Computer player bonus
 

When you select to give the computer players a bonus, what exactly to they recieve?

Re: Computer player bonus
 

I'm not 100% sure but I think they get a percentage boost in resources, intel and research point generation. Maybe popgrowth as well but I'm not at all sure about that.

Example:
Actual amount of minerals mined: 1000
Bonus: 10% (I don't know, just a figure)
Actuak amount of minerals added to storage: 1100

That's the way I think it works but I have no idea what the values are for different bonuses.

Re: Computer player bonus
 

I think that when you play on low bonus, AI gets DOUBLE in research points. I am not sure how much do they receive in resources but most likely it has the same bonus (double).
I always turn off intel (I find it annoying), so I don't know anything about that.

I am not playing on higher levels, but I know that on High bonus AI is researching really fast (like several tech per turn).

Re: Computer player bonus
 

Yes, Low Bonus definately gives it a huge research boost but it doesnt seem to be consistently doubled. Maybe only the base is doubled and not what they receive in trade? Its tough to tell.

Also, I dont think they get a production bonus on Low. I'm not positive, but it doesnt appear to be the case.

Talenn

Re: Computer player bonus
 

I don't think it doubles thier research, what I think the biggest effect of the bonus is, is that it lets them break out of some expansion plateau they get caught in. For example, if you play games with the ability to view all scores and watch the AI, you'll see that they hit this plateau where they just stop getting any more resources and research for a long, long time. They also dramatically slow down thier planetary colonization. After a while, they pick up again, but by then, any human is way ahead of them. Most of the AI's seem to hit this with between 15k and 40k research. If you put on the low bonus, they will not hit this plateau, but will be able to continue expanding straight through the game. And that, I believe, is what accounts for their much higer research. I think the actual bonus is much closer to the 10% guesed at below.

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Re: Computer player bonus
 

Nyx:

No, I'm quite sure it gets a pretty hefty bonus to it's Research Points. Start a game up with Low Bonus and then take over an AI player about 50 turns in. Note the amount of points they produced and add up what they receive in Trade. Then go to the Research Screen and compare that number to what you calculated.

Sometimes the number is about 25% higher, but often its nearly double. I havent seen exactly what determines how large of a bonus but if anyone has any ideas, please share 'em.

Thanx,
Talenn