Strategy

I think I have a really smart strategy, I'll explain it now.

First you'll have to build a defence:

0 = emtpy field
* = trap
t = teleport trap
p = your position, right on the flag

000*000
000*000
0*tp**0
000*000
000*000

Just build this defence, it takes 19 steps, then wait till move 25 (6 times an RR) and then look where your opponent is. The calculate the minimum moves he'll need to walk in your deathray line. Then look where he is. If he walks three times after eachother into your deathray, you may asume that he will walk to your flag, so fire a deathray the next time. If the death ray missed, walk on the teleport trap and run to your opponents flag.

This looks to me a good strategy, please post any reply

It might have been a good stategy, but now everyone knows about it and will plan accordingly

Well, I won't compete in this contest, because you need more luck than programming skills. My strategy won't work if my opponent does the same, but it will work if my opponent attacs. So you'll need a lot of luck to win this contest.
But I have to say it is a cool one.

In which case you need to do a number of locates and decide, using your logical mind and programming skills, if your opponent is attacking or defending. Then take action accordingly

Two flaws with that strategy that I can see right away:
First it is very likely your opponent will be able to line you up for a death ray before turn 25, and second you will lose to nearly any script that takes into consideration the possibility of a defensive script. I guess thirdly the fact that you disclosed it on this list... ;)

Incidently, this takes both programming skill and analytical skill to win.

B

I think there is a trivial script that could win...

Can anybody tell me how to safely beat it?

1: look for other flag's direction...
2: if it's on an adjacent square, let's win!
3: else if it is 'UP-LEFT':
chose randomly betwen MU and ML.
4: else if it is 'RIGHT':
chose randomly between MU, MD & MR.
(discard absurd moves against walls and known traps if you like)

Stoopid as it might look, its fairly fast and umpredictable
I think this stupid script is not easy to beat. So here you have it for your killing delights. I will send it if I finally don't have the time to complete a satisfactory neural-net warrior.
If you got a script that beats this 'stoopid' 70% of times, I bet it won't be good fighting the other.

You have a sound strategy, all you need to do is teleport right away, cause no matter what, you'll and up as close or closer to the opponents flag.

I think that too.
But if I move ahead of my flag and place the teleport there I have a defence too.

I thought about that, but no matter what, the worst you can do is cause them 2 lost moves if you completely surround your flag with stickies. Then you have to waste 7 moves laying the stickies. Better off making a run for the flag if you ask me, but I'm not entering this one, what do I know.

OK, my two cents:

This is not so much a programmer's contest, but a strategist's. That's what I like most about it! And I DO plan on entering the contest. That being said, WHY ARE YOU ALL GIVING AWAY STRATEGY POINTS??

This especially bothers me when, after discussing strategy ideas, the writer finishes with "I'm not going to enter this one." Well why are you ruining it for the rest of us??? I would love to discuss strategy ideas, but lets wait 2 weeks.

well... i finally did it... i created the ultimate robot... it teleports, and then moves towards the flag for a little while, and then locates the enemy, and then, if the enemy is closer to it than the flag, it goes into attack mode

This _might_ be my strategy... or i might be sitting here half asleep (yup, i've been up for 30 hours now), and am just rambling on and on while trying to get a decent genetic algorithms engine working


Who knows? i definitly don't...

Lates,
Daeken

My strategy is quite defensive at this moment, but this can change. Main problem is that 5 locates is not enough in some situatons ;)

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if the winner will be a teleport-and-run script ;-)

I hope so!

What I fear, is that if a half of the submitted scripts will work like this, it will be more of a lottery than a contest ;)