Towards Explainable NPCs: A Relational Exploration Learning Agent

Matthew Molineaux, Dustin Dannenhauer, David W. Aha

Abstract: Non-player characters (NPCs) in video games are a common form of frustration for players because they generally provide no explanations for their actions or provide simplistic explanations using fixed scripts. Motivated by this, we consider a new design for agents that can learn about their environments, accomplish a range of goals, and explain what they are doing to a supervisor. We propose a framework for studying this type of agent, and compare it to existing reinforcement learning and self-motivated agent frameworks. We propose a novel design for an initial agent that acts within this framework. Finally, we describe an evaluation centered around the supervisor's satisfaction and understanding of the agent's behavior.