Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

I think the game has 3 mayor problems, so that it is too easy to win vs the computer players.

1.) The AI is too stupid. The Races included in the standard game are so peacefully that a war nearly never breaks out. But even with custom more aggressive races I found on the net you can control more or less with whom you want to be at war. This makes it very easy.

2.) Huge Planets. The computer seems to be too stupid to handle these planets in the right way. When I have a huge planet then I look that its population reaches the maximum as soon as possible, which gives you a great advantage. But the computer just let the population grow for themselves. I don't see very often a huge planet of the AI that is fully built up. Perhaps it would be more challenging when there where only medium sized planets.

3.) Planet types (Ice, Rock, Gas). As you get the other types late in the game and only with huge expenses the AI has very long until it invents colonisation modules for other planet types and uses them. So you get them a lot of time earlier and have a huge advantage over the AI. Especially as I make it very often to capture a Colonization Ship and get other colonisation modules very early in the game.

Does anybody know a mod that handles these problems, so that the game is more challenging and I'm not going to win that easily all the time?

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

It is widely known the AI is incompetent. TDM modpack is said to improve them.

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

Welcome to the forum.

In addition to the TDM, also try set Computer player and computer AI bonuses to high. That should give you a run for your money.

There are also a few more mods out that make playing the game more challenging. Check them out as well.

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

And for the record, Space Empires IV was not developed by a huge conglomerate game development company, it was developed by only one man. Compare SEIV to MOO3 and see which is the better game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

You said it all with "The AI is too stupid." Almost all your problems evolve from that. There are better AI's and mods that effectively improve the AI's performance, but the only sure way to a challenging game is to play against people.

http://seiv.pbw.cc/

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

Yes, the main solution is to play against humans.

If you only play against the AI, there are various ways you can increase the challenge:

* Invent self-imposed limits to your behavior, so you don't take advantage of the AI's weaknesses, or give yourself other handicaps. Players who do this can make the game as hard as they want, and vary the experience a lot too. For example, play as just one small part of the empire and let the AI control the rest of your empire using ministers. For example, you could play only a single fleet commander, or only the Bureau of Ship Design.
* Give the AI bonuses during game setup.
* Include many AI empires and use the "all AI verus all humans" option.
* AIC mod.
* TDM mod.

PvK

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

You could get both TDM and Pirates and Nomads. Copy the Races folder from TDM into P&N. Run the AI Patcher to make the AIs work in P&N. Then, play as a Pirate or a Nomadic race. That will give you a run for your money... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Pirates and Nomads Mod

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

Choose team mode in the game setup:
No AI empire will make a treaty with you but all will fight together against you.

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

In addition there was a suggestion about changing the culture modifers massively (i.e. construction rate per culture +100%), so you could give your AIs enhanced cultures while you yourself choose neutral (which i.e. gives no bonuses)

Re: Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?
 

Just my personal Favorites to make the game more challenging for solo play:

1. As suggested, put self-imposed limits on your own empire. For instance, don't glass any planets or use any racial advantages.

2. Use only 1/2 of your race points at game setup )or none if you want a bigger challenge)..

3. Don't force Neutral empires to surrender (or any empire for that matter) - it's too easy to grab tech and breathables.

4. And of course, max out the AI bonus and difficulty.

5. Try the AIC mod.

6. Don't trade ANY tech.

Also as stated, with a little creativity, you can make the AI more challenging.