Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Bots (Improved A.I.)
 This topic has been pinned, so it's probably important
smilzo  [developer] 9 Nov, 2020 @ 12:42am
Questions
If you have any question about the Left 4 Bots addon post it in this thread.
But before you post, search the thread, it is possible that your question has already been answered.

Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions:

Where are the "settings.txt", "admins.txt" and "convars.txt" files?
Usually it's "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead 2\left4dead2\ems\left4bots\cfg\".

Is this compatible with Competitive-Bots+ / Improved bots (simple) / [insert addon name here]?
Yes. Addons that only change cvars, like these 2 addons, are 100% compatible with Left 4 Bots, however L4B has cvar changes too.
These changes are contained in the file "convars.txt" and you can change them like you want.
In the "settings.txt" file you can change the option "load_convars" to "0" to tell L4B to skip the "convars.txt" loading so it won't overwrite the cvar changes from the other addons.

Is this compatible with the other vscript addons?
I don't know, depends on the other addons, some of them might cause conflicts with this addon even if you don't see them marked red in the addon list.
If you suspect the addon isn't working correctly, open the console and look for vscript errors. If you find these errors it is possible that one of your addons is conflicting with this one.

Is this compatible with sourcemod / metamod?
I installed sourcemod / metamod (latest stable versions) on my test dedicated server and it's running just fine.
It is possible that some of the plugins aren't compatible though.

How can i tell the bots to pick-up the gascans/cola?
In COOP mode you need to start the scavenge with the vocalizer command "Lead" (or the chat command: bots lead).
In SCAVENGE mode they start automatically.
You can always stop the scavenge with one of the following vocalizer commads: "Help", "Hurry up", "Move on", "Stay together", "Follow me".

Why only 1 or 2 bots go scavenge the gascans? How i change this?
In the "settings.txt" file you can change the value of the "scavenge_max_bots" option.
Default value should be "2" but i mistakenly set it to "1", i'm sorry for that.
If you want all of them to go scavenge you can set "4", but don't forget that the bots are vulnerable while scavenging, don't leave them alone for too long.

How i tell the bots to activate the generators in The Sacrific finale?
You send the bots to the generators with the vocalizer command "Lead" (make sure to clear the area around the generators first so they aren't disturbed by the zombies).
If 1 or 2 generators are already activated, the bots will activate the remaining ones immediately.
If all the 3 generators need to be activated, the bots will stop near the generators and you need to use the vocalizer command "Go" to tell them to activate the generators.

NOTE: the "Go" command is not available in the stock vocalizer, you need a vocalizer addon to use this, or you can use the chat command: bots go.

How i tell the bot to kill a witch?
Look at the bot you want to send and use the vocalizer command "Look" (your character calls the bot's name) and within 3 seconds you need to look at the witch to kill and use the vocalizer command "Witch" (or use the chat command: [botname] witch).

NOTE: the "Witch" command is not available in the stock vocalizer, you need a vocalizer addon to use this, or you can bind the command to a button:
bind F10 "vocalize PlayerWarnWitch"

Can i order a bot to lead the way?
Yes, just look at the bot you want to send and use the vocalizer command "Look" (your character calls the bot's name) and within 3 seconds you need to use the vocalizer command "Lead" (or you can use the chat command: [botname] lead).
NOTE: it might not work in all the maps, especially in the last map of a campaign where there is no end saferoom. Sometimes they can get stuck if they can't path to the saferoom, in this case cancel the order with any of the following commands: "Follow me" / "Help" / "Move on" / "Stay together" / "Hurry up" (or whatever you remapped this to in the vocalizer.txt file)
NOTE2: keep in mind that while the bots move to execute the order they don't shoot the infected and do not pickup weapons. This command is intended to be used for a short time just to find the way when you are lost. After you found the way and/or there are many infected around and/or things to pickup, it is a good idea to cancel the order.
NOTE3: this doesn't make the bots push the buttons / activate things, they just move towards the saferoom.
NOTE4: keep in mind that their path finding system isn't great, they always go for the shortest path. Sometimes they might think that it's a good idea to jump off a ledge to reach the saferoom. This addon can't fix that so use this command carefully.

Can i change the vocalizer commands?
Yes, you can do it by editing the "ems\left4bots\cfg\vocalizer.txt" file.

How do i use the vocalizer?
The stock vocalizer should be bound to the Z and X keys. If you download a vocalizer addon you will need to bind the extra menu to other keys.

Can i disable the vocalizer orders?
Yes. If you (like me) use to spam the vocalizer a lot and you don't want to send random orders to the bots you can disable this feature in the "settings.txt" file setting "vocalizer_commands" to "0".

Can i send them orders via chat?
Yes, check here:
https://steamproxy.net/workshop/filedetails/discussion/2279814689/2965019884822668594/

Can i change the settings via chat commands?
Yes, you can use the chat command: !l4bsettings [option] [value]

Can the bots scavenge in custom campaigns?
Their scavenge logic is not bound to specific maps and it might work in custom maps too but i cannot guarantee this because i tested only in the offical ones.
You can always try though.

Can i send the bots to push buttons / activate things?
Yes, just look at the thing to activate and type "botname use" in chat.
There is also some kind of automation logic that allows you to make a bot activate the next thing that need to be activate (or opened) just by using the "Lead" command (like for The Sacrifice finale) but it works only in a few official maps at the moment.

Yes but this kind of automation has been implemented only in a few official maps at the moment.

Will the bots continue if i die?
Yes they will. However they can't always complete the map without the human intervention. In some maps they can get stuck if there is no human survivor alive.

How can i make the bots throw grenades?
In the "settings.txt" make sure the options "throw_molotov", "throw_pipe_bomb" and "throw_vomitjar" are set to "1".
The bots will throw molotovs only at the tank as long as the tank is not already on fire and his health is 1500+.
The bots will throw pipe bombs and bile jars only in the following situations:
- They are being overwhelmed
- One teammate near them is being overwhelmed
- Before reviving an incapped teammate if there aren't at least 2 non-incapped survivors around
- At random at the end of the campaign, when they are running to the escape vehicle

Do the bots use melee weapons?
Not by default but you can change the value of "sb_max_team_melee_weapons" in the "convars.txt" file to enable this. The value is basically the number of survivors allowed to use melee weapons so 0 = no bot will pickup melee weapons, 4 = all the bots will pickup melee weapons.

How do i give my throwable items to another survivor?
Like you do with pills and adrenaline. Hold the grenade, look at the survivor and press the right mouse button (you need to be close enough to the other survivor)
Last edited by smilzo; 5 Jan, 2022 @ 1:08am
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Showing 1-15 of 299 comments
smilzo  [developer] 11 Nov, 2020 @ 10:50am 
Originally posted by UnrealSeb:
recommended vocalizers?:health:
I use ion's vocalizer, seems to be the most updated atm.
TheWorstTF2Player 12 Nov, 2020 @ 11:21pm 
Do these bots lead on their own?
Mr Brightside 13 Nov, 2020 @ 3:13am 
But is it compatible with "Enhanced Advanced AI" and "Enhanced Main Menu Scripted"? They both seem to change the behavior of bots and drastically so.
Big Boss 13 Nov, 2020 @ 5:31am 
Great mod, but does it affect achivements in any way?
smilzo  [developer] 13 Nov, 2020 @ 7:52am 
Originally posted by =>PAN<=:
Do these bots lead on their own?
No.

Originally posted by Bright:
But is it compatible with "Enhanced Advanced AI" and "Enhanced Main Menu Scripted"? They both seem to change the behavior of bots and drastically so.
I don't know those mods, if they only change some cvars you can still use them with this mod. Just set load_convars to 0 in the settings.txt file so the changes from the other mods aren't overwritten.

Originally posted by Big Boss:
Great mod, but does it affect achivements in any way?
No.
JackRabbit™ 13 Nov, 2020 @ 9:04am 
So I have one question. Is the admins and convars text files the same across all of your script mods like Left 4 Bots, Left 4 Grief, and Left 4 Fun, or is it a separate file for each?
ZBrush 13 Nov, 2020 @ 3:28pm 
If i die the round keeps if, yes, the bot will close the safe door? (Will works in custom maps?)
Rareven_Kind 13 Nov, 2020 @ 10:02pm 
Most or All the bots seems to pickup the same weapon (for example always picking up smg when the game starts) instead of each having their own different set of primary weapons, is there a setting for this?

Edit: some bots still pick up other weapons after the round or they find a higher tier weapons. But usally I mostly see one bot doing that.
Last edited by Rareven_Kind; 13 Nov, 2020 @ 10:12pm
smilzo  [developer] 14 Nov, 2020 @ 2:41am 
Originally posted by JackRabbit™:
So I have one question. Is the admins and convars text files the same across all of your script mods like Left 4 Bots, Left 4 Grief, and Left 4 Fun, or is it a separate file for each?
No they are in separate directories but they have the same format so you can just copy paste one to the others. I wanted to keep them separate so you can choose if one can give orders to bots but cannot kick people on Left 4 Fun and so on.

Originally posted by Alazkav:
If i die the round keeps if, yes, the bot will close the safe door? (Will works in custom maps?)
Yes, in most maps they can continue without you and close the door at the end.

Originally posted by Rareven_Kind:
Most or All the bots seems to pickup the same weapon (for example always picking up smg when the game starts) instead of each having their own different set of primary weapons, is there a setting for this?

Edit: some bots still pick up other weapons after the round or they find a higher tier weapons. But usally I mostly see one bot doing that.
The weapon preference is still controlled by the vanilla AI, i cannot change that unfortunately.
ZBrush 15 Nov, 2020 @ 2:47pm 
Does "ion's vocalizer", Let's go, Go, Hurry and Run commands make difference?
smilzo  [developer] 15 Nov, 2020 @ 11:23pm 
Originally posted by Alazkav:
Does "ion's vocalizer", Let's go, Go, Hurry and Run commands make difference?
Yes, Let's go, Hurry and Run make the bots come with you, Go is to activate the generators in The Passing finale (unless you changed this in the vocalizer.txt file).
asa_ 20 Nov, 2020 @ 1:30pm 
Where can I change the addon settings
when I type in one of the commands I want to change in console
it says "unknown command"
So is there a way?
smilzo  [developer] 21 Nov, 2020 @ 1:50am 
Originally posted by sadheavy:
Where can I change the addon settings
when I type in one of the commands I want to change in console
it says "unknown command"
So is there a way?
in chat: !l4bsettings [option] [value]
or directly in the file "left4dead2\ems\left4bots\cfg\settings.txt"
ZBrush 22 Nov, 2020 @ 7:54am 
How to make the bots shoot the zombies or special infected in long ranges?
smilzo  [developer] 24 Nov, 2020 @ 8:22am 
Originally posted by Alazkav:
How to make the bots shoot the zombies or special infected in long ranges?
I don't know tbh, you need to try change some cvars.
Have a look here: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/List_of_L4D2_Cvars
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