Returning to Angband after many years: birth_ai_learn?

[jhurshman]

Hi folks, I'm getting back into Angband after many years, and this is my first time with version 4+.

I just sorted of launched in and got my character to level 26, but now I'm reading the manual more carefully and birth_ai_learn=yes has me concerned.

The manual says that this option being on "makes the game very difficult and is not recommended." However, it's definitely on by default. What gives? Is the manual incorrect on this, or does the game default to a "not recommended" configuration?

[Sphara]

I don't think 'monsters learn from mistakes' on, makes the game that much harder. Certainly not to the extent the manual describes. Monsters do not become optimal Sun-Tzu killing machines. What you're gonna get, is some situations where an illusionist starts using blindness spell after trying to paralyze you couple of times, when you have free action on.

[Estie]

More like, at a certain depth you will be spammed with blindness.

While this is better than useless paralyze if you look at it from the monster's tactical side, it makes for a bland "quaff clw" orgy.

The original thing that used to make smart learn option a nightmare was monsters chain healing themselves. Has this been modified ?

[Ingwe Ingweron]

More like, at a certain depth you will be spammed with blindness.

While this is better than useless paralyze if you look at it from the monster's tactical side, it makes for a bland "quaff clw" orgy.

The original thing that used to make smart learn option a nightmare was monsters chain healing themselves. Has this been modified ?

I believe the consensus is that its problems have been fixed, including the chain healing problem. So much so that ai learn has become the standard for comps.

[Nick]

The original thing that used to make smart learn option a nightmare was monsters chain healing themselves. Has this been modified ?

Yes it has. Smart monsters are more likely to heal when badly hurt, but that's regardless of the ai_learn option.

What ai_learn actually does now is let non-stupid monsters have a chance to learn about the player from experience (mostly if the player has resists or protections), and then avoid spells that have little effect. Even once they've learned, they only take advantage of the knowledge if they have a relevant spell, and then no more than half the time.

[Estie]

So, to answer OP's question: the manual on this is outdated; smart_learn is not the same it used to be and the new version is now recommended.

[jhurshman]

Thanks for the info!

[EpicMan]

Sounds like smart_learn is a good candidate for removal (i.e. removing the option, leaving it always on).

[Nick]

Sounds like smart_learn is a good candidate for removal (i.e. removing the option, leaving it always on).

Good point.