By all accounts, Albert is much better than KissMyBot, and even that was best in the last tournament that I ran. I look forward to testing Albert formally, along with other bots that I am yet to test.
It is all done graphically. Look at the tab called help, and then select How to enter movement orders. The keyboard is not used, and once you get the hang of it, it is much easier.
For a support order, first issue the move order for example, and then issue the support order by left clicking on the unit you want to provide the support, and right click on the unit you want to support.
First of all, thank you very much. It wouldn't have occurred to me that a diplomacy bot is possible to be a serious challenge :)
I'm not sure how useful feedback from one game is, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. As England, I got up to 12 SCs when the bot opponents started working together specifically to stop me. What was interesting was that, once they did stop fighting, the position was completely blocked for a couple of years. I then made a tactical mistake, which lost 2 SCs. As the whole board had stopped fighting each other, I removed my 2 furthest advanced fleets (somewhere around Austria and Turkey) to see what would happen. Instantly, the computer opponents seemed to forgot all previous alliances and had a free-for-all on each other. Which they failed to stop when I started picking up centres again, and they only tried to work together again once I reached 16, and I don't think it was possible to stop from there (in the position I had).
So, what I got from that was that it was a serious challenge, very fun, thank you. If I could suggest an improvement, it appeared to me that once I was no longer viewed as a winning threat, the bot opponents forgot their previous alliances and began again. If this is what happened, then getting the bots to remember what they were doing they did the "stop the leader alliance" would be beneficial, I think.
It could of course have been a one-off game, in which case feel free to ignore it. I wouldn't have the faintest clue how to program a bot, so it's certainly not a criticism :)
Thanks for the Comments. There are a lot of conditions in forming alliances to stop the leader, and a lot depends if any of them thought they could go alone. The bots can't communicate with each other, so sometimes you see similar breakdowns as with humans in a no press. The will generally not switch to a free for all, but will try to pick a single enemy. But if they all happen to daisy chain by picking each other than it turns into a free for all.
In a nutshell it obviously isn't perfect, or even close, but occasionally they will get it right. Hopefully it will give you some more good games. I get little fan fare, but I know it gives me a good game quite regularly.
Question when a bot asks you to support them to attack another country in your vicinity (i.e. I propose Germany Army Munich s Russia Army Galicia -> Bohemia), what do you click? I'm having trouble helping bots attack others because I don't know whether to right-click the attacking bot (Munich) or the defending bot (Bohemia) or whether you're even right-clicking at all.
To Reply to a message, just double click the text message to send a reply. Then to actually enter the support order, first order Russias army Galacia to Bohemia by left clicking Galacia and then Bohemia. Then left click Munich and then 'right' click Galacia. It is exactly the same as supporting one of your own moves, except you just have to setup the other powers attack. Hopefully that helps.
To Reply to a message, just double click the text message to send a reply. Then to actually enter the support order, first order Russias army Galacia to Bohemia by left clicking Galacia and then Bohemia. Then left click Munich and then 'right' click Galacia. It is exactly the same as supporting one of your own moves, except you just have to setup the other powers attack. Hopefully that helps.
Thanks Jason for making this great software available. Not experienced with online gaming, and have only played Dip ftf, but moved to remote north-west some years ago, and thought I'd see if there was anything like this, and stumbled on your site. My routine would never allow me to play an organised game against other players, so finding an AI to play against is great fun. I'm still clicking my way around the interface trying to work out how to use it (couldn't find detailed instructions), but still having a ball. Even won a couple of games! Thanks for giving me a great way to start holidays and get my mind away from work. Cheers, Rich
I am glad you like it. I only did the AI, but when using the mapper program look at the lower section and there are several tabs. There is a HELP tab. Under this tab there is a drop down box with all the basic information for entering orders and retreats and the like.
I love playing against Albert and have been doing so for years, but I'm sad to see that he's been silent for a long time. Is there any intent to continue updating this project in the foreseeable future?
To be honest, there is no active work on the project. I will never say never, but no activity now or planned. Maybe if one of the other DAIDE AIs began to challenge Albert, it would encourage me.
Is there any chance that you would be willing to supply me with your contact information? I have been very interested in this project for a long time and would love to make a go at it myself. It would be great to discuss some of the finer details with someone who has already done it. Should you care to reach out, my email address is BrianLovelace128@gmail.com.
I am fascinated by the idea of a neural net/deep learning Diplomacy AI that has access to previous Diplomacy games/communications between players. Can an AI learn how to lie and backstab? Yes, but how well;)
I'm also curious if communication is even needed to win diplomacy on a regular basis. I'd like to think so, but never looked into it
Albert colludes far too often with the other Alberts that are left in the game, often resulting in a really long draw-situation. Perhaps you have coded the first truly prescient AI that can recognize itself based on play style.
I can assure you that Albert does not actually collude in any direct way. But yes there is certain end game anxiety that will kick in if a player is getting close to winning. Depending on the countries position, this anxiety will kick in at slightly different times. Because you are playing against several Alberts, they do share logical thinking, so they will try to join forces and stop you. This looks like collusion. I think in games with humans there would be more emotion and bitterness to the very end. Albert at some point will put all previous backstabs aside and try to stop the solo. Albert will equally try to stop another Albert and join forces with you if an Albert is getting close to solo.
It will view what is a transgression and what is not, more easily amongst multiple Alberts. Looks like collusion, but really it could be viewed as the Alberts all sharing the same player etiquette. They can start cooperating at times more quickly because they interpret the board in a similar manner from a strategic point of view.
From a tactics point of view each albert has its own goal set, but when 1 Albert thinks it understands anothers goals, like at the end of the game. It often comes to similar conclusions as to the best move sets because each Albert is playing out all powers in its head, and trying to understand what he would do as another power if it was playing that power. Which is really what a human does as well. Anyways, it was my best attempt at an AI that could put together a meaningful game.
This project is pretty cool! This looks like a massive and successful undertaking on your part. I'm looking into researching AI for Diplomacy. Have you published a technical report on Albert's functionality?
Hi Jason. I played diplomacy many years ago, and have just gotten into it again on backstabbr.com. Such a fun game. Just wanted to reach out and see if you'd be interested in discussing putting Albert in a mobile app. I'm a pretty good web and mobile app developer, and I'm not seeing any ai diplomacy games in the Android app store. I'd be interested in discussing me doing the work of porting the code under a non-disclosure agreement and sharing the revenue. Check me out at http://pettys.consulting if intrigued at all by this. Or reply to this thread; I have notifications turned on.
Hello, Jason. Do you have a copy of David Norman's old MapMaker app? I can't find it anywhere on the web for download. All the links are dead! I like to test Diplomacy variants using Albert 6.0 bots and MapMaker will make the task easier. Thanks for your great work!
By all accounts, Albert is much better than KissMyBot, and even that was best in the last tournament that I ran. I look forward to testing Albert formally, along with other bots that I am yet to test.
ReplyDeleteI cannot enter orders other than move orders e.g. cannot enter support or transfer using the keyboard?
ReplyDeleteIt is all done graphically. Look at the tab called help, and then select How to enter movement orders.
ReplyDeleteThe keyboard is not used, and once you get the hang of it, it is much easier.
For a support order, first issue the move order for example, and then issue the support order by left clicking on the unit you want to provide the support, and right click on the unit you want to support.
How do I turn on press? It's disabled evan after the game begins, and I can't find a button to turn it on. I did download the quickstart
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you very much. It wouldn't have occurred to me that a diplomacy bot is possible to be a serious challenge :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how useful feedback from one game is, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. As England, I got up to 12 SCs when the bot opponents started working together specifically to stop me. What was interesting was that, once they did stop fighting, the position was completely blocked for a couple of years. I then made a tactical mistake, which lost 2 SCs. As the whole board had stopped fighting each other, I removed my 2 furthest advanced fleets (somewhere around Austria and Turkey) to see what would happen. Instantly, the computer opponents seemed to forgot all previous alliances and had a free-for-all on each other. Which they failed to stop when I started picking up centres again, and they only tried to work together again once I reached 16, and I don't think it was possible to stop from there (in the position I had).
So, what I got from that was that it was a serious challenge, very fun, thank you. If I could suggest an improvement, it appeared to me that once I was no longer viewed as a winning threat, the bot opponents forgot their previous alliances and began again. If this is what happened, then getting the bots to remember what they were doing they did the "stop the leader alliance" would be beneficial, I think.
It could of course have been a one-off game, in which case feel free to ignore it. I wouldn't have the faintest clue how to program a bot, so it's certainly not a criticism :)
Thanks for the Comments. There are a lot of conditions in forming alliances to stop the leader, and a lot depends if any of them thought they could go alone. The bots can't communicate with each other, so sometimes you see similar breakdowns as with humans in a no press. The will generally not switch to a free for all, but will try to pick a single enemy. But if they all happen to daisy chain by picking each other than it turns into a free for all.
ReplyDeleteIn a nutshell it obviously isn't perfect, or even close, but occasionally they will get it right. Hopefully it will give you some more good games. I get little fan fare, but I know it gives me a good game quite regularly.
Question when a bot asks you to support them to attack another country in your vicinity (i.e. I propose Germany Army Munich s Russia Army Galicia -> Bohemia), what do you click? I'm having trouble helping bots attack others because I don't know whether to right-click the attacking bot (Munich) or the defending bot (Bohemia) or whether you're even right-clicking at all.
ReplyDeleteTo Reply to a message, just double click the text message to send a reply. Then to actually enter the support order, first order Russias army Galacia to Bohemia by left clicking Galacia and then Bohemia. Then left click Munich and then 'right' click Galacia. It is exactly the same as supporting one of your own moves, except you just have to setup the other powers attack. Hopefully that helps.
ReplyDeleteTo Reply to a message, just double click the text message to send a reply. Then to actually enter the support order, first order Russias army Galacia to Bohemia by left clicking Galacia and then Bohemia. Then left click Munich and then 'right' click Galacia. It is exactly the same as supporting one of your own moves, except you just have to setup the other powers attack. Hopefully that helps.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jason for making this great software available. Not experienced with online gaming, and have only played Dip ftf, but moved to remote north-west some years ago, and thought I'd see if there was anything like this, and stumbled on your site. My routine would never allow me to play an organised game against other players, so finding an AI to play against is great fun. I'm still clicking my way around the interface trying to work out how to use it (couldn't find detailed instructions), but still having a ball. Even won a couple of games! Thanks for giving me a great way to start holidays and get my mind away from work. Cheers, Rich
ReplyDeleteI am glad you like it. I only did the AI, but when using the mapper program look at the lower section and there are several tabs. There is a HELP tab.
ReplyDeleteUnder this tab there is a drop down box with all the basic information for entering orders and retreats and the like.
Is it possible to save a game that is in progress?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing. Hard for me to finish a game in one session
DeleteI love playing against Albert and have been doing so for years, but I'm sad to see that he's been silent for a long time. Is there any intent to continue updating this project in the foreseeable future?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, there is no active work on the project. I will never say never, but no activity now or planned. Maybe if one of the other DAIDE AIs began to challenge Albert, it would encourage me.
ReplyDeleteIs there any chance that you would be willing to supply me with your contact information? I have been very interested in this project for a long time and would love to make a go at it myself. It would be great to discuss some of the finer details with someone who has already done it. Should you care to reach out, my email address is BrianLovelace128@gmail.com.
Deleteunable to find log of game on my pc. How do I find the log file of the most recent game? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by the idea of a neural net/deep learning Diplomacy AI that has access to previous Diplomacy games/communications between players. Can an AI learn how to lie and backstab? Yes, but how well;)
ReplyDeleteI'm also curious if communication is even needed to win diplomacy on a regular basis. I'd like to think so, but never looked into it
Albert colludes far too often with the other Alberts that are left in the game, often resulting in a really long draw-situation. Perhaps you have coded the first truly prescient AI that can recognize itself based on play style.
ReplyDeleteI can assure you that Albert does not actually collude in any direct way. But yes there is certain end game anxiety that will kick in if a player is getting close to winning. Depending on the countries position, this anxiety will kick in at slightly different times. Because you are playing against several Alberts, they do share logical thinking, so they will try to join forces and stop you. This looks like collusion. I think in games with humans there would be more emotion and bitterness to the very end. Albert at some point will put all previous backstabs aside and try to stop the solo. Albert will equally try to stop another Albert and join forces with you if an Albert is getting close to solo.
ReplyDeleteIt will view what is a transgression and what is not, more easily amongst multiple Alberts. Looks like collusion, but really it could be viewed as the Alberts all sharing the same player etiquette. They can start cooperating at times more quickly because they interpret the board in a similar manner from a strategic point of view.
From a tactics point of view each albert has its own goal set, but when 1 Albert thinks it understands anothers goals, like at the end of the game. It often comes to similar conclusions as to the best move sets because each Albert is playing out all powers in its head, and trying to understand what he would do as another power if it was playing that power. Which is really what a human does as well. Anyways, it was my best attempt at an AI that could put together a meaningful game.
This project is pretty cool! This looks like a massive and successful undertaking on your part. I'm looking into researching AI for Diplomacy. Have you published a technical report on Albert's functionality?
ReplyDeleteHi Jason. I played diplomacy many years ago, and have just gotten into it again on backstabbr.com. Such a fun game. Just wanted to reach out and see if you'd be interested in discussing putting Albert in a mobile app. I'm a pretty good web and mobile app developer, and I'm not seeing any ai diplomacy games in the Android app store. I'd be interested in discussing me doing the work of porting the code under a non-disclosure agreement and sharing the revenue. Check me out at http://pettys.consulting if intrigued at all by this. Or reply to this thread; I have notifications turned on.
ReplyDeleteJason P.
Hello, Jason. Do you have a copy of David Norman's old MapMaker app? I can't find it anywhere on the web for download. All the links are dead! I like to test Diplomacy variants using Albert 6.0 bots and MapMaker will make the task easier. Thanks for your great work!
ReplyDeletePaul