AI concerns
 

I have posted a thread Last week saying that the game was rather easy on the default settings. I have been given the advice to try the Hard settings.

So I have started a new campaign on the Hard difficulty, small Quadrant, Many empires, leaving the bonus on 'None' for the moment. The beginning was a bit tighter, a zealot neighbor kept harassing me right from the beginning with his escorts then frigates. I managed to live through it though and stood firmly on my feet. Then empires started falling one after another.

AI empires do not fight effectively, be they the attacker or on the defending end. They keep sending their fleets piecemeal, and generally have very little in terms of ship numbers. Then I started paying closer attention and found out why: the AI is completely incompetent. I invade a system and find 10 Miners Mk.I on planet with 4% in minerals. Next to it, in the same system, 6 research facilities on a 140% minerals planet. This is an extreme example, the rule is more like Mineral Mining on 40-70% planets, and research/intel on 100%+ planets.
[No wonder the local liberated population gets Happy/Jubilant a couple of turns after being liberated, like a thanks for ridding them of their previous incompetent rulers http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ]

How does one expect to build an empire with that? I now own 3/4 of the Quadrant (about 150 turns, I like to take my time, research the maximum before they are crushed, outfit mu ships with the newest), but I feel that since I started expanding out the security 1/4 that I amassed my forces and resources in, the game is more like a mopping up operation than a conquest.

AI hasn't gotten better in the war department either. It is about year My missile tactics still do wonders. 2 Missile light cruisers with 2 Flak ships do wonder. I haven't lost a single ship so far, in fact only had one receive two bars of damage only because I felt too lazy to reform my fleet to flat away from an already doomed enemy ship.

Another strangeness. I provoked a crew insurrection on a Colony ship in a sector that was 2 sectors away from my nearest outpost. The ship happened to be right next to a colonizable planet, next to 4 other planets already colonized by the enemy. I thought "wth, let's colonize it", it will be fun even if I it gets crushed the next turn. So I do it and start counting turns. 2 turns later I make a platform. 5 turns later I make a pace Yard III. 3 turns - flak ship; 4 turns - Missile Ship. Noone seems to care. Ships of two empires I am at war with cruised by, alone and in pairs yet nobody tried to destroy that colony, and now it's too late for them.

I thought about starting a new campaign giving the computer some bonuses. But 4% in minerals will still be 20% with maximum bonus. I am afraid it will give the computer an enormous advantage at the beginning, then be almost the same in the endgame.

Besides, does the bonus apply to all AI resources, the 'minable' ones as well as Research and Intelligence? I'd rather give the minerals bonus but nothing to research, since in my current game some races have Battlecruisers just like me, yet hardly enough resources to build them with.

Can the AI ferry population between the planets that reached their cap and newly colonized ones? I haven't seen any evidence of that so far, all their homeworlds are capped, and never saw an AI transport with population in it.

Are things like where does the AI build its facilities, the fact that it prefers sending ships piecemeal, etc., hardcoded in the game or it can be modified in a mod? If so, are there any mods where this AI behaviour is fixed? I would soo love to have to fight for every system, not just the first 5.

Re: AI concerns
 

... Why don't you try making that mod yourself? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

There are some mods that try to change that, and other things too, such as Proportions, P&N, and TDM modpacks (I think.)

Or you can just get the hang of the game and join PBW and play with other humans.

Re: AI concerns
 

I usually play either TDM-mod pak or devnull mod. in both the AI gets some pluses and are at least better. They always seem to nail me good. Then again, I do not build any fleet at all until someone declares war on me...then a defensive one until I have a small, scratch-fleet...

Re: AI concerns
 

Neofit, try these settings:

TDM modpack 3.1 + shadows patch

Manually select the following races and put them under computer control:
Rage, Aquilean, Drakol, Vikings, Xichung, Shadows and 3 more of your choice. No random AIs, no neutrals.

Large quadrant (Not ancient. Maybe spiral arm)
all warp points connected, warp points anywhere in system.

AI difficulty high, I'll leave the bonus and victory conditions up to you.


Let us know how you get on=-)

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by neofit:
I would soo love to have to fight for every system, not just the first 5.<hr></blockquote>

THe other suggestions here will all give you a bit better of a challange. Or try playing against people. They'll give you a fight. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

The worst human you will face in multiplayer is generally better than the best AI that can be modded in. Unless you give them some insane bonuses or something.

PBW

Geoschmo

Re: AI concerns
 

The worst human you will face in multiplayer is generally better than the best AI that can be modded in

Oh no, this is factually incorrect and I do beg to differ - have you seen me play?

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by dogscoff:
Large quadrant (Not ancient. Maybe spiral arm)
all warp points connected, warp points anywhere in system.<hr></blockquote>

How will it affect the outcome if I play on a Small Quadrant instead? I am having problems remembering the next day what my cunning plan was on a Small quadrant, I wonder how a Large one will play. Do we play in a Large one to give more 4% planets to the AI to build its mining facilities on ? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Let us know how you get on=-)<hr></blockquote>
I'l be sure to whine when I get my behind kicked http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by pathfinder:
I usually play either TDM-mod pak or devnull mod. in both the AI gets some pluses and are at least better. They always seem to nail me good. Then again, I do not build any fleet at all until someone declares war on me...then a defensive one until I have a small, scratch-fleet...<hr></blockquote>
Been doing that on my first two Normal difficulty campaigns and tried on the Hard one, but a nosy neighbor didn't let me rest.
Besides in a Small quadrant with lots of empires I couldn't get far, like 4 systems, before I run into AI empires. Then these get colonized in a couple of dozen turns, and my people urge me for more vital space...

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
Large quadrant
<hr></blockquote>

If you cram too many AIs into a small map it makes for a lesser challenge rather than a more difficult game (which doesn't at first seem very logical.) If you want to use a smaller map, use less AIs.

Thing is, most AIs like a few empty systems around them to develop into before they flick into "war" mode. Trust me, give them some space and you will notice an improvement. Once they start to develop they can be really powerful, and of course utterly relentless.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
(Not ancient. Maybe spiral arm)
<hr></blockquote>
This is just to the amount of black hole, nebula and dead systems which can really cripple an AI.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>
all warp points connected,<hr></blockquote>
AIs can handle being isolated, but not as well as a human can. Their research and production is better spent on weapons=-)


<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> warp points anywhere in system.<hr></blockquote>
Helps with AI navigation / resupply moronities.

[ 22 April 2002: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

[ 22 April 2002: Message edited by: dogscoff ]</p>

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Growltigga:
Oh no, this is factually incorrect and I do beg to differ - have you seen me play?<hr></blockquote>

No G, I stand by my statement, even in your case. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

The thing about the AI is even a well designed and challanging AI follows a script of predetermined actions and reactions. Once you become accustomed to that you can plan accordingly and defeat them every time.

A bad human player however is likely to pull many "bonehead" manuvers during the course of a game which appear aillogical, but still have to be accounted for.

Geo

Re: AI concerns
 

ow, oh, ow..darn dogscoff http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif : Neofit: I tried the dogged one's suggestion and promptly got my arse handed to me by the Vikings. about 20-30 turns in (high bonuses, etc for the AI) I barely have APB-1 and destroyers and the Vicking meet me, 2 turns later their destroyers are glassing my small planets and the cruisers are *gasp* landing troops and taking over my planets...

[ 22 April 2002: Message edited by: pathfinder ]</p>

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by geoschmo:
A bad human player however is likely to pull many "bonehead" manuvers during the course of a game<hr></blockquote>

Ahhaahh, you HAVE seen the Growltigga tactical gameplan then?

Re: AI concerns
 

In my current single player TDM game with high (or was it medium) AI bonus is going well. In fact I am only secoond place. keep in mind I have 4 conquered races in my federation each of which breathes a different atmosphere. Additionally the ONLY reason I am still alive as the second strongest empire is that I decided to leave tactical combat on for this game and there seem to be an abundance of nebula, asteroid, and black hole systems on my border. If not for these the much superior Jraenor would overwhelm me. They have about half of the Universe under their power and the other half is united with me against them, for the most part they have even stopped fighting each other. If things keep up like this I might actually see an AI get MEE for the first time. Has anyone else ever seen this happen?

PS: I have no idea how far ahead of me the AI #1 is. But I am exponentially stronger than anyone else and from the short time I had a trade treaty with this guy so was he with about a two times greater than me margin.

PPS: I recently used intel to subvert some of his ships. One of them was in a massively scary fleet that happily was on the far end of the universe from me.

PPPS: Note that I am handicapping myself in a few ways. No mines or satellites for static WP defense for instance. Though if things keep up I may change that. Specially since in that fleet of his he had PD and Mine sweeper ships along with carriers and mixed weaponry on mixed hulls. Compliments to whoever altered the TDM races. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by pathfinder:
ow, oh, ow..darn dogscoff http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif : Neofit: I tried the dogged one's suggestion and promptly got my arse handed to me by the Vikings. about 20-30 turns in (high bonuses, etc for the AI) I barely have APB-1 and destroyers and the Vicking meet me, 2 turns later their destroyers are glassing my small planets and the cruisers are *gasp* landing troops and taking over my planets...
<hr></blockquote>
Oh, so they get such bonuses in research as to have all these technologies around turn 30? Or they start the game already knowing these techonolgies?

I guess I'll try without bonuses first.

Re: AI concerns
 

Where can I get the Shadows Patch please? It's not on the Gold CD, and a search on this board gave three threads with no urls..

Re: AI concerns
 

TDM 3.10 Shadow Patch

BUT, if you downloaded TDM 3.10 in the Last 24 hours or so, you don't need this. It's been incorporated in the TDM downloads. You only need the shadow patch if you got TDM before they found the Shawdow problem yesterday.

Geo

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> If things keep up like this I might actually see an AI get MEE for the first time. Has anyone else ever seen this happen? <hr></blockquote>I've got a solo game with the TDM Ukra-Tal as MEE. Don't recall what settings I started with, but on the Scores screen the Ukra-Tal have more than the combined total of the rest of the races in most of the categories. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: AI concerns
 

Neofit: All I gave them was high start bonus. Not sure what that gives them but it sure was enough...

Re: AI concerns
 

Well... although I’m one of the guys that did two AI srcipts that the people consider challenging (the Aquilaeian and Pyrochette races included into the TDM), I agree with the people that said that if you want a real challenge, play against other humans…
Anyway, every time that I want a challenging game against the AI, I like settings like this:

2000 Racial Traits points
Small Galaxy (the max number of systems should be the standard: 100 systems)
4 TDM Races (usually I play against the Aquilaeian and Pyrochette + 2 random TDM… you know, I want to test my babies! hehehehe).
NEVER play with Neutral Empires (is very easy conquer these poor bugs and use their population to boost your doomed colonies).
Humans vs AIs. (I know that this setting make the political options useless… but is the best way to get a game were the AI can kick your ***!).
High AI Bonus.
All the other standard SE4 settings.
NEVER use warp openers and closers against the AI (although that with these settings, I’m sure that you will have not time to develop such technology!).

I consider myself like a good player, but with these settings, usually the AI glass my planets before I could develop my empire… of course that sometimes I had success, but the challenge was great!

In games with medium and large galaxies, usually you have more time to colonize some planets and make some defenses without interference, then, in my opinion the probabilities to have a challenging game are lesser.

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by neofit:

How will it affect the outcome if I play on a Small Quadrant instead? I am having problems remembering the next day what my cunning plan was on a Small quadrant, I wonder how a Large one will play. Do we play in a Large one to give more 4% planets to the AI to build its mining facilities on? <hr></blockquote>

You'll find youself in conflict with someone immediately. That's a good way to get some 'instant gratification' I guess. You'll get some excitement, at least. Use a high tech start, too. With all the toys available right away you'll find even less ways to exploit the AI. It's much harder to exploit your superior planning skills when there is so little to plan with. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: AI concerns
 

Thanks for the advice.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
Small Galaxy (the max number of systems should be the standard: 100 systems)
<hr></blockquote>
Can you change the max. number of system? 100 systems is more like a Large quadrant, I usually get around 30 systems in a Small one.

Re: AI concerns
 

Hello,

in the settings.txt, line 15 you have the "maximum number of systems" set it to max 255.

small, medium and large maps are "in percent" of the max. setting. so youre now medium will be small and large will become medium.

hth
Vulture

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by neofit:
Thanks for the advice.


Can you change the max. number of system? 100 systems is more like a Large quadrant, I usually get around 30 systems in a Small one.<hr></blockquote>

Yep. You can change the max number of systems (looking inside the file /data/settings.txt, you can find the line:
Maximum Number Of Systems := 100
The max is 255.

This setting is for the max number of systems, and then it's the max that can reach games with a large galaxy. Games with a medium or small galaxy, will use a precentage of this max number of systems.
Then, if you usually are playing game with 30 systems, probably already are you playing games with an small galaxy and the standard max number of systems.

Re: AI concerns
 

Has anyone noticed that when you have a large number of races with the same atmosphere, then the number of planets with that atmosphere type appears higher? (Haven't really tested it out yet, it just seems that way.)

When that happens, I find at least one of the AI races (usually TDM) with that atmosphere type will suddenly have its score skyrocket. Usually getting higher than mine and ending up with a HUGE fleet of ships. Tactical combat becomes a survival necessity. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: AI concerns
 

Don't forget that if you change the Settings.txt file to increase the number of systems to 255 you'll need a new SystemNames.txt file with more system names so you don't run out.

-CS

[ 23 April 2002: Message edited by: ColdSteel ]</p>

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Ahhaahh, you HAVE seen the Growltigga tactical gameplan then? <hr></blockquote>

What's so bad about it? Do you auction off your own ships for beer?

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sinapus:
Has anyone noticed that when you have a large number of races with the same atmosphere, then the number of planets with that atmosphere type appears higher? (Haven't really tested it out yet, it just seems that way.)

When that happens, I find at least one of the AI races (usually TDM) with that atmosphere type will suddenly have its score skyrocket. Usually getting higher than mine and ending up with a HUGE fleet of ships. Tactical combat becomes a survival necessity. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif <hr></blockquote>

I think that the way SE IV places the empires includes adding/changing planets to the correct type occasionally. If it does this several times per empire (i.e. it rejects a location sometimes & starts over) that would increase the number of planets of the given type. If you have lots of empires using the same atmosphere type, that would create this effect you are seeing.

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
Anyway, every time that I want a challenging game against the AI, I like settings like this:
[...]<hr></blockquote>
Anyway, every time that I want a challenging game against the AI, I like settings like this:

Just out of curiosity, how do you set up a challenging single player game?
My setup is usually like this:

• TDM (latest -& Last- Version for SEIVv1.49)
• (standard, unmodded) large quadrant
• all warp points connected and located anywhere within the system
• standard events (low/catastrophic)
• high technology costs
• low starting resources
• 1 average starting planet
• empires are neither evenly distributed nor allowed to start in the same system
• Low starting tech
• 2000 racial points
• 19 AI empires (loaded from saved race files)
• no neutral empires, and no random empires
• high computer player difficulty
• no computer player bonus (I hate cheating AIs...)
• simultaneous movement (and, obviously, no tactical combat)

The low starting resources and the high tech cost IMO help even the odds. The main (and insuperable) AI flaw is that it can't adapt to the situation. With limited resources it's harder for the human player to use his "special ability", that is, to quickly adapt to new AI strategies. On the other hand, the AI doesn't suffer much for these settings - it blindly follows the same research/production schedule.

Just as an example, in the initial turns of a solo game I was at war with two AIs which used direct fire weapons (Xi'Chung and Sallega, IIRC). I researched CSMs and easily managed to keep them at bay. Then, the Terrans decided to break our treaty, attacked my home system with carriers and forced me to start another game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif .
Probably in another game I might have had enough time (I spotted the carrier about 2-3 turns before it entered my home system) to research decent point defense and to build PDC ships/sats, but I hadn't enough resources (I did not expand much due to my 2 other hostile neighbours)...

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Lisif Deoral:

Anyway, every time that I want a challenging game against the AI, I like settings like this:

Just out of curiosity, how do you set up a challenging single player game?
My setup is usually like this:

• TDM (latest -& Last- Version for SEIVv1.49)
• (standard, unmodded) large quadrant
• all warp points connected and located anywhere within the system
• standard events (low/catastrophic)
• high technology costs
• low starting resources
• 1 average starting planet
• empires are neither evenly distributed nor allowed to start in the same system
• Low starting tech
• 2000 racial points
• 19 AI empires (loaded from saved race files)
• no neutral empires, and no random empires
• high computer player difficulty
• no computer player bonus (I hate cheating AIs...)
• simultaneous movement (and, obviously, no tactical combat)

The low starting resources and the high tech cost IMO help even the odds. The main (and insuperable) AI flaw is that it can't adapt to the situation. With limited resources it's harder for the human player to use his "special ability", that is, to quickly adapt to new AI strategies. On the other hand, the AI doesn't suffer much for these settings - it blindly follows the same research/production schedule.

Just as an example, in the initial turns of a solo game I was at war with two AIs which used direct fire weapons (Xi'Chung and Sallega, IIRC). I researched CSMs and easily managed to keep them at bay. Then, the Terrans decided to break our treaty, attacked my home system with carriers and forced me to start another game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif .
Probably in another game I might have had enough time (I spotted the carrier about 2-3 turns before it entered my home system) to research decent point defense and to build PDC ships/sats, but I hadn't enough resources (I did not expand much due to my 2 other hostile neighbours)...<hr></blockquote>

Everybody have their own preferences, right? But think that the AI without any bonus, usually have problems managing their resources. Also, with so many AI players, my experience say that they have problems to expand their borders.

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Lisif Deoral:

no computer player bonus (I hate cheating AIs)<hr></blockquote>

IMHO, it is impossible to get a decent game against AI without giving it a bonus. And I do not consider it as "cheating". It is just... bonus. The main concept of SE IV AI is that it does NOT cheat: it doos not know a priori where are you planets and ships, what you are building in your planets, etc. Just compare SE IV with for example Civ(1,2,3), Moo(1,2) and many other well known games. In fact, I consider SE IV, bonus or no bonus, as a most honest and ethical (well, I may be getting to far) artificial intelligence around !

Re: AI concerns
 

"IMHO, it is impossible to get a decent game against AI without giving it a bonus. And I do not consider it as "cheating"."

Go play Proportions with a three planet start. Give the AI a high bonus. OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW. It gives them over 100k extra intelligence, and that's just the start!

Phoenix-D

Re: AI concerns
 

Well, this is exactly what I am doing for Last few weeks. Still, I refuse to consider this setting as AI cheating. I did accept 5x AI bonus as a legaly declared rule of this game. As such, it can not be considered as a cheat since it is not a break of explicitly declared rules defining AI opponents.

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by oleg:
IMHO, it is impossible to get a decent game against AI without giving it a bonus. And I do not consider it as "cheating". It is just... bonus.<hr></blockquote>

Well... I simply define AI cheating as "it's able to do something impossible for humans"... like getting 5x resources and techs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

BTW: how do you manage to survive against high bonus AIs?!?!? even exploiting the AI flaws I don't think I would be able to resist... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: AI concerns
 

Well, in my proportions game they aren't colonizing, and they aren't hitting me very hard with their ships, so eventually I'll pull ahead. That intel is getting to be a pain though- especially the order snafus. Those don't give a warning message most of the time..

Phoenix-D

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Lisif Deoral:


Well... I simply define AI cheating as "it's able to do something impossible for humans"... like getting 5x resources and techs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

BTW: how do you manage to survive against high bonus AIs?!?!? even exploiting the AI flaws I don't think I would be able to resist... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif <hr></blockquote>

Well, let then define human cheating as "it's able to do something impossible for AI"... like tactical combat, swapping population between planets to make them all non-domed, massing figheters in space, constantly refine ship designs to optimize it against AI ships, making "combined arms fleet", etc, etc. In fact, since AI does not learn from one game to another, you shall not be permitted to learn any tricks either. Thus, the one and only one game when you or me or anybody else did not cheat was the very first one. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Putting all of it in perspective, AI bonus is an essential part of any strategic computer game and is not a "cheating" in any form.

Re: AI concerns
 

Am I to understand that the AI uses the exact same research tree/pattern everytime it plays, no matter what race it plays?
I was ready to buy the game, until I started reading this thread... is the really that AI that bad, that it has no patterns for accomplishing major goals?

Re: AI concerns
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by The Beastmaster:
Am I to understand that the AI uses the exact same research tree/pattern everytime it plays, no matter what race it plays?
I was ready to buy the game, until I started reading this thread... is the really that AI that bad, that it has no patterns for accomplishing major goals?<hr></blockquote>

AFAIK the AI uses the same research tree/pattern for each RACE everytime it plays. However, since the game chooses random races for each game, if you have the 50+ races that I have in my directory, the chances of exact duplication are slim.

Re: AI concerns
 

It's not that bad. As it was said here it's hard to play against high bonus AIs.

Each race has it's own research file (among other files).
Some modders players have spent many hours tweaking files to improve their performance.
Combined with bonus makes AI races have better techs than you most of the time, and different races do use different techs and in different ways.

Re: AI concerns
 

I appologize if I made an impression that I do not like SE IV AI or consider it inferior to any other computer game. On the contrary, my major point was that in contrast to almost any other TBS game SE IV DOES NOT CHEAT. It plays exactly by same rules as human player, excpet that you can set up challenge by giving it a production/research bonus, which I personally do not consider as AI cheating. IMHO, the good example of AI cheating is MoM at impossible level: Every time I clear a node, it works as a night lamp for all magic spirits butterflies. Every single AI sends it representive even if it was on the opposite side of the world and supposedly never ever even know about this node existence !! Nothing even remotely close exist in SE IV. It has an honest, non-cheating AI. Unfortunately, it needs some numerical boost to kick your a..., and so be it !

A lot of efforts have been made to optimize SE AI research and in fact almost every race in TDM-ModPack follows its own unique path. What I refered to was that when you start the new game, AI will repeat itself, but it is propriety of your computer architecture itself and not SE IV.