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Steamhammer submitted to AIIDE

I have submitted Steamhammer 2.3.4 for AIIDE 2019, a day ahead of the deadline. The latest changes help in specific situations: Better decisions against dark templar, less time wasted when the defiler wants to consume, more accurate strategy choices in ZvZ when the opponent goes hydras, that kind of thing.

Overall, I’m pleased with this version. It is far more solid than any previous tournament version of Steamhammer. There are a couple of game-losing bugs that I did not solve, but they are rare. There are rough edges, but fewer than before. In last year’s AIIDE, Steamhammer was version 2.0, with many new features including unit clustering and defilers—and they were buggy. This year it is version 2.3.4, and the version number is deserved: The strength improvements over 2.0 are due to bug fixes and refinements, not new features.

This means, of course, that it is time to get back to work on version 3.0, with new strategy adaptation features. Add bugs for victory!

Before long I’ll either upload version 2.3.4 on SSCAIT as zerg only, or I’ll come out with version 2.3.5 that can play as any race.

By the way, I counted the number of zerg openings. There are now 142.

Steamhammer-Microwave rivalry

Microwave was forked from an early version of Steamhammer, and the two have been struggling against each other ever since.

• AIIDE 2017 - Microwave 70.86%, Steamhammer 64.14%
• SSCAIT 2017 - Steamhammer 83.12%, Microwave 79.87%
• AIIDE 2018 - Steamhammer 54.97%, Microwave 54.16%
• SSCAIT 2018 - Microwave 74.65%, Steamhammer 72.54%

The two bots have different strengths, but most results have been close. Which will edge out the other this time? On BASIL, Steamhammer and Microwave have been trading the top zerg position back and forth. Microwave has an advantage in head-to-head fights, but I think Steamhammer has a slight edge overall. We’ll see how the tournament goes!

Randomhammer (Z)-Microwave is a ZvZ with devourers and defilers. Microwave wins the majority of games, but Steamhammer has better hive tech skills.

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McRave on :

Good luck Jay!

Tully Elliston on :

What makes Microwave stronger in battles?

Jay Scott on :

The two bots have many differences in skills. For example, Steamhammer is more skilled at attacking with scourge, while Microwave is more skilled at defending against scourge. :-) One of the important differences is in overall game strategy. Steamhammer tries to follow a human-like low economy aggressive game plan, but its play is not precise or aggressive enough to take full advantage of the style. Microwave is more willing to make drones and grow its economy, and one way Microwave often wins is by outgrowing Steamhammer. Steamhammer makes up for it in part by stronger macro as the drone count rises. Microwave is also good at safely taking its natural and makes effective use of the second hatchery and second gas, while Steamhammer doesn’t have the same confidence and often stays on one hatchery, or takes the second hatchery in its main. Well, those are two of the issues.

MicroDK on :

This has been my philosophy from the beginning... defense is a strong offence. ;) I don't think there is only one way to play zerg... even as human.

MicroDK on :

Nice game! The defilers were not the reason Steamhammer won. It simply had a better macro. And Microwave's devourers should have been supporting it's mutas.

Jay Scott on :

Agreed. Steamhammer gained an advantage from its early air control, and maintained the advantage even though it did not maintain the air control. Microwave’s clumsy devourer decisions made the end come abruptly, but it would have been hard to hold no matter what.

MicroDK on :

I have not really tested devourers that much. I just added them before COG2019 for fun and hoped the best. :)

Jay Scott on :

That is pretty much how I added devourers too. At first they did not help at all...

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