[licker]

Originally posted by SurvivalistMerc:
The AI does appear to search for sites using spells. I noticed major increases in gem income with respect to tien'chi.

Granted, they don't have the gem income of a rainbow mage. But who does?

Well I wasn't using a rainbow mage to search, and C'tis doesn't have the most balanced mages to search with anyway...

All I'm pointing out (again) is that from my experience in several demo games and now one complete game is that whatever I do with regards to gem searching I'm always well ahead of the AI nations. And that's even when I'm very unlucky in finding any sites at all.

What's more bothersome to me is the inability of the AI to build any forts at all. I'd imagine most people like to get a 2nd fort before turn 20 so that they can use their extra income on national units. I think that this in large part effects the army compostions of the AI later game. They also seem to be lacking in mages, which is also fixable by building forts (and labs) or just labs in specific provinces. I've not captured a single lab from the AI (outside of capitols), even when the province has good recruitable mages.

Just more fuel for the fire... I hope others will report their findings on this topic and that the devs will respond accordingly.

Let me also say that I don't think the AI is 'bad' as others have insinuated. I just think that it's somehow 'handicapped' with respect to building forts and labs (it sure builds the @#$@# out of temples...), and that handicap limits it later in the game.