How AI Agents Work
Reticle Cold War features AI-driven characters that remember, evaluate, and evolve based on your interactions.
Not Chatbots—Constrained Intelligence
Unlike open-ended AI tools where anything goes, our AI agents operate within established lore and game rules. They're sophisticated enough to create dynamic interactions while remaining grounded in the game world.
What This Means
| RPG Chatbots | Reticle Cold War AI |
|---|---|
| Can say anything | Constrained by character, faction, and lore |
| Narrative can drift anywhere | Stays within established world rules |
| No persistent memory | Remembers your history |
| No consequence tracking | Evaluates your actions over time |
| Replaces game design | Enhances game design |
Memory Systems
AI agents remember your interactions:
Short-Term Memory
- Current conversation context
- Recent choices and their outcomes
- Immediate relationship status
Long-Term Memory
- Previous missions together
- Historical trust/distrust
- Major decisions you've made
- Promises kept or broken
Faction Memory
- Your standing with their faction
- Notable actions (positive and negative)
- Reputation across faction network
How Agents Evaluate You
Every interaction is assessed:
Success Metrics
Did you accomplish objectives?
- Mission completion rate
- Quality of outcomes
- Collateral consequences
Reliability Metrics
Can you be trusted?
- Promises kept vs. broken
- Consistency of behavior
- Alignment between words and actions
Competence Metrics
Are you effective?
- Skill check performance
- Decision quality
- Resource efficiency
Relationship Metrics
Do they like working with you?
- Respect earned
- Personal rapport
- Shared history
Agent Evolution
AI agents change based on your relationship:
Trust Levels
| Level | Agent Behavior |
|---|---|
| Hostile | Refuses cooperation, actively opposes |
| Suspicious | Minimal information, constant testing |
| Neutral | Professional but guarded |
| Friendly | Shares more, gives benefit of doubt |
| Trusted | Full cooperation, exclusive opportunities |
Behavioral Adaptation
Agents adjust how they interact with you:
- Communication style — Formal ↔ casual based on rapport
- Information sharing — More trust = more intel
- Mission offers — Better opportunities for reliable operatives
- Flexibility — Trusted agents cut you slack; suspicious ones don't
Permanent Changes
Some interactions permanently alter agent relationships:
- Betraying their faction
- Saving their life
- Major success or failure together
- Breaking or keeping critical promises
Agent Types
Faction Representatives
Speak for their organization:
- Provide faction missions
- Evaluate your standing
- Gate access to faction content
Mission Contacts
Your handlers for specific operations:
- Brief you on objectives
- Monitor progress
- Debrief results
Advisement Clients
NPCs seeking your counsel:
- Present dilemmas
- Act on your advice
- Remember outcomes
Intelligence Assets
Sources in the field:
- Provide information
- Require cultivation
- Can be burned or lost
Conversation Dynamics
AI conversations aren't scripted dialogue trees:
Dynamic Responses
Agents respond to:
- Your word choices
- Your tone and approach
- Your skill levels
- Your history together
Skill Integration
Your skills affect conversations:
- High Negotiation = more persuasion options
- High Pattern Recognition = notice inconsistencies
- High Faction Relations = better starting positions
Real Consequences
What you say matters:
- Promises create expectations
- Lies can be discovered
- Insults aren't forgotten
- Trust is earned and lost
Using AI Agents Effectively
Building Relationships
- Be consistent — Agents notice behavioral patterns
- Keep promises — Or don't make them
- Demonstrate competence — Success builds trust
- Invest time — Relationships develop gradually
Leveraging Trust
High-trust relationships provide:
- Better mission opportunities
- Inside information
- Forgiveness for mistakes
- Exclusive content access
Managing Multiple Agents
Different agents may have:
- Competing interests
- Conflicting loyalties
- Different trust levels with you
Balance relationships strategically.
The Advisement System
A special AI interaction mode:
How It Works
- NPC faces a difficult decision
- They present the situation to you
- You provide counsel based on your assessment
- They act on your advice (or don't)
- Outcomes unfold over time
- Your reputation adjusts based on results
Why It Matters
- Your advice shapes the game world
- Good counsel builds advisory reputation
- Bad advice has consequences
- NPCs remember and learn
Technical Grounding
All AI behavior is bounded by:
- Character profiles — Each agent has defined personality, knowledge, and limits
- Faction rules — Agents act within faction interests
- World lore — Nothing contradicts established universe
- Game systems — AI respects mechanics (skill checks, etc.)
This prevents the "AI hallucination" problem where characters say impossible things or break immersion.
Next Steps
- AI-Powered Live Missions — Where you interact with agents
- Factions — Understanding faction agents
- Skills — How skills affect interactions