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.

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

....guys....

....Guys....

....GUYS!!....

Cheeses H. Crackers! It's the guy's first day at the Forum and you're throwing Mods at him!!! Who says he even knows what a "mod" is?! Who says he knows how to install one if he does know? (No offence, apoch, if you do...)

My sig used to say "Space Empires: By Modders, For Modders. (The rest of us are unfortunate side-effects of a game release)" I am now considering re-instating that one. I played this game for 2 years before I ever came here, and boy was I lost when I showed up.

Sheesh.

Turin

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

All the other suggestions are neato.

<steps down from soap-box>

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

If he does not know what a mod is, he will soon find out. Most of the ways to make the game more challenging require mods, so it is natural to recommend them... It would be fairly pointless to restrict answers to not include mods...

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

I think he's saying give the guy a chance to digest the info. And, I think sometimes there's to much infodumping on newbies too.

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

Would you prefer that partial, next to useless answers be given instead? Should someone be discriminated against and not given a complete answer just because he is new to the forums?

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

Bwaaaaaaaaaaa-hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa!

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

You want challenging? Don't use the mouse, cover half your monitor, don't read the event log, spend no more than 30 seconds on your turns, do 20 push-ups every time you lose a ship, listen to CNN and self-destruct a ship every time you hear the names Scott Peterson, George Bush or Bill O'Reilly (yes, I know he is on Fox), surrender if you hear the name Martha Stewart, play standing up without using the bathroom for the entire game, colonize only moons, only research basket weaving, cake decorating and history of the sneaker, do not sleep until the game is over, and finally, using only escorts, explore the entire quadrant before attacking another emipire.

That would be challenging.

Slick.

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

Well, that will certainly make the game more difficult! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Many months ago, my mouse died and I spent a couple of days playing SEIV using the keypad only. I used the Windows accessibility feature to control the cursor using the numeric keypad. That was very tedious until I went out and bought a new mouse.

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

Start a game with both regular and neutral AIs.

Then on the first turn, set your race to AI control, and set one of the neutrals to your control, and play as the neutral.

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

I like that. And if you include your own race design then you will be the poor neutral playing against "yourself" (up to a point)

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

Thank you everybody here for your answers. This includes the Last five answers.

For me I can say, that I've understood everything you told about the mods. I'm playing the game myself since the very beginning, even if I've given it up for a long time. Until a few days ago I only installed some additional races (which helped a little) but never a mod. Actually I'm playing the AST mod. A very interesting one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif But it's the same as every time. The AI is much too weak. Perhaps the next time I play I will try to restrict myself. Perhaps I stop to steal technique by capturing ships that may be a good one to begin.

And I will try the TDM mod. Let's see when I will find some time to try these things out. But a theoretical question for the end: Is it possible to use the "improved AI" files of the TDM mod for the AST mod too or not. Or does the AST use these anyway?

I've only wanted to say that if you have any more tips, please feel free to post them. I've not the intension to close that thread. Its always interesting http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

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

You would have to edit them to be able to use the new technologies and other items in AST properly. The TDM AIs are designed for the stock, unmodified game.

You might want to look into the Star Trek Mod, which has far more of a Star Trek feel than AST. AST is basically stock SE4 with some light sprinklings of Star Trek. The Star Trek Mod is more of a total conVersion mod. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Note that they were made primarly by the same person, Atrocities.

http://www.astmod.com/startrek/stm.htm

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

Play blindfolded http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

More seriously, a lot of the suggestions below are good for increasing the challenge of the game. Especially playing-as-neutral and Pirates. Or both (THAT was an interesting game...) I'm almost tempted to load up SEIV here at school, and I would if I didn't have finals and two jobs to worry about. Definitely not a good time for a return to JOMT Syndrome (Just One More Turn).

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

Hmm interesting idea. But why is that so much more challenging? Just because of the low race points they have? Or what are all the special things with neutral races?

Totally other question! I've choosen at the beginning that I can only see the races I'm allied with in the comparison screen. Can I change that during the game somehow? Cause I want to see if there is anybody left in the unexplored space that may challenge me.

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

I am afraid not.

To make your game more challenging, use TDM, set the AI to use 5000 points, set the Computer AI bonus to High and the Computer Player Difficulty to high. Then you use 0 racial points with the neutral culture and no Advanced Racial Traits. For added flavor set all of your characteristics as as low as they will go and then launch your game.

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

I don't like giving artificial bonuses to the AI. But here are some role-playing ways to help the AI:
1) Ooops! Scenario: Start with 3 or 5 or 10 planets for everyone. Then on the first turn abandon all but your smallest planet. (In retrospect, it was NOT a good idea to automate EVERYTHING!)
2) Duh! Scenario: Pretend that your race doesn't know about wormholes until another race comes through one. (It can really cramp your style if nobody discovers you for 50 turns!)
3) Aargh! Scenario: Use some of the ministers. (If you are a despot, you have a duty to provide ministerial positions for the oligarchy. Plus, you want to enjoy your despotic wealth a little. If you are only a president or prime minister, then your power is limited by the legislature and the bureaucracy.)
4) YUK! Scenario: Play as a total xenophobe. Immediately declare war on everyone, and never use anything from anyone else. No planet or ship capture, no use of their population, no tech stealing, no demanding tribute or surrender, no treaties, etc. No cessation of hostilities. The galaxy must be cleansed of all filth (i.e., all races but yours).
5) WWJD Scenario: Or, play as a total dove. Short of surrender, do whatever you can to keep the peace. Declare that all space is open to all vessels. Never fire the first shot in a battle. Never glass a planet; only capture is allowed. In fact, don't attack planets at all unless one of your planets has first been attacked, and even then only attack planets with construction yards. Research ship capture ASAP, and make that your primary tactic in battles. Never attack colonization ships. Never use mines, of course, since they might harm innocent ships.
6) Voters Iz Stoopid Scenario: For a real challenge, roleplay a democracy, and switch between #4 and #5 every four years (40 turns). You might also want to make the populace less happy during setup. This will simulate the self-absorbed whininess of the developed world's populace.
7) King Tut Scenario: Your real goal is not to take over the galaxy, but to make a tomb worthy of you. Can anything less than a fully populated sphereworld suffice? This must be completed before you die.
8) Angry Wife/Boss Scenario: You have 2 hours IRL to live.

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

I love this place!

Turin

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

Dmm: LOL

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

Neutral Races can't use warp points http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif
This makes it really really hard to expand, and to reinforce troublespots. You'll have to be very creative with your politics.

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

2) Duh! Scenario: Pretend that your race doesn't know about wormholes until another race comes through one. (It can really cramp your style if nobody discovers you for 50 turns!)

<===I've actually played that one, I also didn't research military tech untill I encountered another race. Made for an interesting game.

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

How about a fully populated sphereworld filled with cultural centers? (proportions mod ofcourse)

I think I'll manage right after Hell thaws again.

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

It would be too easy Iaen. You should at the very least take the Advanced Storage trait; 20% more slots to fill will add some spice. And then, why a single Sphereworld? You ought to find a system with two or three stars, and build as many Sphereworlds as will fit. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

The challenge has actually been proposed several times, but nobody succeeded to the best of my knowledge. At least Dogscoff attempted it, and was under way at one point of the game; I do not know about its outcome though.