T w e n t y S i d e d

Apologies for missing last week’s post. Sometimes mental health happens, and I reached a point where I needed to take an extra few days to get myself stabilized. The good news is I finally got back in to see my therapist, and can now go back to bi-weekly sessions. This week’s subjects, additionally, include an update on leveling alts in World of Warcraft, the wonderful world of watching Star Trek on Paramount+, and the latest on the FoxMaster Tomb Raider Lara ‘bot videos.

Two things from the Lara ‘bot videos by FoxMaster. First, three weeks ago he posted the video of the “Palace of Midas” level. There are three huge challenges to the game playing scripts as they were being implemented at the start of the level.

• The level is large and complex. I knew going in that the “long-term” memory as it had been shown so far would probably not be able to handle this level. The ‘bot would literally not be able to keep all pertinent information in memory in any kind of way useful to actually finishing the level.
• The Hand of Midas is both a death trap and part of the puzzle solution to exit the level. I assumed the ‘bot’s code could already handle death, as FoxMaster has shown in the “bloopers” videos that each level is played over and over, as with most trial-and-error scripts. The use of the Hand to solve the final puzzle can be derived by understanding even the most simple summary of the story of King Midas. It was clear the ‘bot can search the internet (through ChatGPT) for context to comment on, but so far there has been no indication the ‘bot can actually translate the search results into playable actions.
• The first part of the central puzzle involves altering a full set of levers to open different doors in turn. Lever/door puzzles so far have been one lever/one door, and usually linear. This is a different beast altogether, and I don’t think the game-playing code is currently capable of solving this puzzle.

FoxMaster addressed almost all these issues and others in the video above that was recently published. The Lara ‘bot is constantly upgraded, something I had pointed out previously. The “Midas” level did require some very specific upgrades. In addition to the “short-term” and “long-term” memory, he added essentially a “level-memory.” This level-memory is short of a highly specific map. The computer, of course, would be able to keep a perfect record of everywhere it had been, but the most important part of this experiment is to fool the viewer into thinking a “human Lara Croft” is playing Tomb Raider 1. To facilitate this goal, the “level” or “sequential” memory stores images of everything that triggers a Lara Personality engagement (a filtered ChatGPT prompt). As these images are recording sequentially, they basically form a memory of Lara’s experiences that can be “recalled” in reverse order. This explains my speculation a few weeks ago that the Lara ‘bot recalled the location of a switch based on it’s location in TIME, not SPATIALLY.

FoxMaster mentions a few important factors in puzzle-solving and navigation, one that ties into the Lara ‘bot’s use of the compass. As was mentioned in the very first “Self-aware Lara Croft” video, the compass is useless unless you’re making an IRL map while playing. FoxMaster has used it as a “tell” when the AI scripts start looping because they can’t navigate to where they need to go, or can’t solve a puzzle. Basically, if Lara ‘bot pulls out the compass, the games is paused and FoxMaster knows something needs work. The major problem seems to be that an identified texture that would have pointed the way has been kicked out of memory. If you have been keeping up with the videos, experienced players probably have winced multiple times when the Lara ‘bot “identifies” a direction to go and never even looks in a more relevant direction. Sometimes this happens even after the Lara ‘bot has “looked” at an exit, but then identifies a preferred route in a different direction. Of course, this is part of dungeon gameplay. In this regard, the Lara ‘bot is behaving like a human first playing the game; which is impressive. The earlier versions of the ‘bot could get lost because early-identified routes could literally be forgotten. The level-sequential memory solves this problem.

The big puzzle on the Midas level is the central lever/door room. There are four doors, each with a sign that consists of five instances of two symbols. That is, a sign above one door may be OYOOY. The sign above another door may be YOOYO. There are five levers on a platform in the middle of the room. The levers can be moved into the “UP” position of the “DOWN” position. I think most adults will grasp the association pretty quickly, and even most teens. Especially as the idea of thinking in binary has become increasingly common. Unfortunately, the only thing the Lara ‘bot knows about levers and doors as that if you move a lever, a door opens. The ‘bot knows you can hear the door open, at least; and frequently the camera will switch to focus on the door opening, so you can get a visual clue. Earlier versions of the ‘bot start out randomly operating levers waiting for a door-opening sound or a visual cue. When this doesn’t happen, the ‘bot starts looking for other levers to pull. Before long, the ‘bot will start looping and pulls out the compass.

FoxMaster actually holds forth a bit, here, about how players would typically solve a puzzle (these days), which is to go online and search for the solution. The Lara ‘bot can do that…actually input a prompt into ChatGPT like “how to solve the level puzzle in the Midas level in Tomb Raider.” And, of course, the correct solution would be presented. The challenge, as with all the other searches the ‘bot can do, is how to translate them into ACTIONS. The ‘bot could speak the solution to the viewer, but couldn’t actually translate the search result into movement. Not yet, anyway. In the end, FoxMaster had to program a subroutine to solve this particular puzzle. When this subroutine is triggered, quite possibly by being in this room on this map, or literally right in front of these five levers, the ‘bot can “interpret” the signs into the action of setting the levers into the pattern that matches. Of course, when the door opens, the routine exits and the ‘bot then goes to explore the new room. But as I indicated, the subroutine is only good for this puzzle. FoxMaster cautions that a puzzle on the next level that might be identical in every way except it’s based on colors instead of directional symbols could not be solved. Also, the subroutine can’t remain active as part of the ‘bot’s normal routine…otherwise it could start interpreting every “pattern” as a puzzle it should solve. I think this gives us all the clues necessary to understand how the subroutine works. FoxMaster is doubtful that a broader, more universally adaptable solving routine is currently possible, but I think I can just glimpse how it could be implemented.

But while I am many things, a programmer of anything too far beyond “Hello, World!” is not one of them.

Lastly, speaking of how the ‘bot handles death, this actually explains my comment on why the Lara ‘bot didn’t “say” anything about some of the text labels on the previous level. It DID, just not on the footage FoxMaster incorporated into the published video. As with most AI, the final solution is cumulative. Each time through the level uses at least some memory of the last experience, and the ‘bot doesn’t always comment on what it commented on previously. So there’s another mystery solved.

The second big item is that, starting a couple of weeks ago, videos started popping up on YouTube with titles like “FoxMaster’s Lara Croft AI ISN’T ACTUALLY AI!” The content of the videos then, at BEST, basically point out that FoxMaster is using a collection of tools and scripts to simulate AI. Which is EXACTLY what FoxMaster has said and demonstrated himself, repeatedly. The worst of these are claiming the videos are completely faked, using footage of somebody playing the game and just editing in ChatGPT-generated scripts. I would think that anyone who has actually watched the videos, especially the behind-the-scenes explanations, would understand what all is being done. But I don’t think that’s happening. I think as usual people like being “in the know” with secret knowledge, and the belief that you are one of the select few that understand “the truth” is a powerful motivator…too powerful in this day and age.

I previously mentioned wanted to get back to watching Star Trek content again. As a much younger person, I had seen all of the original series multiple times, watched all the first generation movies, watched all of The Next Generation, watched all of that series’ movies, but pretty much quit watching early during Deep Space 9. Something about DS9 just didn’t click with me, although I intend to go back and try it again soon. This means I never watched any of Voyager or Enterprise, and certainly hadn’t seen any of the new offerings: Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, or Prodigy. I started with Lower Decks because sequentially, it takes place right after the TNG movies end. The visual aesthetic is very much in line with The Next Generation in general, with uniforms taking after those seen in the last couple of movies and starship design fitting in with TNG and Voyager. Lower Decks is a parody and a fan-service vehicle. Almost every scene makes fun of some Star Trek trope or inconsistency; either visually or through dialogue. One of my favorites is actually in the final episode of the first season, when our hero ship Cerritos is in need of repair and refit: “I hate when a ship goes in for refit and comes back looking all Sovereign-class.”

Befitting a parody, the protagonists are not the bridge crew, although that particular group make up the primary supporting characters. The four leads are all Ensigns; two in command (red shirts), one in engineering (yellow), and one in life sciences (blue). These are Lower Decks people: they don’t get their own cabins (at least not on the Cerritos), assigned bunk-space in a large hall in the after of the saucer-section. Also befitting a parody, the Cerritos is NOT the Enterprise. The crew of the Cerritos doesn’t “seek out new life and new civilizations”, nor do they “boldly go where no one has gone before.” Rather, they specialize in “second contact.” The Cerritos is tasked with “going where a Galaxy-class starship went last month” and “learning how to spell the indigenous population’s name right.” Of course, it’s a big galaxy and most of the people are COMPLETELY unfamiliar. It is incredibly easy to forget to bring the “Log of Peace” that symbolizes this planet’s treaty with the federation, and accidentally show them the “Crystal of Peace” from the next world over, this planet’s most hated enemy.

And then you start a war with a brand new Federation member, and nobody wants that.

It is a very funny show, and at least in my opinion it very much “gets” Star Trek. I think there is WAY too much stressing over things that really aren’t all that important when people watch new adaptations of Star Trek. I’m not saying there is no such thing as BAD Star Trek, there IS. I, for one, can’t stand the J.J. Abrams Trek movies. So I just don’t watch them. They’re not part of my Star Trek universe. Maybe you like them and think they’re the best version of Star Trek, and that’s great! Whatever floats your boat. We can argue about it if you want, but WE DON’T HAVE TO. And that’s fine.

Most of the long-time Trek fans I talk to really like Lower Decks; in fact several think it’s the best Trek property in a long time…for some it’s even their favorite Trek. But some notable Trek commenters have surprised me, not so much in disliking the show…as I said, to each their own. But some of the specific comments surprised me. Perhaps the one that has struck me the most is one highly notable Trek YouTuber mentioned that their biggest take-away from the first season was that they really like the “Captain William Riker/Titan” segments, in fact they were left wanting to see a show about THAT crew and ship, rather than the show we got. Don’t get me wrong, these are hilarious and fun segments…but that’s it: they’re hilarious and fun. It’s not Captain Riker, late of the Enterprise under Captain Jean-luc Picard following the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. This is a PARODY of Captain Riker. This is a Captain Riker who ALWAYS counts down his Warp Travel instructions “with a five, six, seven, eight ENGAGE!” It’s funny, but I think it’s understood that a live-action Star Trek TV series called Titan or Riker wouldn’t feature the Captain doing that every time the ship went to warp. The Captain wouldn’t pull a trombone from behind the Captains chair at the drop of a hat. Riker wouldn’t literally find a way to put one leg up on something in EVERY SCENE. These things are funny because they exaggerated…this is a PARODY of Riker, it isn’t actually Riker.

Also one of the main characters gets transferred to the Titan and is duplicated into two identical people on his third assignment…because of course that kind of thing is going to happen to a main character on the ship Riker is in charge of. BECAUSE IT’S PARODY.

I’m also watching Voyager now, but I think I’m going to leave commenting on that for an entire different article. I’m eight episodes into the first season and am thoroughly enjoying it.

I started watching the Original Series movies the other day. Star Trek: The Motion Picture remains one of my favorites…I find new things to appreciate about it every time I watch it (director’s cut, of course). Likewise The Wrath of Kahn. Just a hands down great movie. In fact, watching the second movie got one of the kids interested in watching Star Trek, so we followed up TWoK with The Search for Spock. It’s been a while since I saw this movie, and the big thing that stood out is, this is NOT a pleasant movie to LOOK at. Scenes are overlit with bizarre color filter choices. Despite the success of Star Trek II, the film looks like it had a VERY low budget. It might have, honestly; I don’t know. It LOOKS cheap, though. The poorly-paced, poorly-arranged story hangs on the success of key moments: snappy dialogue during the theft of the Enterprise, the discovery that Spock is alive, the sliver of plot-point that the Klingon Empire is attempting to negotiate a peace treaty with the Federation but there are Klingon factions that oppose this effort, the destruction of the Enterprise, and of course the reunion at the end with Spock reliving his last few instances of dialogue with Kirk capped with “I am, and ever shall be your friend;” one of the greatest lines in all of Star Trek. This comes off as a troubled production, and the little I know about the behind-the-scenes history certainly indicates that it was. My memory is that Star Trek V is the worst Original Series movie, but it’s going to have to be much more awful than I remember to actually be worse than III.

In World of Warcraft, I made many new characters, deleted most of them, and hit many brick walls before reaching the point that I was ready to subscribe for a month. As of today, I have Cinderlynn, the Forsaken Destruction Warlock at level 23 leveling Horde-side in The Burning Crusade. On the Alliance side I have a level 20 Night Elf Balance Druid named Annara. I’m actually trying something not very recommended with Annara: I try to play her untransformed as a caster. You’re not really supposed to do that; the whole point of Druids is they can transform into some kind of cat-beast for melee damage, a bear-beast to tank, a treant (an Ent) to heal, or a Moonkin (owlbear) for casting damage. Staying untransformed is the weaker version of all these specialties. But I’ve made it to 20, and we will see how it goes. I have re-specced this character several times.

Mystilatre, the Draenei Arm Warrior is currently level 20 in Borean Tundra in Northrend, the default starting area in Wrath of the Lich King for any race based on the Kalimdor continent. She’s doing Alliance content, although for the most part the Horde and the Alliance mirror quests, just from different bases located near each other. On the opposite side of Northrend doing Horde content is Marania the Forsaken Marksmanship Hunter in Howling Fjord (I told you I like the Forsaken. Victory for Sylvanas.)

Leveling in Cataclysm content is Selarishari, the Blood Elf Outlaw Rogue. She is currently in Felwood. Also doing Cataclysm is Ancine, the Worgen Arcane Mage. Izitz the Goblin Enhancement Shaman is currently leveling in the Badlands. Most Cataclysm content is mirrored or even shared. I don’t expect to take each of these characters all the way to level 60 in Cataclysm content…partially because I would end up doing the same stuff with each character before too long (IIRC, there only three more zones available after they complete the current zone), but to be honest a lot of Cataclysm content is kind of boring.

Speaking of which, I made SEVERAL attempts at running a character through Mists of Pandaria before I found the right path. I just don’t like the Alliance-side quests in MoP. The Horde story is a lot of fun…the Alliance makes me want to tear my hair out. And once again, yes, I do slightly prefer playing Horde anyway. I don’t think that explains it, though. Even if you play as a Pandaren starting on the Wandering Isle, the Horde’s story THERE is a better story.

It’s still a bit weird to play the Mists of Pandaria content AS a Pandaren, though. I went all out and created a Windwalker Monk named Ninami. So you start on the Wandering Isle, encounter the Alliance and Horde at the end of the starting area, choose to join either the Alliance or Horde and are transported to your faction’s capital city. From there, you can go talk to Chromie and choose to level in Mists of Pandaria. While you’re leveling in Pandaria, not every quest takes note of whether you are a Pandaren. This is significant, because the Wandering Isle and the Pandarens who are from there are basically a “legend” in Pandaria. Long-lost cousins, etc. But because you can level here as ANY race, some quests make note of how non-Pandarens won’t understand Pandaria (even though as a Wandering Isle Pandaren you’re taught all the same stuff). Some quests note how freakishly unusual you look, because you could be an Orc, or a Troll, or a Tauren, or a Forsaken. It…just could have been done with more consistency.

I’ve actually leveled Ninami up to 35, because that’s the groove I was in when I re-upped my subscription.

My final two characters are recreates of old characters: Chayarcy is a Human Retribution Paladin leveling Alliance side in Battle for Azeroth, which means I’m in Kul’Tiras. Tashandor, a Troll Shadow Priest, is doing BfA Horde-side, which means she is in Zandalar. The two factions in Battle for Azeroth do most of their content on completely separate island-nations. Both sides’ fleets were almost entirely obliterated during the events of Legion, when the Burning Crusade faction invaded Azeroth (again). So now the Alliance is seeking to bring Kul’Tiras and the Proudmoore family back into the Alliance, with their massive fleet of ships, and the Horde is seeking out a partnership with the Zandalari trolls, a seafaring race of Trolls who are at least nominally friendly with the Horde-member Darkspears. Not to mention they have powerful voodoo.

Battle for Azeroth content has been incredibly enjoyable. I like the Alliance-side story much more than the Horde side so far. But I’ve only taken these two characters to level 20; so we’ll see how it goes. There’s also quite a bit of lore behind what’s going on by this point that’s worth getting into.

I have actually created one character and run it through the introduction to Legion but I deleted the character after completing the intro and decided to do things a bit differently. I *think* I’m going to create a character to take specifically through Warlords of Draenor and then through Legion Alliance-side, and then likely I will take Ninami through Mists of Panderia and then through Legion Horde-side. All WoW expansions have Alliance-side and Horde-side stories, some more important and some not so vital, but Legion sets the tone from the beginning with an Alliance vs. Horde event that is responsible for Battle for Azeroth even being a thing.

But who knows what next week will bring. See you soon!

Paige Francis He/him