, max defined by the formula and the actual 
loss by chance
- Formulae vary a lot from step to next, somewhere there is more random and 
static factors, somewhere less
- Laser Cannons are not worth a shit (IMHO)
- Dark Force value playes a big part in personnel combat

------------------------
Sorry for taking this long. I still haven't got time to do proper analysis 
of how this could be improved or what exactly are the strenghts of 
expensive fighters and mechs opposed to cheap troops. I will return to that 
later, hopefully (for example it should be counted how many more fights 
there are with mechs & fighters against others vs. how many with personnel 
against others and how losses go at 100 general mods [such as combat 
modifiers and dark force etc.] and 0.5 odds).

I also included the entire source message from Tim (attached text file). I 
didn't get any instructions about dissemination, but I advice against 
spreading this to public access (such as the mailing list or a web site) 
without asking Tim first (besides there will be changes to the spots I 
mentioned there between []).

Note that there are probably many other bugs that I didn't find in the 
first pass.

- Sidewinder