Line #37 Main/ManualLeaderAIParty


1	This trope mostly crops up in {{Action RPG}}s (although a turn based RPG might use something similar and team based sports games also tend to favour it). It's when the PlayerParty are controlled by the [[VideoGameAI game's AI]], like any other {{NPC}}. This allows games which don't have turn based mechanics to still let the player control all the members of their team at once.
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3	Most examples will allow the player to control one of the characters directly. This might be TheHero or the player might be allowed to switch between each member (being exclusively able to control a less important party member is rare). They usually allow the player to change the party's overall tactics and have the characters play defensively, offensively and other broad tactical options. Even more advanced games will make the AI fully customisable, with the player able to choose what abilities and tactics their party will use, how to react when low on health, etc (other games might give the AI the same complexity, but choose to keep these set in stone as per the party members' personalities). The player might be able to influence the behaviour of AI teammates with SquadControls.
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5	One of the main limitations of this mechanic is (obviously) how good the NPC AI is. In theory, the party's AI has to be slightly more advanced than the enemy AI (both to make sure it doesn't [[ArtificialStupidity get in the player's way]] and to make sure that it can function in all situations, unlike enemies which only need to be able to function in areas where they appear). Fortunately for the sanity of both players and developers alike, game AI only needs to ''appear'' intelligent. Thus very basic behaviours in enemy and ally AI can still give the impression of [[ArtificialBrilliance two intelligent entities duking it out]] when they interact.
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7	Another disadvantage is that the player might not feel that they're actually playing the game (indeed some games with this mechanic even have the option of allowing ''all'' the characters to be controlled by AI and let the game play itself). Of course, if the emphasis is on stat building then it's arguable that the player's playing the game for that aspect....
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9	Compare GuestStarPartyMember (who might be only controllable by the AI in a game where this isn't normally the case) and AllInARow (for when the party follows the player around on their own, but not in battles). See also VideoGameDelegationPenalty for when AI control of the party is optional (and taking that option penalizes you).
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11	This mechanic is a close cousin of the TacticalShooter genre, which often features AI controlled allies but generally has less focus on character customisation (as found in an RPG), favours hard realism and usually expects the player to micromanage.
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13	!Examples:
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15	[[foldercontrol]]
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17	[[folder:Action RPG]]
18	* You only directly control your squad leader in ''VideoGame/TheBureauXCOMDeclassified'', while your allies are mostly AI controlled. You can give them orders as to where to stand and which abilities to use, but for the most part they fend for themselves.
19	* Creator/{{Bioware}}'s [=RPGs=] tend towards this;
20	** ''Franchise/MassEffect'' had this in all three installments: you could decide on their armor and weapons loadout and give them orders in combat but only ever directly controlled Shepard.
21	** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' and ''Franchise/DragonAge'' both allow customization of the party members' equipment and tactics, and allow direct control over all characters. AI scripts direct characters that are not being directly controlled, and can be customized by the player.
22	** ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' allowed you to choose a henchman to follow you, and ... that's about it. You had no control over your henchman, which often led to ArtificialStupidity including randomly running off to attack enemies halfway across the map. The first expansion added party inventory control, and the second allowed you to have more than one NPC party member. In contrast ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' followed the ''KOTOR'' model, and the second expansion even allowed you to multiclass your NPC cohorts.
23	* A common feature in ''[[VideoGame/DotHackR1Games .hack//IMOQ]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DotHackGU .hack//G.U.]]''. Of note, the first four games (IMOQ) had not only commands on what your party members can or should be doing, you can directly alter their equipments. The thing is, as an online game simulation, the first four games were very menu-oriented, and having a leader being able to change his teammate's armor and weapon ''in realtime'' were too unrealistic, they were scaled back in GU. Note that GU still has a rudimentary command system, but for most part, AI teammates are intelligent enough to get the job done.
24	* In ''VideoGame/DragonProject'', you have no way to command your [=AI=] hunters, though they will try to revive you if you fall. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for their [[ArtificialStupidity poor AI]] and weak stats.
25	* In ''VideoGame/{{Evolva}}'', you can only directly control one of your four Genohunters at once. You can switch the active Genohunter at any time. While controlled by the AI, the other Genohunters tend to follow the active one and attack any nearby enemies, although you can tell them to go to a place, attack a specific enemy, or stay where they are.
26	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
27	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'''s Blitzball minigame had only the character holding the ball under the player's direct control, everyone else on the team followed whatever formation the player had set.
28	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' uses a system where the player sets up the AI for every party member (including the leader). The camera stays focused on whoever is set as the party leader (unless they die, in which case the game pauses and has the player choose a living leader), but the player can issue commands to anyone or even turn off the AI controlling them and manage the entire party's actions directly.
29	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': The player directly controls the party leader during battles and can only dictate which kind of actions the other two members take (support, tank, DPS, medic, etc). ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'' adds the option of switching the character you're controlling directly mid-battle.
30	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'': The player controls Noctis, with the rest of the party backing him up. Until the 1.20 patch, there was no way of controlling the AI, but you could direct them to use special moves. After the patch 1.20, you can freely control all four of them.
31	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyType0'' is fairly similar to ''XV'', where you control a lead character with the AI backing you up, but with the option to switch between your three party members on the fly..
32	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'':The remake allows you to control one of your party members at a time and switch them around, while the AI fight with the others.
33	** ''VideoGame/StrangerOfParadiseFinalFantasyOrigin'': In the demo, the player controls Jack while the AI controls Jed and Ash.
34	* In ''VideoGame/FortuneSummoners'' the player controls up to three characters (controlling one directly and having the option of choosing the other two's tactics). In addition to switching in battle, the player can also switch between different characters to solve puzzles. There's is an unlockable option to let the AI control ''everyone''.
35	* In ''VideoGame/FreedomWars'', the player can command their [=AI=] sinners to do various tasks, such as focusing their attacks on the [[HumongousMecha Abductor]] the player is fighting, spreading out, reviving each other, gathering resources, sweeping enemy Sinners and Accessories, and escorting civilians to safety, [[ArtificialStupidity though their effectiveness leaves much to be desired]]. The player can also command their [[RobotBuddy Accessory]] with the same tasks as their fellow Sinners, but unlike them, the player can customize their command set for their Accessory.
36	* Infinity Engine games all give the player the option of letting their party be controlled by AI (although micromanaging them is a better option during boss fights);
37	** ''VideoGame/BaldursGate''
38	** ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment''
39	** ''VideoGame/IcewindDale''
40	* The ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series has the player only able to control the Keyblade-wielding main character(s) of the game. In games that feature party members, Donald, Goofy and whichever character is unique to the world the player is in cannot be controlled, though their behavior and strategy can be changed in menus, and you can use team up moves. ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'' has Donald and Goofy replaced by {{Mon}} party members.
41	* In ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', with the exception of spell casting, you can only control one character at a time (although it allows co-op play where up to three players control a character), but the offensive action of the ones you are not using can be changed with a system called the "action grid", which allows the player to switch between offensive/defensive behavior on one axis and the range at which they engage the enemy on the other.
42	** Other entries in ''VideoGame/WorldOfMana'' uses this trope to different extents (with better or worse AI), as well as the distant American cousin of this franchise, ''VideoGame/SecretOfEvermore''.
43	* This appears in most of the ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' series. For example, ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'' allows the player to control one character, or the entire party, by setting all characters to "manual" in the options menu. In addition, you can set the behavior of AI controlled party members from a selection of tactics, with some being unique to certain characters. This works, for the most part, [[ArtificialStupidity but every so often...]]
44	* Downplayed in ''VideoGame/SoulSacrifice'' and its UpdatedRerelease, ''Soul Sacrifice Delta''. While the [=AI=] sorcerers can be commanded to group together by holding down the evasion button, that is the only command the player has for their [=AI=] party, but thankfully [[ArtificialBrilliance they're quite competent]] at helping the player by healing them, attacking nearby enemies, and dodging most attacks.
45	* Pretty much all of the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' games do this, with varying levels of complexity depending on the age of the entry. Most of them include preset orders for defensive and aggressive behaviors, which can then be further customized in the strategy menus. You can also choose to enable and disable certain of your party members' abilities, and most entries allow you to choose how often they use special techniques, and in some cases what kind (for example, you might be able to set the healer to focus on conserving mana, healing everyone, or casting a lot of support spells). You can also set their default distance from the enemy when they enter battle, how closely they choose to engage the enemy when actually in combat, and sometimes what kind of enemies they focus on attacking (same as the player, different from the player, flying enemies, etc).
46	** ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' allows the player to switch the controlled character in the middle of battle after gaining a particular item.
47	** ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' is similar to the ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' example, in that it also allows you to set the behavior of AI controlled party members. However, it gives the player far more options to work with, from selecting formations, setting the distance AI team mates should maintain between the PlayerCharacter and the enemy, and whether to allow them to use items (and how often).
48	*** Of course, at the same time a second, third, and fourth player can control the respective party members, usually with better intelligence.
49	** ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' uses a simple method of AI customization where you can switch the abilities you want them to use on and off.
50	* Both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}} VII'' and ''VII Part Two'' have a ... [[ArtificialStupidity less than effective AI]] controlling party members in combat. Party members would act effectively at random, often accidentally including the PlayerCharacter in area of effect attacks. They also couldn't be trusted with an inventory at ''all'', for at low hit points they would take off running and empty their pockets as they went. In ''Ultima VII: The Black Gate'', outside of combat party members were just a GreekChorus and you could make your life easier by keeping your party small; unfortunately, in the sequel, they became plot-relevant and traveled in packs.
51	* In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'', you can only control the leader unless it's a chain attack or after warning a party member, after one of Shulk's visions.
52	* In ''VideoGame/YsSEVEN'' and ''VideoGame/YsMemoriesOfCelceta'', the player controls up to three characters (controlling one directly and the other ones being controlled by the AI).
53	[[/folder]]
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55	[[folder:First Person Shooter]]
56	* All three mainline ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'' games have the PlayerCharacter assigned to command a squad of AI-controlled soldiers and/or tanks. The squad themselves are divided into different teams, each using different types of weapons for different types of situations. Fire teams are armed with full-length rifles and automatic rifles and are mainly tasked with suppressing enemy units. Assault teams are armed with submachine guns and carbines and are for flanking or close-quarters fighting. And finally, heavy weapons teams specialize in either dedicated AntiInfantry or AntiArmor combat, at the cost of taking time to reload their weapons.
57	* In ''VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce'', you're usually teamed up with a squad of AI soldiers which you can direct, and use to perform certain functions (but you can't directly play as one of them). Also in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' you take command of a squad of AI resistance fighters.
58	* ''VideoGame/CliveBarkersJericho'' started with squad leader Captain Ross as the one controllable character in a squad of seven. After he gained the ability to BodySurf, you could swap control over any squad member available on a given map.
59	[[/folder]]
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61	[[folder:Flash Game]]
62	* In ''VideoGame/{{Sonny}}'', you always control only the eponymous character, with your other members being AI-controlled. In the first game, there's three settings: Defensive, Tactical, and Aggressive, which can only be changed in between battles. In the second game there are five settings: Phalanx, Defensive, Tactical, Aggressive, and Relentless, which can be changed at the start of every turn.
63	[[/folder]]
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65	[[folder:Flight Simulator]]
66	* In the ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' installments that give you permanent {{wingm\|an}}en, you can usually select their planes and give them orders but you only steer your own plane on missions. ''VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar'' is the only one, however, where you can speak of a "party" (it had three wingmen as opposed to one in other games).
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69	[[folder:Sports Games]]
70	* In ''VideoGame/NBAJam'', you control the player who has the ball and the rest are AI driven (successfully passing would shift control to the player who caught it). You can freely switch between players when the opposing team has the ball. The game had a multiplayer mode which allowed up to four human players to control the team in the arcade version (leaving only one AI), however.
71	* In Creator/MidwayGames' ''Pigskin'', player's joysticks only control the team captains, and their teammates follow A.I. strategies based on SquadControls. The punch button, however, makes every team member throw a punch.
72	[[/folder]]
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74	[[folder:Mech Game]]
75	* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCoreVerdictDay'' has this in the form of [=UNACs=] (Short for [=UNmanned=] [=ACs=]). Not only you can hire up to three (in World Mode) units, you have one fully customizable UNAC unit to call your own (and with additional ones with DLC purchases). How customizable? Not only you get to determine their loadouts, you get to create their own AI via an full-blown in-game logic programming system [[note]]The same programming which has been evolved by FROM Software themselves as ''the'' AI programming for every enemy behavior since the very first Armored Core game in 1997, according to WordOfGod[[/note]]. However, this is also a partial example, as while you can certainly act as a party leader with AI "party", nothing's stopping you to simply let the AI do the fighting to you while you go about as an Operator; essentially a "Puppet Master" role. Arguably, while you can issue rudimentary commands to your "party" while fighting, being in Operator mode is more useful as it lets you modify the AI logic's priorities, essentially modifying their behavior on-the-fly. In short, how good the AI performs is entirely dependent on you, the programmer.
76	[[/folder]]
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78	[[folder:Simulation Game]]
79	* In ''VideoGame/ShepherdsCrossing,'' you can bring up to three dogs with you on hunts, which you directly control. However, you're always accompanied by an AI partner who also has up to three dogs of their own.
80	* In ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', you look down on your dwarfs, giving them general directions, but most of what they do is determined by their somewhat lacking AI.
81	[[/folder]]
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83	[[folder:Strategy RPG]]
84	* In ''VideoGame/OgreBattle'' you could control your leader, but not the rest of the group directly.
85	* In ''VideoGame/TacticsOgre'' you have this option, however [[ArtificialStupidity the AI tends to show suicidal behavior]].
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88	[[folder:Survival Horror]]
89	* ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'' offers a couple variations with some of its Killers.
90	** [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis The Nemesis]] is directly controlled at all times, and each trial with him also spawns two zombies who meander around the map on their own, slowly stalking Survivors who wander into range but too slow to be a ''huge'' threat.
91	** The Knight is likewise always under control, but the player also dictates when he summons one of his Guards to either patrol an area, or to break a generator, dropped pallet or fragile wall. A patrolling Guard will proceed to hunt down Survivors who wander into range, chasing after them until they either connect with an attack or get dismissed somehow.
92	* When you're playing ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' offline (which is the only way now, outside of [[UsefulNotes/{{Emulation}} fan servers]]), the player directly controls one character, and they're joined by two A.I. partners who operate independantly and tend to like running off by themselves.
93	[[/folder]]
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95	[[folder:Turn Based RPG]]
96	* The recruitable party members in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout\|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/Fallout2'' allow you to customize how close or far they stay from you, how often to use drugs to heal themselves, and how to use their weapons.
97	* ''VideoGame/MinionQuestTheSearchForBowser'': Only the Captains are controllable and only one of them can be out at a time. The player can help but can't control most of the action, which is done by the mooks
98	* ''{{Franchise/Persona}}'':
99	** This is how the party system works in ''VideoGame/Persona3'', which is a lot more frustrating than it sounds because the game suffers heavily from ArtificialStupidity. ''Persona 3 Portable'', which was released after ''Persona 4'', offers the ability to change to manual control, making this version significantly easier.
100	** Starting from ''VideoGame/Persona4'' the ability to change to manual party control was introduced. The ability to allow the AI to take control is still an option in all subsequent installments, but rarely ever used by most players.
101	* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
102	** The NES version of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'' uses this as of Chapter 5, with the hero the only directly controllable character. This leads to quite a large amount of ArtificialStupidity, especially when Kiryl keeps spamming [[UselessUsefulSpell low-accuracy one-hit kills]] instead of healing. The option for direct control is included, and on by default, in the DS remake.
103	** The DS version of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' has several AI settings (though by default, everyone is manually controlled). Once you have enough characters, you can even switch out the hero for someone else, which makes grinding a lot faster by merely having to push the "fight" button every turn instead of going through pages of spells and abilities.
104	* The ''VideoGame/MysteryDungeon'' series generally works this way in games where additional party members are available. In most cases party members will stick to a specific specialty, but in ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' (where the entire game is built around having AI-controlled party members) you can tweak your team's behavior on the fly to make them do what you want (most of the time).
105	* Followers in ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'' are AI-controlled, but can be given various orders, e.g. to stay at a distance, to attack a particular creature or object, or to stop fighting. Characters with a healing ability can be asked to use it on the PC, but they will heal any party member during combat, which can be problematic because their AI doesn't account for the magick/technology conflict. Between their tendency to waste healing items and the habit of equipping any item that has better base stats or durability than their current gear, this makes inventory management a little tricky.
106	* ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'' gives you direct control (which can be switched off) over your party leader while other characters are controlled by AI. Even then, occasionally your characters, party leader included, may act of their own accord based on their personality or status effects. Party members can also be controlled to an extent with sprinkles and the safe spot, which doesn't happen for the [[GuestStarPartyMember Guest-Star Party Members]].
107	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' can have your party be controlled by the AI with different behaviors. If you desire, you can have everyone but one character controlled by the AI or even have the whole party controlled by the AI.
108	* ''VideoGame/EmeraldDragon'' is an example of this. In battle the combat is shown in a top-down perspective and you control the main character to attack enemies or use items, and the rest of the party is controlled by the AI. It is then up to them if they use attacking/healing spells, or physically attack enemies
109	* ''VideoGame/WorldsOfUltimaTheSavageEmpire'' gives three scripts (ranged, flee, close), but still permits manually controlling them.
110	[[/folder]]
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112	[[folder:Wide Open Sandbox]]
113	* You controlled your entire fleet in ''VideoGame/UnchartedWaters'', but only your flagship is under your control in the sequel, ''VideoGame/UnchartedWatersNewHorizons''. The AI was particularly bad and thus battles in the second game are far riskier for the player (unless you chose CombatByChampion).
114	[[/folder]]

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