Strange Agoraphobic AI

Litcube · #1 February 26th, 2004, 05:12 AM

What would cause an AI to stay in it's home system?

I have created 10 AIs for use with my mod. They're all very similar. I tested them all many, many times using omnipresent mode, so that I can see what they're all doing on the galactic map. However, when I sat down to play, I've learned they act *very* differently when the omnipresent mode is taken off.

I've tested all the AIs. All but 2 will do the following:

- Start out OK.
- Colonize all planets in home system
- Build one more colony ship
- Colony ship stays at home planet

And that's it. It won't venture anywhere else. Bothersome. Any ideas?

Krsqk · #2 February 26th, 2004, 05:20 AM

Do you have them set to build at least one attack ship while in Exploration state? AIs only explore using designs designated as attack ships; no other types will use unexplored warp points. Using omnipresent view, the AI has effectively explored everything and should expand normally. This is one possible cause, at least, of what you're seeing.

[ February 26, 2004, 03:21: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

Sabin · #3 February 26th, 2004, 05:22 AM

Do they have the Xenophobic cultural trait?

Litcube · #4 February 26th, 2004, 05:27 AM

They're not Xenophobic.

I don't have an attack ship in the explore queue, Krsk, but that goes for all the races. Yet two still explore with their colony ships.

Even scarier.. I've copied the AI files from the working race into those that are stagnant. Same results..

Baron Munchausen · #5 February 26th, 2004, 05:51 AM

Are you using the latest patch? I noticed some of the AIs in a game I was playing with the beta were very ... "non-agressive" in their expansion for some reason but I was busy watching other parts of the game. It may be that something has changed in the AI code that makes the AI not explore enough in the current game.

Litcube · #6 February 26th, 2004, 06:06 AM

1.91.

I've noticed that Krsk is right. If I allow these races to have a scout ship, they'll scout ahead, and *will* expand.

Thing that gets me, is that these two freak races seem to be eager. They will expand without any scout / attack ship.

There's clearly a setting within the race files that allows this "fearless colony ship scout" behaviour.

What is it?

Krsqk · #7 February 26th, 2004, 06:48 AM

Ancient Race racial trait? If you'd like, you could email me the AI files for one of the aberrant races and one of the normal races (text only, please--I don't really need the pics on my dialup connection

) and I'll take a look.

Litcube · #8 February 26th, 2004, 07:07 AM

Bingo.

You're the man, Krsqk. That was it. The only two that were doing anything were the Ancient Races.

Baron Munchausen · #9 February 26th, 2004, 04:55 PM

Bottled demon is right! Sooner or later they would be contacted by another AI, and when they reach the level of 'partnership' with some other AI they will get all the maps that their partner has and start pouring out of their home system. An interesting variation on the 'neutral' in that they will react more like you would expect a race to react when discovering it is possible to leave their system.

Effectively, you will have a new racial trait -- 'expansionist' -- which you assign or remove by the use of Attack ships in their build lists. A 'normal' AI is effectively expansionist, while AIs without the exploring ships are not.

Loser · #10 February 26th, 2004, 05:41 PM

For the purposes of the mod that I will probably never produce, I do not intend this AI to make Partnerships. I think I can keep them from doing so, I believe it is done with other AIs.

This particular race would be given some very potent technology, sort of a Here There be Dragons variation on the Space Monsters, only they might be a little more communicative.

My previous plan was to just give them very little supplies, so the ships sould be called back before they could get to far, though that would make it possible for them to spread a little, and might keep them from colonizing their home system, depending on planet placement.

If this works the way it sounds, and espeically if Boarders, Kamakazi, Carriers, Drone Carriers, Mine Layers, and Sat Layers will not traverse unexplored warp points, I van include angels and devils, heavens and hells, in that mod that I will probably never produce.

Also, by giving away the right System Maps, a player could direct these monstrosities into the systems of his enemies. He had just better be prepared to never make use of those systems himself.

[ February 26, 2004, 15:54: Message edited by: Loser ]