Reedy

Join Date 01/2007

AI Overrated - starbases in weird locations

I've purchased this game based on the reports that the AI was quite good and have updated it to 1.4x

I'm playing on Intelligent and while I've only played 4-5 games I am a little disappointed in some of the AI decisions...

AI seems to build starbases in locations that don't benefit it, eg ecomomy in far flung corners of the galaxy away from their planets - no trade routes. Military starbases appear to give my ships a massive advantage once you apply a few bonuses(which is fine) but the AI sends in wave after wave of ships to engage my ships within it's sphere of influence rather then avoiding the thing. This wouldn't be so bad if the AI employed a similar tactic but it hardly seems to upgrade any of it's starbases to levels that would cause you to avoid them, or make them a critical target. Unprotected troop carriers seem to park themselves next to my ships for target practice...maybe I was expecting a bit too much but victories seem a little hollow when these thing happen.

(on a positive note the AI did take out a fairly beefed up starbase with a large fleet. Although I had assumed that it would be safe as it had a few ships parked their that didn;t get involved.)

Is there some mod out there that can address this stuff? I'll pump up the difficulty but from what I've read in the manual this won't give them better tactics

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I use econ starbases to increase my range. The AI does not get all bent out of shape with econ bases, like it does with influence or military bases.

So perhaps that part of your complaint is answered. It increases their range, so there is a benefit.

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Mystikmind

Join Date 06/2004

+20

Would you really wan't an AI that uses starbases as effectively as if it was playing chess?? The thought of that causes me to feel somthing an AI has never made me feel before.... FEAR! (that would be fun!!!)

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Maybe there is a case for the economy base to expand your territory...
I'd love to face a game AI where there is a strong possibility of defeat. I'm not saying I'm the world greatest strategist but it would seem from my small amount of experience that a strategy of building miliary starbases further and further into enemy territory would not be countered by the AI.

What am I not seeing that causes people to rate the AI highly?

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Mystikmind

Join Date 06/2004

+20

I guess when compared to older versions and other games, the AI appears much better.

There is one thing i have personally noticed about the AI which stands out;
it will actually travel past strong targets and attack weak ones. This is significant because in the past, most AI's will simply attack the nearest target. This has a dramatic strategic affect on the game.

There are a few other things, such as a better ability to react to your strategies... but nothing that isn't easily manipulated by a player, fun for newbies perhaps.

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Frogboy

Join Date 03/2001

+2419

AI does it to increase range and tends to use economy bases to do it as to not offend anyone.

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How can you say it's too easy? I've had the game for a few months now and haven't won yet

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Mystikmind

Join Date 06/2004

+20

How can you say it's too easy? I've had the game for a few months now and haven't won yet

Let me guess... your finances are killing your game rite?

Finances are by far the biggest bitch in the game, especially for beginners. Once i learnt to handle my finances, i became virtually invincible. Although even now, finances are still the severest limiting factor in my game.

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Nah, finances are pretty easy actually to be honest

I just seemed to get utterly owned militarily (yes I do make my own ships), and I'm not always sure to research so seem to just go 'eh, I'll research *everything*!'.

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Mystikmind

Join Date 06/2004

+20

Nah, finances are pretty easy actually to be honest I just seemed to get utterly owned militarily (yes I do make my own ships), and I'm not always sure to research so seem to just go 'eh, I'll research *everything*!'

Research is a critical thing for this game. An example, there is no point gaining planetary improvements untill most of my planets start running out of things to build.

Obviously military technology is important... You can manipulate what weapons and defences the AI uses - A good example is to spread far and wide, one kind of weapon. Try to get the AI to take on that weapon type, and then when they declare war, upgrade your fleet as apropriate. Upgrading is critical to fool the AI, you will do well to remember this. You can defeat far superior forces if you have the right combination of defences and weapons.

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The AI should probably give up on using military starbases. I say this mostly because it doesn't protect any of it's starbases with ships/fleets. What is the point of a starbase to boost your ships if you allow your enemy to blow it up immediately ?

As for the economy ones I think the AI does ok. It probably doesn't focus enough on building them up vs spamming them, but I don't see this as a big deal.

The bigger problem is when you see the AI basically forget about one of it's resource bases. (leave it at +5% for months and months at a time) The AI probably needs to ensure a planet keeps building constructors to ensure that this doesn't happen.

For me personally, building up resource bases is a priority over almost everything else.

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Mystikmind

Join Date 06/2004

+20

The bigger problem is when you see the AI basically forget about one of it's resource bases. (leave it at +5% for months and months at a time) The AI probably needs to ensure a planet keeps building constructors to ensure that this doesn't happen.

Perhaps.

The AI has a priority system which best ensures it's survival within the limitations of the AI engine. Since the AI cannot protect its ships and planets with the same finnesse a player can, it is understandable that it may not be wise for it to build constructors under the same circumstances that a player still can.

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