Quote:
Originally Posted by theenemy
In one SP game, I set up all the players(except myself) with ALL NEGATIVE SCALES, sucky dominion and sucky pretender. Then I switched to AI players in-game. Well guess what, the AI recruited HORDES of cheap troops each turn while I struggled to keep my small armies from starving.
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The AI probably let its armies starve. It does that. It probably wasn't buying many expensive leaders (mages, for instance), which let it waste more money on troops.
It would be interesting to know your race design and game settings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by theenemy
Another thing that makes the AI harder is that all the "ultra-mega-uber-kill-everything-in-site-spells" aren't available until the higher mag. lvl's. And if you turn the magic research to easy in options, the AI only get's tougher for some reason unknown to me. So, if I turn down the mag. research... the AI b****slaps me to hell, if I don't turn down the mag research... well, the AI b****slaps me to hell too.
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Easy research is a boost to the AI. AI players don't spend as many resources on research as humans generally do, and making research easier lets them get the critical mid-level spells quicker.
Quote:
Originally Posted by theenemy
But perhaps it is only my poor troop placement skill. I have trouble deciding what kind of troop is better placed where.
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Quick rules of thumb:
Archers in the midfield, or slingers a little ahead of that.
Either way, some infantry just in front of them on hold and attack orders is a good idea.
Your main attacking units shoud be not quite at the front. Occupying the very front of the field should be a few small units of throwaway chaff (indy archers are good), who will take the brunt of the enemy charge.
If you have good cavalry (or very fast units of some sort), put them at the side of the field with orders of hold and attack rearmost/archers.
Sure, it's not perfect, but it'll often suffice against an AI.
Quote:
Originally Posted by theenemy
Oh, and isn't unrest 100 or over = not able to recruit troops?
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Yes for humans, probably yes for AI.
Quote:
Originally Posted by theenemy
They really should include SP diplomacy in this game. Would make things SOOOO much easier.
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Maybe.
For a training game:
Map: Silent Seas
1 normal or easy AI - don't bother to set up their pretender as the AI can make really bad design decisions all by itself. Feel free to choose their race.
Money/Resource/Supply: all 100. Changing any of these is unlikely to help you more than the AI.
Research: Normal or maybe difficult.
Strength of independents: 9 - don't try to take any indy provinces until you have a large army. The AI won't be as sensible, and you'll have an advantage in the early game because they'll be losing troops hand over fist.
1 starting province - it's best to start the AI off as small as possible.
Generally, the more AIs in a game the more challenging it is. Keeping games simple until you can handle armies well is a good idea.
PM me if you think of anything you'd like to ask.