[Talenn]

I did some experimenting and there is definately a 'diplomatic penalty' associated with responding with a refusal. There does NOT appear to be any penalty for just not responding at all.

I think this amounts to a pretty major flaw in the diplomacy model and probably accounts for alot of the reason why the AI is so darned peaceful. I think that is really the only thing I find severely lacking in this game...CONFLICT! Very few demands for gifts...very few ultimatums. Very little of anything except treaty requests actually.

Maybe my play style is completely different than most, but I feel like the AI is always wanting treaties. I miss the surprise of a quick AI war/attack as in MOO/MOO2. Even in SE3 you could tailor the AI players so as to have 'Conquerors' or 'Xenophobes' or 'Marauders' etc. This made for conflict and unpredicability in the game and greatly added to the game experience.

Nearly every game I've played of SE4 so far (Max AI players, Hardest Level, Low Bonus) has resulted in HUGE stretches of peace punctuated by my extermination of one race at a time.

Even when the race is listed as 'berserk' or whatnot, its still the same old thing...treaty request after treaty request.

I've tried to edit some of the AI files to make them more aggressive but have had little success as long as the player plays it cool.

Anyone else have any success or experience AI player warlike tendancies?

Talenn