new bot Simplicity
The new zerg Simplicity has been getting a lot of games. Taking a peek at the binary, I see that it is a Java bot, and it lives up to its name: The compiled code is quite small, and most of the space used is in libraries.
Simplicity’s play is reminiscent of Proxy; it plays a similar mass hydralisk build with a similar late game addition of ultralisks. It’s a good general-purpose choice for a new bot, so no complaints there. At the same time, it puts on a direct and predictable kind of pressure. Proxy switched away from that build for both terran and zerg opponents, with good reason. (Well, Proxy still goes hydra against terran mech.)
Simplicity is weaker than Proxy, though (including the early Proxy before it was improved). Simplicity has been scoring around 50%, but many of its games are against low-level opposition. I forecast that its initial elo will come in below 1900. Simplicity does not have strong macro, and its tactics are clumsy. Also it appears to build a fixed amount of static defense, not adapting to the situation.
Simplicity does midgame scouting with reconnaissance in force, the same idea as Steamhammer—not common among bots, and unheard of among new bots made from scratch. It looked effective in games. I thought that that was Simplicity’s most impressive feature.
All in all, nothing dazzling, but good for a brand new bot, especially such a small one. After only one day, the bot got an update that I thought improved it, so development is proceeding rapidly. Any bot that improves rapidly has a chance to climb high.
Next: Analysis of potential paths.
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