TorchCraft serves as a bridge between the fascinating world of machine learning and the endless strategic battles of StarCraft: Brood War. By utilizing this library, researchers can create intelligent agents capable of mastering real-time strategy games. In this article, we’ll discuss the installation process, how to run TorchCraft, and some troubleshooting tips to ensure a smooth experience.

Installation of TorchCraft

To get started with TorchCraft, follow the steps below. Ensure you have a legitimate copy of StarCraft: Brood War as it is required for TorchCraft to function.

• Install required dependencies:
• zstd-devel 1.1.4
• zeromq 4+
• Initialize the submodules:

git submodule update --init --recursive

• Python Setup:

pip install pybind11

pip install .

• Lua Setup:

Requires torch7

luarocks make *.rockspec

Setting Up the StarCraft Server

Setting up the StarCraft server is the most challenging part of this installation. Here are three options:

• Standard Windows + StarCraft route (possibly using a VM)
• Using WINE
• Using OpenBW

Running TorchCraft

When running TorchCraft, you will need the IP address of the machine where StarCraft is running. Below are the instructions for both Windows and WINE:

For Windows:

1. Open bwapi.ini and set ai = PATHTOBWEnv.dll.
2. Start ChaosLauncher and enable the BWAPI DLL Injector [Release].
3. Press Start.

For WINE:

1. Open bwapi.ini and set ai = PATHTOBWEnv.dll.
2. Run the following command:

wine bwheadless.exe -e $STARCRAFTStarCraft.exe -l $STARCRAFTbwapi-dataBWAPI.dll --headful

For OpenBW:

Use the following command:

OPENBW_ENABLE_UI=0 BWAPI_CONFIG_AI__RACE=Terran BWAPI_CONFIG_AI__AI=BWEnvbuildBWEnv.so BWAPI_CONFIG_AUTO_MENU__AUTO_MENU=SINGLE_PLAYER BWAPI_CONFIG_AUTO_MENU__MAP=maps/microm5v5_c_far.scm BWAPI_CONFIG_AUTO_MENU__GAME_TYPE=USE_MAP_SETTINGS TORCHCRAFT_PORT=11111 BWAPILauncher

Running TorchCraft Client

Navigate to the examples folder and start the client using:

cd examples

th luasimple_dll.lua -t $server_ip

python pyexample.py -t $server_ip

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues during installation or while running TorchCraft, consider the following troubleshooting ideas:

• Ensure all dependencies have been correctly installed and up to date.
• Double-check your configuration files, especially bwapi.ini, to ensure paths are accurate.
• If the server fails to start, verify that there are no conflicting applications or services running on the same port.
• For any persistent issues, feel free to reach out for community support.

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Conclusion

Now that you’ve become acquainted with TorchCraft and its installation process, you’ll be well on your way to building intelligent agents capable of competing in StarCraft. With the right setup, exciting possibilities await in the world of machine learning and strategy games!