[PvK]

Originally posted by mlepinski:
It seems like the single most significant thing that could be done to improve the AI is getting it to build some forts early in the game. (Since in the long run these forts lead to more resources, more income and more oppertunities to build national troops). I'm personally of the opinion that any simple heuristic (whether it be build a fort in "any high income province", "any province with many neighbors I control" or "every fifth province") would be better than no AI fort building. Getting the AI to build forts in truly strategic locations seems difficult but it seems very likely that even sub-optimal fortress building would still help the AI significantly.

- Matt L. :->

Doesn't the AI sometimes build forts? Or are the extra forts I see them with all captured, conjured, or discovered forts?

A heuristic should probably be smarter than every fifth province. Should probably take into account current economy and number of existing forts, at least.

Incidentally, I think I've only built a single fort in all my Dominions II play so far... and I think it was overrun during construction and I lost that game to the Marignon AI. In winning games I've captured capitols at close to the same rate I'd want more forts, anyway.

Just some thoughts,

PvK