you could plot some random waypoints that get closer to the player and then have the opponent move from them while faceing you and fireing (like he was jinking) or you could make up scripts..eg (psuedocode)
if player_seen()=1
decision=rnd(2)
if NPC_hurt>8 then decision=0
if decision=0
find_some_cover()
take_cover()
if player_too_close()=1 then fire_at_player
else
fire_at_player()
approach_player_in_zig_zag()
endif
endif
would make the NPC shoot at the player and then move closer while dodgeing, if you hurt him too much with return fire then he makes for cover instead and will only fire if you get too close, otherwise he just thinks small thoughts and tries to avoid you
if you want more from the AI then you could add the line
if npc_reload_required then decision=0:reload_under_cover=1
would make him head for cover and reload when he was safely out of sight if his clip ran out, then you could do..
if NPC_near_other_NPC=1 then shout_for_help=npc_name
and add the line
if shout_for_help>1 then find_path_too(npc_name)
so that he will go to help his mates as well if he hears a cry for help, etc, you just keep adding lines and decisions to the code to make the NPC act more intelligently, the balancing act is in adding the correct decisions to make and keeping the code short enough not to cripple the game, you could expand his decisions to make him a serious opponent, but you will have to stop before the code gets so large that you are limited to 10fps with two NPCs on the level, you could code learning AI but thats more use added to strategy games and seriously cpu intensive, good scripts are faster (cpu-wise) and easier to work with, cheers
Mentor.
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