Pesky and dumb AI |
I have a problem.
I am playing space empires since space empires III has come out. I must say I was satisfied with all the versions until now:
Space empires V has an extremely poor AI. When they offer a diplomatic relationship with you they don't stop! You have to refuse them every turn! When you have many players in this game and each is bugging you turn after turn it spoils the game completely and drives the player on the edge of a nervous brakedown. Is it so hard for the crew of SE V to put at least a simple delay timer so that tha AI wouldn't constantly bother me for treaties?
On that discussion I have a suggestion: The AI, after being refused, will select a random number of turns between 2 and 15. When that number passes then they would simply reprocess the entire treaty and see if it is even necesary to have a treaty with me.
Now the second problem:
Simply spoken: The AI just doesn't produce enough ships. No matter how slow I take it, I allways end up with more ships then all the other AI players together with an empire of the same size as any of them.
I even modified the ratio that each empire uses for constructing facilities, units and ships and I changed them, even then they barely had a chance against me but only if they allied at the begining. Which almost never happens.
Where is the fun in winning the game after only 2 hours of gameplay? I don't even get to research quantum reactor...
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
What annoys me is when they want to renegotiate the name of the treaty, without any other changes to the terms.
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"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily. "If it /is/ a good morning," he said. "Which I doubt," said he.
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
Attack them, that pisses 'em of, and maybe they go to war
No more annoying treaty spam
Remember : Pillage! then burn.
- Cpt. Kaff Tagon
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
Don't destroy them, just go to war if the bother you, and do nothing
Remember : Pillage! then burn.
- Cpt. Kaff Tagon
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
Doesn't the spam set me up for future problems? If we get minuses for ignoring or refusing it won't take long before they get mad. 
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
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"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily. "If it /is/ a good morning," he said. "Which I doubt," said he.
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
Been playing a game in 1.66 for the last 2 days, and I don't think the diplomacy problem is fixed. Most of the alien races won't send me any messages or reply to any of mine, only one out of 10 that im in contact with will even consider responding.
And I have to agree that the AI sucks. There has been no challenge in any of the games I have played so far, yeah its lots of fun but the AI never challenge me except in the opening stages of the game where they have a few more scouts than me.
Heres an example of why they suck : I'm making 1.15 million research points per turn now, and the closest AI is making 24000.
And I make 66K intelligence, and the nearest Alien AI makes 13K. As you can see its entirely one sided.
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
Try a mod to make the AI better.
The Balanced Mod is very good at both balancing the game and having a better AI.
If you want to stick to the stock game, try the unnamed mod (linked below) it improves the AI without changing the game itself.
There are also other good mods, but I have not had the opportunity to play most of those yet.
-Unnamed
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
You may be right. I went through some AI scripts and didn't see it. 
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
The Balanced Mod is very good at both balancing the game and having a better AI.
This is actually very good advice, I tried using the Balance mod, and the game is much much better now, much more challenging.
I'd say that the only problem I have found with the mod, is that it makes the turn waits even longer, but it could also be partly down to the settings I am using in this particular game.
Cheers, Dan.
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
Hey Dan,
Glad to here its more challenging. Using more races and having a larger galaxy will make it slower. Unfortunately so will having one of the modded AIs. Mostly because they tend to have more in-depth analysis/decision making going on and using/moving more ships and units. Basically just more stuff going on and to process.
-Unnamed

Re: Pesky and dumb AI
have you tried lowering the mainanence cost of ships? by doing that i found the ai always built more ships, like the 55 frigates they eventually accumulated on the warp point in between our home systems. (this was about 20-30 turns into the game in gids mod)
note to self: don't open unfamiliar doors, some lead outside

Re: Pesky and dumb AI
PBW is an automated PBEW system, so you're just sending or receiving a turn every couple days or so. It's not a real-time multiplayer server.




)
The AI is just as weak as before...
Re: Pesky and dumb AI
I assume you are playing with max AI benefit, and hardest AI.
I find that when AI produces intel, research, resources and construction (ships and units) at five or six times the rate you do, it starts to get more difficult.
You end up getting 40/50 ship invasions more often.
If you want more challenge from AI, hamper yourself. Change your game strategy away from warppoint defense. That will make the game lethal.