I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

Just finished my first game (lost)

Played TDM mod with Colonials (medium AI w/low bonus, largest map, large # random AI).

I was #2 in score behind the Bab5 humans (name?)my score was 1.5mil to his 5.3, he was at war with everyone (MEE?) else and the remainder of the AI were below 1mil.

The SOB was my ally at the time and he blew up a star in my system wiping out 1/3 of my entire military, not to mention the millions of innocent people and production.

So I finally declare war on him to help out my other allies...he intels me to death, turns every ally against me, destroys resources, blows up ships, it goes on and on...oh the tragedy.
I Lasted about 3 more difficult years as my empire slowly crumpled around me.

GREAT GAME!!!!

We'll see how the Romulans make out this time, I will try to learn from my mistakes.

What I learned, watch resources, intel points and what "allied ships" come into your territory. Didn't realize the AI would be so devious.

[ April 07, 2003, 16:04: Message edited by: Hunkpapa ]

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

Sounds like a great game! It always bugs me when I hear about how weak the AI is for SE4, especially when this is the same AI that can pull a fast one on my fleets. Reciently the Orion Faction started creating heavy mount weapons within 10 turns and really gave me a run for my money. Also, another race placed plenty of mines on one planet, a strategy that I hadn't seen before and wasn't expecting. When my largest fleet moved in to start taking over a quadrant, guess which was the first planet I tried to assault? I had to spend the next few turns getting repair crafts to that quad to beef them back up before I went bankrupt just keeping them flying.

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

It isn't that the AI is weak really. It is that the AI is predictable. After you play against it enough times you learn what it is and is not going to do and can easily anticipate it. The TDM modpack and some of the excellent other races out there alleviate this somewhat but it still exists to a certain degree. The AI's do what they do very well. But what they can't do they can't do and a human player can.

I would say that SE4 has one of the strongest AI's around in a game. Especially if you consider the level of complexity that exists within SE4.

As for having the AI beat you... try this one:

Medium Galaxy 100 star max lots of AI high diff no bonus.
Playing as the Terrans

Not my first game but pretty early on there. I was doing great and reached MEE for the very first time. This took me by surprise. As it turns out I wasn't producing enough intel to handle all the other opponents combined. I ended up feeling alot like the Empire in Star Wars. No one could stop me head on but my own people kept rioting and rebelling and ships would switch sides. I had several planets break off and form their own empires. Empires that didn't Last too long I might add. In the end I wound up with lots of fighters all over (they don't turn over to the other side) they were around the stars in orbit of the planets, everywhere. I reached the unit limit... and slowly died as my own fleets tore themselves apart and my production went down as planets rioted and rebelled.

My Last ditch effort was to bring down all the warppoints and end contact with all outside races until I could get enough Intel going. My Last warp point ship went over to the other side when it was one turn away from the Last warp point opening into my space. So close... yet so far.

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

I haven't won yet, or even come close. I like to play with no warp points, and use my tech to charge headfirst into Stellar Manipulation. As soon as I open the warp point, I get creamed by the weapons of doom on the other side posing as a ship.

If I take the alternate route and research weapons, armor, and shields, I end up losing because I don't have enough colonies and can't keep up with the tech.

I'm not sure how to do this really.

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

You should always play with the AI on high difficulty. It allows the AI to use all ministers and function better. To increase or decrease the challenge, only adjust the bonus!

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

Cyrien hit the nail on the head. The AI cannot change tactics, ship designs, formations, strategies, etc., during a game as those are taken from the way the AI files are written by the AI designer. A human has the capability of changing to counter what is being thrown at him.

What I did to keep the solo game fresh was to put as many races as I could in the TDM race directory. I had about 60 races at one time. By doing this, and using computer generated races, you are much more likely to get a different flavor with every game. It takes many games before you figure out all the races. Once you do, you are ready for PBW.

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

Fading Suns: Orion Faction did ok? hmmm.....

Good to hear http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

I have to admit, I was impressed the first time I went through a worm hole into an AI controlled system and had 7 of my ships taken out by a mine field. Didn't know the AI used mines!! Good job!

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

I have found out the the most intense game is with small quadrant, 6 races, no neutrals, High AI dificulty and medium AI bonus. It gets nasty long before getting cloaking tech.
This works best with Proportions, in which an Empire can lose every single colony, but as long it retains its homeworld there is chance to turn back the tide. I have found the hard way how easily a Homeworld can become an Stalingrad.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: I just got my butt kicked by the AI
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was doing the same thing before the demise of my old computer. Now I have to rebuild my library, although there is a possibility I can salvage the info from my old hard drive. Let's hope so. I really don't want to re-download everything. Heck, I still haven't had the chance to download TDM yet. When I'm not playing Proportions, I'm downloading other stuff. And most of it isn't SE4G right now. Too much info, not enough time (at least at home; can't download at work).

[ April 08, 2003, 20:54: Message edited by: gregebowman ]