Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

I know this was discussed a bit before with the blank mod files - but is it possible to start with a blank mod, and dynamically give the AI advantages? Gems, gold, +resource %, +income%, etc?

I've got a fun SP game going where I'm smack in the middle of 7 nations, each of which somehow ignored me and fought someone else - so I was able to build, temple up and research fully. I finally got bored, but they've all depleted themselves in their wars (Thetis just helped them along http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gifand its pretty anti-climactic. Most of them are mighty, so i figured a better final fight http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

For the future, could I 1. start with a blank mod 2.???? 3. have super AI? What would ??? actually be?

And to beat a dead horse, I REALLY wish the AI could deal with or even use SCs. They're my fav part of the game, yet its almost cheating going that direction.

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

Eventually I hope to get some of my auto-generated "surprise" scenarios available for download. Especially with some of the new options.

Until then Im not sure what things can be affected midgame by a mod. You could probably buff-up the nations if you knew which ones you wanted to buff. Lower the cost of some of their units if you can be specific and not affect any of yours. MAYBE redisign their national magic sites? Someone tht does more MODs than me can probably answer.

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

You can drop gold and resource bonuses onto their national sites - change their unit attributes etc. One thing the AI benefits greatly from is units that spawn gems. Oh and you can drop Ulm's national fort production bonus on them as well. All this stuff works midgame, to the best of my knowledge.

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

So any idea for the actual mechanics?

I'd really just want to give them about 10k gold and 100-200 of each gem type, maybe even slaves. How about influencing their production via percentage? i.e. give them a 15% resource bonus, or even 25% since they don't really use SC's? Kind of a one-shot kick in the pants to see if they step up.

I've retired the game as I'm pretty much unstoppable, but maybe 200 gems of each type will allow them to knock some of my globals off, and the gold/resources might allow them to field more armies. The problem being, even then I could probably take em with my SCs or better gem production over time. I wouldn't want to limit myself (I like the high game, lots of gems lots of items), but what's the best way to buff the AI mid-longterm?

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

Well you can give them crazy powerful units by simply turning one unit they've built a lot of into a much more powerful one. For example unit number 11111 (let's say they're playing Ulm, you want to turn ulm infantry into black templars or something) gets #copystats 2222222 #copyspr 22222222 or whatever. I'm fairly sure the changes will take place to units that have already been built (I know the sprite will, not sure about stats).

The way to add gem, resource and gold income midgame is to select a magic site you know belongs to the enemy nation (like forges of ulm etc) national site and give it #gems 4 100 #gold 5000 #res 1000 or something. Have a look at national site modding in the modding manual for specifics.

If you want to give them a one-off boost just give them a big income from the site and then remove the lines from the mod one turn later.

You can't give nations flat resource or gold % increases via modding.

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

hmm, interesting. I'd rather give them a 1 time bonus and see what they did with it vs. upgrading their 100's of infantry. Guess it will far and away then, haven't even started looking at actually doing mods yet. Nice to know its at least kind of possible though

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

You can always message it to them.

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

Heh. Give a man a modding tool and suddenly every problem looks like a mod.

Messaging it to them would also work ;]

Re: Request: Buffing the AI midgame
 

HA! true, true... if I had it in the first place http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I'm thinking more of just as you hit your groove, good gem/gold income, good items and research, good site coverage.. optimal time to go to war and you find out they're push overs.

I'd rather bring them up to my level then drop myself down to theirs (worked hard to get there!)

I'll try playing vs. impossible AI and just trying to get to the groove, up till now been playing against diff/mighty... although once you get the edge in gems/construction it really seems game over. lvl 8 artifacts can change the game, and if there is no competition for them its short lived fun.