pac_rules.rb

###############
#    Rules    #
###############

FIND the most valuable path within range 
# I could only do 5 cells away/levels deep before my code was timing out
# Partly because Ruby is not the fastest
# Partly because I started to think about performance too late

IF enemy 1 cell away and possible to eat them
  MOVE to their position
  # Sometimes my pacs spawn just next to an enemy I could eat
  # Majority of first moves I've seen were activating "SPEED" as first move
  # This is counter play to the most popular first move
  # While they're activating "SPEED" we eat them :)

ELSE IF can activate ability (ability cooldown is 0)
  
  IF there is danger (current pac can be eaten) within X distance (1 or 2 in my case)
    SWITCH type to winning one
    
  IF there is a "draw" (enemy has the same type as me) # I think I later abandoned this rule
    SWITCH type to winning one
    
  ELSE
    SPEED (activate speed ability)

ELSE IF no danger within 1 or 2 tiles && there are big pellets on the map && big pellet distance > 2
    MOVE to big pellet position
    # the rule about distance > 2 ensures that when the pac is closer to big pellet than that
    # it then switches to "auto pilot" (normal path finding - choses the most valuable path)

ELSE IF all paths within search range are worth 0 # no pellets within range
    MOVE to the closest pellet on the map
    # I literally just used the euclidean distance and it worked decently
    # Using manhatan distance might be better
    # Precalculating actual path distances between cells would be ideal I guess

ELSE 
    MOVE to the next cell on the move valuable path return from path finding (5 cells away/levels deep)

    
    
################
# Cell scoring #
################
    
IF cell position == my pac position
    RETURN -1

IF cell contains my pac
    RETURN -10

IF cell contains enemy pac AND my pac can eat it
    RETURN 1
    # If I return negative values, then my pacs will avoid enemy pacs
    # If I return positive values, then my pacs will chase enemy pacs
    # If I return 1 then they will "see" them as normal pellets worth 1 point
    
IF cell contains enemy pac AND it can eat me
    RETURN -10

IF cell contains enemy pac AND it is the same type as me
    RETURN -1
    # Slightly avoids enemy pacs