The Cheaters v1.3 released
 

Before my computer went belly-up I started working on a race style called the Cheaters.

Basically they were to use every dastardly AI trick to take advantages of all the things the AI can do and the human player can't. So far they had ships with 12 engines on them, Construction bases with 2 Space Yards, and Defense bases that used Afterburners and could move in tactical combat. I started experimenting with troop weapons on ships before I lost anything.

I'm going to continue working on the Cheaters when my computer's running again, but in the mean time if anyone else has any ideas on unfair AI tricks, post them here. I'm sure I don't know everything.

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

On adamant, the AI has a tendency to use colony types that they haven't researched yet.

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

Using star destroyers when they have only attained a low level of stellar manip..... if that is possible.

Using small ships with shields, regen, organic armor, ECM and warheads. Well that's not entirely cheating but it is a nsaty little trick, especially if your shield gen/regens are hi-lev and the enemy weapons are not that strong. Their shields will soak up a LOT of damage, and their organic armor can also assure them safety for a while, while the ECM makes sure the enemy misses more often, so they can get close enough for the ramming. Since they're small, you can produce them in fairly large numbers, while warheads are still strong against large enemy warships.....

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

They were never able to use the colony ships to colonize planets. They would just design and build empty ships. This has been fixed though, many months ago...

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

I was not aware that the AI designs could violate player restrictions and still get built. This idea sounds neat. I think I might enjoy playing against the "Cheaters".

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

I've seen ships with multiple auxillary control centers before.

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

Oh yeah, The AI follows completely different rules for ship design than the human player. I'm not sure about some of the other things, but it sure would be fun to find out.

I think it might be possible to put cargo bays on weapon platforms giving planets cheap extra cargo space. The extra engines and double spaceyards are absolutely confirmed. That was the first thing I tested.

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

The AI ignores every single restriction in ship designing you can imagine. You can even get it to upgrade ship-only components to troop-only components if you are not careful in setting up a mod (overlapping family numbers are the bane of modders everywhere).

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

Interesting. So the AI could have a dreadnaught filled with ground cannons...

Re: Cheaters AI Race
 

If the ground cannons are more advanced than some sort of weapon you add to the ship design that the AI can place on the ships in the first place, yes.