Using the "knowsabout" command

[Roni]

Hello All

I am currently working on a number of Morale scripts that make use of the "knowsAbout" (kA) command.  I know the parameters, returned values etc but I am getting some strange results and was wondering if anyone else had researched this command much.

To find out how this command worked, I first placed two units on the map (AI East and player West), with a simple script that posted the kA rating of the East unit every 10 seconds as a formatted hint.

As you would expect, the kA rating started at zero, then went quickly up to 4 when the bad guy spotted me.  It then slowly went down back to zero if I then ran out of sight.  Okay, so now I knew how that worked and I knew what values to look for (eg - if kA > 3 then treat enemy unit as spotted etc).

All good and well, but I've discovered a few funny things since then.

For example, using multiple enemy and multiple friendlies in various groups I discovered that a kA rating is immediately distributed to all members of the same group but never between members of any other group, even if they are standing right next to each other !  Apparently, all members of a group have radios (or maybe telepathy) whereas all other groups are on some other frequency !  And of course, there is no command that I know of in OFP that allows you to change a units kA rating.    :'(

Secondly, I tried the same thing with me (a West soldier) and an unarmed Civilian.  I walked in front of him, danced, went prone, shot all around him and even bumped into him but the kA rating never went above 0.5 !!!

What gives ?      

I wanted an unarmed unit so he wouldn't shoot me so I decided to try an East unit with no ammo instead.  I got nearly the same thing again, but this time the kA rating went to about 2 and slowly went up from there.  In fact, the gain for each period while I was in sight was about the same as the loss each period for being out of sight !

I haven't tried resistance units (allied, neutral or opposing) or partially armed guys (1-2 magazines or pistols only) but my guess is that unless the spotting unit is armed to some degree he won't actually get much kA boost.  I suppose he thinks that if he doesn't get involved he won't get hurt !  :-X    

I am going to test tonight with a combination of fully armed and unarmed spotters in the same group and see if having armed buddies makes you a better snitch.

If anyone knows anything more about this command I would greatly appreciate anything you have.  I was hoping to use the kA comand in a bunch of covert action scenarios, including having civilians as spotters for a resistance group, but it's a bit difficult if I don't know what value to check for.  Checking for a kA rating of 0.5 or more might be just right for civilian lookouts but would be overkill for armed dudes.

If this helps anyone then good luck, and if anyone can help me - thanks in advance !



Roni

[Unnamed]

There are a few notes regarding the knowsabout command over at the command depot, but if you find anything interesting post it here. The KnowsAbout command is still relativley undocumeted.

http://www.ofpec.com/editors/comref.php?letter=K

I started charting some of the results (which I did promised to expand on, so thanks for the reminder):



This is the KnowsAbout values of a basic unarmed west soldier spotting a basic unamerd east soldier on the desert island. Both are stationary.

Cheers

[macguba]

I believe you can increase the kA number with a reveal command.

[Terox]

The magic knowsabout number is

0.105

{IF (_x knowsAbout hunted2 >= 0.105) THEN {[hunted2] exec "client\civrep.sqs"}} forEach Civarray

0.105 is the knowsabout value at which the enemy is aware of your presence

[Roni]

Thanks all !

I realised last night that my latest trial may have been in error.  I was testing out a new Morale script and I had placed a dummy unit called "nearest" as a placer.  The theory was that if the target parameter passed to the script was the word "nearest" then the asigned group would seek the nearest enemy unit, rather than the object "nearest".

The script worked fine, but the Hint command of course didn't look at the nearest enemy unit but at the object called "nearest" !    

I have changed the hint command and will test it out tonight (damned work is killing me at the moment).  On your advices I have also lowered the trigger level to 0.5 - that way there will be times when you will engage the sentry without him calling in his buds.

I will research the kA command more and post all my result tonight.

Cheers all



Roni