Modelling attribute dependencies in single unit game combat settings

Abstract

The relative strengths of individual units, described as attributes, determine the outcome during unit conflicts involving units in the armies of opponents in large strategy games. We describe a process for developing predictive models of the outcome for such conflicts where combat involves single unit adversaries where each unit is defined in terms of 4 fundamental attributes. These attributes: range, speed, health and damage are common to unit descriptions in many successful real-time strategy games. Our analysis process identifies three phases of game play with invariant properties that hold throughout each phase. We demonstrate the utility of this analysis by creating a model that predicts game outcomes. Predictions are validated against the game simulation. The game outcomes are explicitly related to the attributes of the two units involved, highlighting the significance and role of each attribute.