Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

I have SEIV Gold and play with the TDM Modpack (always). I only have time in my life for single player games. As a result, I want to optimize the performance of the AI and other races.

I just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions?

I don't get here that often (I have a new daughter... she's beautiful but makes it hard to be the hardcore gamer I once was http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif )

I try to scan the Messages but am often confused by what is compatible with what .... Proportions, AI mods etc.

What would the veterans suggest I do to have the best single player games possible? (I prefer large universes with 20 players... but am more than willing to change)

Thank you!!!!

Jason

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

TDM plays great as is, maybe I misunderstood the question.
TDM is se4 BASED. Proportion, AI Campaign and most other MODS; AI and other files are not Compatible with TDM or each other.

Try raising the Computer Bonus in TDM for more of a challenge.

Try AI Campaign if you want to try a Non se4 Based Game. The AI is designed to be very Challenging so don't give it any bonuses for your first game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Also, please don't add another Mod on AIC or some other Mods, it may break the Data files.

Link is below.

[ May 03, 2003, 19:11: Message edited by: JLS ]

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

Play Pirates & Nomads mod as a Pirate or a Nomad. Get SJ's AI converter to convert the TDM AIs to be compatible with P&N. This will give a great challenge. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Play small galaxy, 4 strong TDM races (like UF, Narn, Aquilaeian, Vikings), High Bonuses and AI vs Humans.
I you can win, send me the savegame. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

MB, that sounds like a nice set-up, I am going to give it a go, also.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Congratulations, Jason http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ May 04, 2003, 07:30: Message edited by: JLS ]

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

It is easy to setup a very tough game - try JLC' AIC mod and give AI even a small bonus... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

Thanks, Oleg.
At no bonus, the AI plays very well in AIC.

But I am toning that down little by little, even v2.90 is down from previous Versions, by v3.00 it should be at the Average Player level when set to default Bonus none http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
~~~
Plus: You will always have the Options for the Human Player advantage:

Name := Opt 1
Description := Human Player - advantage Results in: Best Home World. (plays well in any play style)

Name := Opt 2
Description := Human Player - advantage Results in: Higher Proportions of Resources (may use up resourses quicker in Finite Games).

Or both,

Please do not consider the options above a cheat, the AI doesn’t; why should you http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

These are for the balanced game of your tastes, please take advantage of them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ May 04, 2003, 14:39: Message edited by: JLS ]

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

How to Play With One Hand Tied Behind Your Back

To make your game against the AI more challenging try following some of these self imposed rules.

1) Treaties: Never make more than a Trade and Research Alliance.
2) Never break a treaty with the AI
3) Never glass a planet intentionally, Instead:
a. Invade
b. Blockade
Explanation I This is much harder
Explanation II It is more humanitarian, (ok, ok, I know what you are thinking)
On a practical level in the long run it is a good skill to learn for play against humans.
4) Do not research
a. Mines till you run into one
b. Point defense cannons till you meet Fighters, CSM, Sats.
Explanation I Basically playing “dumb” as if your race had never considered mines, Fighters, CSM, or Sats and the defense for them.
5) This gives the AI a time advantage while your engineers scramble to find a defense to mines, Fighters, CSMs, and Sats
6) Once you have researched mines or PDCs add at least one to each ship larger than a Destroyer even if the AI is not using mines, fighters, Capital Ship Missiles, or Satellites
Explanation I Most of the better TDM include these which take the place of more appropriate weapons based on what you are using.
7) Don’t use Training Faculties
Explanation I The AI does not use these. It really gives an “unfair” advantage.
8) Give TDM Races at least a “Low” bonus

There are a bunch more.

Anyone else?

Abbreviations:
CSM – Capital Ship Missile
PDC – Point Defense Cannon

EDIT:
I really do need to proof befor posting.

[ May 04, 2003, 16:11: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If the AI plays well now, could you have a Version where it plays as well as possible with normal bonus, to give a nice realistic training environment?

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

Is it possible to give a human the AI bonus? This would make for some interesting games - including stuff like 5 vs 1 with high bouns

oops, sorry, didn't realize i was double-posting

[ May 05, 2003, 07:18: Message edited by: Gwaihir ]

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

JLS :

Seems like your mod should be my next target for a brand new game.
Although I'm sure you tweaked the AI races devilishly, I have trouble believing that the AI is that good. As a modder you cant change the numerous problems that the AI is plagued with, like sending most of his ships in small party, or wandering aimlessly where as a bold move could have glassed all the planets of a system.

Please do sell me again your mod, why the AI is so beastly? And dont tone it down, I want to play with max AI bonuses and be humiliated by my computer http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions
 

Yeah, what Pocus said.

Basically, even if the AI is as good as an "average" human player (like pocus, i don't see how this is possible), you don't learn much from players who aren't more skilled. So it would be a better training tool if it were smarter.

Just giving it a bonus isn't the best of solutions, because the bonus doesn't fix flaws in strategy and other weaknesses, it just ups resources to try to compensate (which results in wastage with high bonuses, apparently).