Warrior General Games

In truth it's a compound issue, but I'm going to target on a specific for now, I'm sure people will converse with each other and develop other fixes/adjustments within the thread.

Watch this replay: http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=373661&pbp_id=9919167
- Focus on Blue Baker and h0winator
- They go ahead and run down the field and following the catch their pathing is terrible
- Watch the stairstepping-like motion they take. Even when h0winator isn't blocked and has a direct route to the KR, he still stairsteps his way over.

More examples:
- http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=373661&pbp_id=9921627 - Jonathan Jackson and Bone Crusher Iten
- http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=453024&pbp_id=9903843 - Star * Man

Here's what I think is currently happening (trying to visualize the code here). The coverage unit is calculating the KRs future position around every 10 ticks.

As evidenced here by Simple the Best: http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=373661&pbp_id=9922619

Obviously he doesn't belong but to put it simply I think he's calculating his speed versus the returners on where they would possibly intercept. For Simple the Best since he's a biggin' it's wayyy down field, but it makes it easy to see.

So, with all that being said this is how I think it should be. I'm no programmer/code monkey so perhaps I'm not taking certain things into account. I know Bort rarely posts in this forum, but perhaps he'll shed a little insight to help this through.

Step 1...player runs down the field, maintaining their "lane".
- http://i44.tinypic.com/15mzokp.png
Step 2...players continue to maintain and eventually analyze angle/vector to KR/PRs future position (i.e. 3-5 ticks ahead) and head towards KR/PR.
- http://i41.tinypic.com/rlkhoi.png
Step 3...every few ticks players reanalyze their angle/vector to the future KR/PR
- http://i44.tinypic.com/iwmyyr.png

I understand my visuals are horrible and I could of used a non-paintbrush drawn arrow but you get it

The whole purpose is to eliminate the parallel and sometimes acute angles that the coverage team takes. There should be no "stair stepping". Every motion should move them closer to the KR/PR. Eventually when the KR/PR gets to a certain point they should just abandon the stay in your lanes methodology. For GLB purposes the K can just sit back, we don't need the kicker trying to layout the KR (a la Josh Brown lighting up Devin Hester).

Once again this may not be the best method to do it, but I had to get something out there instead of the tons of "fix this Bort" threads where they just state the issue w/o a possible solution.


Originally posted by TheGreatPuma
Originally posted by Mat McBriar

I'm going to make a post in the suggestions forum w/ a visual in a bit. TGP can you go through and grab me a bunch of replays with the "stairstepping"?

I have a few from my own KR/PR who handles special teams coverage as well, but the more the merrier.

Here's the only other punt from that game - it's not as pronounced

http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=453024&pbp_id=9906554

I looked for a few others, but couldn't find much.

Heres a real WTF on a kickoff. I didn't realize how completely screwed up KOs were until I started reviewing them:

http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=405915&pbp_id=9691112

Star * Man is second from the left. After the catch he flattens his blocker and then actually starts running toward his own endzone. Horrible, horrible pathing. I think I liked the "just run right at them" better. Before I complained about not being able to judge an angle properly. This is even worse than that.

Here's some slight stair step:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=453024&pbp_id=9907449
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=453024&pbp_id=9908340
Here he starts to do it and gets pummeled because apparently his 64 vision doesn't allow him to see the blocker (a slow level 25 FB) in his way:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=453024&pbp_id=9909066

And OMG, watch this one - second from the right:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=453024&pbp_id=9909668
WTF?>???

Honestly, I'm ready to stop boosting. This is pathetic.

i like it, but i am always won over when suggestions use pictures

Originally posted by ryan_grant-25
i like it, but i am always won over when suggestions use pictures

I did that with a touchpad, cut me some slack

probably better then anything i could do with a mouse.

edited with more examples.

+1 to anything special teams

Boltz endorsed, joy.

Boltz'd

This would be the next thing to work on. Now that kickoff distances seem to be about on par, the only thing left to get starting position on kickoffs back to normal is the special teams themselves. The pictures shown above I thought were pretty good representations of what I figure should happen. The only thing I might suggest is have the outside guys not cut in much so they can contain the returner. But yea, too much lateral movement being forced on the kickoff team to let them get downfield and stop the returner before he gets to the 40 yard line.

Originally posted by Mat McBriar
Boltz endorsed, joy.

Boltz'd

good for you

Sign me on to this one. This really needs to be fixed.

u got way too much time imo

+1

Yes, coverage should be fixed. There should also be tactics as to how players do their coverage!

+1

Anything endorsed by McBriar / Puma needs to be closely looked at.

I agree. Once this is fixed and once super elusive is fixed so if returners have someone beat down the sideline they don't stop and let them catch up, special teams will actually be a respectable part of the sim.