Re: enemy AI
 

Actually, depending on game settings (map size, percentage of magic sites, indep strength) outwitting them may not be difficult at all. Even if, like me, you're a below average player, you'll be a much better manager of your empire than the AI - you'll be better at site searching, you'll use your gold and gems better, you'll be better able to decide that such and such provinces are worth defending actively, and so on. The AI is very bad at surprising you.

Now, on crowded maps, it may be different, because the AI's initial advantage in resources may show very fast, and an aggressive AI may well ruin your day.

Re: enemy AI
 

As far as I know, on default settings you are outwitting an AI that has the same settings that you do. its only if you turn it up that you have that problem and I dont see why that would have to be spelled out in the manual. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: enemy AI
 

Thanks for the answers guys,it really helps. The map size is 8k x 8k with 10 AI. The independents setting is 5.

Thanks for your responses.

Re: enemy AI
 

Ah, my desire to know the effects of 'difficulty' levels is that I generally start playing games on the 'fair ground' level. Some game manuals don't tell me what this is. It means pump the AI to it's full intelligence, but give it no resource bonuses. Once I master that level I start on the higher difficulties.

It annoys the crap out of me when a manual doesn't tell me the exact effects of difficulty level settings...

Re: Global spells
 

Quick question been reading the manual and playing against the ai. New to the game still learning. Been trying to cast Global spells like the other pretenders.

I am missing something because ive been unable to yet.

Re: Global spells
 

If you've researched the appropriate school to a sufficient level, your mage has the necessary path levels, and you have enough gems then I don't know why you wouldn't be able to cast a global spell. If all five global slots are already used then your spell would need to overcome one to take effect.

Re: Global spells
 

Wick my friend http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Thank you for your response. Now I know what I was missing.