OpenMoHAA: Bug - Entities Not Removing With Bots

by Alex Johnson 49 views

Introduction

Are you experiencing issues with entities not being removed in OpenMoHAA when bots are active on the map? You're not alone. This article delves into a peculiar bug reported in the OpenMoHAA environment where entities marked for removal from the .bsp file reappear when bots are added to the game. This can be particularly frustrating for map creators and players alike, as it disrupts the intended gameplay experience. Let's explore the details of this bug, the steps to reproduce it, and potential workarounds.

The Bug: Entities Reappearing with Bots

The core issue lies in the game's behavior when bots are introduced into a map. Specifically, entities that have been successfully removed using the removeent command in the map script file seem to ignore this command when bots are present. This means that elements like lights, which were intentionally removed, reappear, often with undesirable visual glitches like black textures. This discrepancy between the game's behavior with and without bots creates an inconsistent and potentially broken experience for players. Understanding the root cause of this bug is crucial for developers to address it effectively and for the community to find temporary solutions.

This bug manifests itself in a very specific way: entities that are supposed to be removed from the map using the removeent command in the map script file reappear when bots are added to the game. In the reported instance, lights that were displaying with black textures were removed using their entity numbers from the .bsp file. However, when bots were added to the map, these lights reappeared, negating the effect of the removeent command. This behavior suggests that the game engine handles entity removal differently when bots are present, potentially due to how bots interact with the game world or how the game loads and processes map data in the presence of AI-controlled players. The implications of this bug are significant, as it can disrupt carefully designed maps and create visual and gameplay inconsistencies. For example, a light source that was intentionally removed to create a dark area for tactical gameplay might reappear, negating the intended effect.

Reproducing the Issue

To better understand this bug, let’s break down the exact steps to reproduce the behavior. This will allow you to test it yourself and potentially find workarounds, and it provides developers with a clear path to investigate the issue.

  1. Initial Setup: Start by using the removeent command in your map script file to remove specific entities. Identify the “Entity Numbers” from the .bsp file that you wish to remove. Then, in the map script file, add commands like removeent 44, removeent 45, etc., for each entity you want to eliminate.

  2. Test without Bots: Launch the map using the SH client without adding any bots. Verify that the entities you intended to remove are indeed gone. For example, if you removed lights with black textures, confirm that these lights are no longer visible.

  3. Introduce Bots: Exit the map and relaunch it, this time adding bots to the game. This is the crucial step where the bug manifests.

  4. Observe the Reappearance: Check the map again. You should observe that the entities you previously removed have reappeared. In the reported case, the lights with black textures will be visible again, indicating that the removeent command was ignored when bots were present.

By following these steps, you can consistently reproduce the bug and confirm its presence in your OpenMoHAA environment. This detailed reproduction process is invaluable for developers, as it allows them to pinpoint the exact conditions under which the bug occurs and to begin the debugging process.

Expected vs. Actual Behavior

The expected behavior in this scenario is straightforward: any entity removed using the removeent command should remain removed regardless of the presence of bots in the game. Whether the entity has a black texture or a normal texture, the removal command should consistently prevent it from being displayed. This ensures that map designers have full control over the elements present in their maps and that the gameplay experience remains consistent whether players are playing alone, with friends, or against bots.

However, the actual behavior deviates significantly from this expectation. As demonstrated by the reproduction steps, the removeent command functions correctly when no bots are present. But, the moment bots are added to the game, the removed entities reappear, defying the intended effect of the command. This discrepancy creates a frustrating inconsistency, as it undermines the map designer's efforts and can lead to visual glitches and gameplay imbalances. For example, a strategic area that was intentionally darkened by removing light sources might become fully lit again when bots are present, completely altering the intended gameplay dynamic. This inconsistency highlights the importance of addressing this bug to ensure a reliable and predictable mapping experience in OpenMoHAA.

Technical Details and Version Information

The bug has been observed on the following system configuration:

  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • OpenMoHAA Version: Medal of Honor Spearhead 2.16+0.83.0 (OpenMoHAA 0.83.0-dev+1039.2fececd) win_msvc64-x86_64 Nov 25 2025 UTC

This information is crucial for developers as it helps narrow down the potential causes of the bug. Knowing the specific operating system and OpenMoHAA version allows them to focus their debugging efforts on the relevant code sections and libraries. Additionally, the provided build information (0. 83.0-dev+1039.2fececd) offers a precise point in the development timeline, which can be cross-referenced with code changes and bug fixes to identify potential sources of the issue. This level of detail is essential for efficient bug tracking and resolution in software development.

Potential Causes and Workarounds

While the exact cause of this bug remains unknown, there are several potential explanations that could be explored:

  1. Bot Initialization: It’s possible that the process of adding bots to the game triggers a re-initialization or reloading of certain map entities, effectively undoing the removeent command. The game might be designed to ensure bots have a consistent environment, and this process might inadvertently override the removal commands.

  2. Entity Handling: The game engine might handle entities differently when bots are present compared to when only human players are in the game. This could be due to optimizations or specific logic implemented for AI-controlled characters, which might not correctly account for the removeent command.

  3. Map Loading: There might be an issue in how the map is loaded or processed when bots are added. The game might be reading the original .bsp file data and re-instantiating the entities that were supposed to be removed.

Unfortunately, without a direct fix from the developers, finding a perfect workaround is challenging. However, here are a few potential strategies that might mitigate the issue:

  • Map Redesign: If possible, consider redesigning the map to avoid the need to remove entities in the first place. This might involve adjusting the lighting setup or removing the problematic entities directly in the map editor.

  • Conditional Scripting: Explore the possibility of using conditional scripting to re-apply the removeent command whenever a bot is added to the game. This would require a mechanism to detect when bots are added and then re-execute the removal commands.

  • Alternative Entity Modification: Investigate if there are alternative ways to modify entities, such as changing their properties to make them invisible or non-interactive, rather than removing them entirely. This might bypass the bug that affects the removeent command specifically.

It's important to note that these are just potential workarounds, and their effectiveness may vary depending on the specific map and the nature of the entities being removed. Further investigation and experimentation may be required to find the best solution for a given situation.

Community Discussion and Collaboration

This bug highlights the importance of community discussion and collaboration in identifying and resolving issues in OpenMoHAA. By sharing experiences, troubleshooting steps, and potential workarounds, players and map creators can collectively contribute to a better gaming experience. Forums, social media groups, and online communities dedicated to OpenMoHAA provide valuable platforms for exchanging information and seeking assistance.

If you are experiencing this bug, consider sharing your experience and any findings you have made in relevant online forums. Providing detailed information about the map, the entities being removed, and the steps to reproduce the issue can help developers and other community members understand the problem better and work towards a solution. Additionally, engaging in discussions and brainstorming potential workarounds can lead to innovative solutions that might not be apparent when working in isolation.

The OpenMoHAA community is a valuable resource, and active participation can significantly contribute to the ongoing improvement of the game. By working together, we can identify and address bugs, enhance gameplay, and create a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Conclusion

The bug where entities reappear when bots are added in OpenMoHAA is a frustrating issue for map creators and players alike. Understanding the steps to reproduce the bug and the potential causes is crucial for finding a solution. While workarounds may offer temporary relief, a proper fix from the developers is necessary to ensure consistent and reliable entity removal. Engaging with the OpenMoHAA community and sharing information can accelerate the process of identifying and resolving this issue.

For further information and discussions on OpenMoHAA, you might find the official OpenMoHAA forums a valuable resource.