[jowe01]

Just finished my first 1.30 game: medium galaxy, AI quadrant (from Emperor Zodd I think, i.e. without black wholes and damaging warp point, less warpoints altogether), highest difficulty, low bonus (what still means twice the normal resources, research and intel for the AIs), medium number of computer players, all modded races from mod pack, 5000 racial point from which I only used 2000 for my own race.I allowed mines, but only 50 in one place. Furthermore, I reduced the power of mine warheads.


Victory condition: 300% of second after at least 25 years.


The good thing first: I did not win, the Sergetti did. However, the rest of the game was not always encouraging from a challenge point of view. I am thoroughly convinced that if the game had Lasted longer, at the end I would have been the winner. Starting position and bonus just favoured the AI in a way that I initially had to catch up. From 15th position I rose to 4th, crushed two empires and never felt actually threatened.


Some points to mention:


BUGS
I find the game largely bug-free by now, no problems at all.


CLOAKING
Works now and actually makes the AI more dangerous. However, most AI research both, cloaking and scanners up to maximum level in a very short time, effectively making the tech again useless (lvl 3 scanners can always see everybody). I will probably increase the cost of both technologies in my mod and spread the research calls for the AIs over a longer time.


FLEETS
Seems to be somewhat improved but still is quite deplorable. The Narn Regime time and again send single ships within the range of my plainly visible combat fleets just to have them destroyed during my turn. Often they even attacked a largely superior fleet with only one of their ships.


OFFENSIVE STRATEGY
Pityful. After destroying one of my planets, the ennemy always withdrew, foregoing the opportunity to cause true damage through continued attacks.
Single ships which I accidently sent into territory where they could have been attacked by superior ennemy forces were often let unmolested.


USE OF BOARDING SHIPS AND TROOPS
Never seen.


DIPLOMACY
Quite contradictary, unbalanced, often absurd. I had lots of "brotherly" ennemies and "murderous" allies.


Also much too static, no random or situational factors. When I give the answer that I will only ally with the Cue Cappa if they break their treaty with the Narns, there is no point in them sending me the same offer every fourth turn for more than 10 years.
An emire which is much weaker than I am AND threatened by my forces should have an increasing (with my general strength and forces in its territory) chance to accept (and to offer, they never do that) protectorate and subjugation treaties. An empire which is on the other side of the galaxy should never surrender/accept subjugation.

Also, the AIs do not consider your actions towards their allies/ennemies. Neither do they truly demand that you actually support them once you are their military ally or partner.


AI PRODUCTION
Seems to be improved, especially for the modded races. However, I still saw planets where the AI had not replaced destroyed facilities or which were never used to their maximum capacity.
The AI still tries to retrofit when this is not possible for one reason or the other (e.g. because of carried cargo)


COLONIZATION
Still quite weak. Most AIs had numerous colonizable but empty planets in their territory.

All in all, there is some progeress on the AI front, but from my perspective, lots of issues remain to be improved. What are your experiences ? What is being worked on for the new patch ?

[This message has been edited by jowe01 (edited 15 March 2001).]