Raynor:
1. Poor Choices building on Planets:
Goto Default_AI_Construction_Facilities, this is where the ai models itself on what to build. If you have the default Version(as in not made any changes yet) you will see that for most colony types they have like six options. If you check out the latest mod pack 1.01 I think and look at the Darlock file (Dalock_Ai_Construction_Facilities) it has twenty-six options on what to build. Copy this and make it the default one and all ai races will build colonies with many more varied facilities. Next go to Default_Ai_Planet_Types, you will see a list of different choices the ai makes in order for pick a planet for a specific colony type.
There has been numerous Posts about modding this document, so trying searching for it on the board.
2. The way Ai attacks other races:
I've done some recent modding on all default races making them actually do what their race description says. With future patches and/or more upgrades to my mod, the aggressive/war monging races will attack faster and longer than the default files are currently set for.
3. the AI has no ability to design its ships:
This problem can be fixed/modded in the file called Default_Ai_Design_Creation. You can make the ships hold and carry whatever you want. I haven't played with this much yet, but if you want the ai to be able to build better ships and what them to have the weapon capability to handle numerous situations, then this is the file to mod.
All the things you have mentioned can be improved ten times over, someone has to do it first. With all the other modders and myself we will sooner or later fix all this, unless of course this stuff is covered in next few patches. But anyway, if you want a challenging game and be a huge help to this community, then start reading/editing the data files and make changes that improve the ai. I think that is how all the modders so far have gotten started. You bring up very good points and you're right the game is awesome. But each time someone Posts a new mod that helps make the game more realistic,
the better the game gets. I hope this answers some of your concerns, I hope you have the time/desire to fix/revise any of this above mentioned. If you have any questions let me know.
