The Mentality - a new BM AI |
I've been working on an AI called The Mentality (my SEIV AI) which relies heavily on missionizing their targets. Using religious talismans, allegiance subverters, shield depleters, and boarding parties to ensure the conversion of whoever they come into contact with, The Mentality is an experimental AI to see if converting other empires to its religion is possible, more so than engaging them in battle.
The snag I've run into is this: in SEV, the subverter only captures ships during battle, but not permanently. What's worse is that once they are captured in battle by the subverter, I can't force a boarding party onto them for permanent capture. You would think that a subverted ship could be boarded to permanently pacify the crew, but it doesn't work this way. 
Until I can find a work around, development on The Mentality is limited to their ability to board ships, making for a dull AI... I had hoped for psychic conversion as their first option and boarding as their secondary option... but I guess its back to waiting for better options before I can truly make The Mentality a worthwhile AI.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. 
Re: The Mentality - a new BM AI
Problem is stupid target selection (waste all BP on one ship, or die before reaching last in formation) and if there are friendly "killer" ships then they will kill ships ready to be captured.
Injectors would be intersting... but against the main goal of The Mentality to convert people, not kill them.
It's been a bugger of conundrum to resolve. If only subverters worked in SEV as they do in SEIV I think this AI would be a major pain in early to mid game until someone gets computers, but even then they have to put up some serious shields to prevent the standard Mentality ship with a depleter and BP.
The Mentality builds drones, fighters, and frigates to overhwelm enemy PD and so disable ship weapons and engines, and then the shield depleters follow behind with their boarding parties. Repair ships follow after the battle to repair items accordingly.
Re: The Mentality - a new BM AI
You can always say that their toxin injectors use something nonlethal.
Re: The Mentality - a new BM AI
Would it be possible to give the Allegience Subvertor the ability to have the same basic effect as a boarding party?
If so, then every shot 'depletes' the other ship's crew's ability to defend itself (reflecting crew starting to mutiny), making it easier to capture, and perhaps even having the effect of 'capturing' it by effectively converting enough of its crew and allowing them to achieve a successful mutiny and 'switch sides'.
There are a few problems with this idea, although.
1: For some races, it makes absolutely no sense. How do you mind control something if it is plant based, crystal/rock based or mechanical? Shouldn't a psychic race be able to put up some sort of defense?
What about encountering a race that is also religious? Holy war anyone?
2: Cultural incompatibility.
For some, certain concepts are alien, VERY alien... to the point they would rather die than switch sides.
It reminds me of something from the history of America, from a few centuries back, a bunch of native americans from a tribe were lined up on a cliff, and told to convert to the settlers religion, or die. In the end, all of them chose to jump.
3: Similar to 2.
Main difference, they go on an 'inquisition' to take out what they feel is a threat.
So as is, it might be better that the Allegience Subvertor is only a short term thing.
Re: The Mentality - a new BM AI
More BM AI's would certainly be interesting.
One of the good things about the SEIV (TDM) Ai patch was that it had AIs by different authors, there were real differences between the AIs, and the AI competitions held between them were legendary.
SEV has far more potential for creating unique AI behaviour and tactics for each race than SEIV had (because of the scripting), but so far all mods have had their AI written by just one person. It would be really interesting to see AI's by different programmers for the same mod. I'm really looking forward to this AI, it would certainly make games more interesting.
Henk
Re: The Mentality - a new BM AI
reminds me of the Ori (sp?) in Stargate... I wonder if you could do the same thing with planets? convert them...a prophet would be sent down and then the planet might or might not convert...I dont know how to do it, I always glass the planet instead of capturing them for rp reasons. Urban warfare is never good, and a planet of urban warfare is a huge Pandora's box
Re: The Mentality - a new BM AI
What about: Toxic injectors - kill crew, half speed (so Boarding shuttles can catch ship and capture imediately), shield depleters so shield goes down and one boarding party component.
Problem is stupid target selection (waste all BP on one ship, or die before reaching last in formation) and if there are friendly "killer" ships then they will kill ships ready to be captured.