AI Design

[Litcube]

Is there any way to get the AI to design two or more different attack ship types at a time? It seems as though, if I define more than one Attack type ship in their design file, they only build the Last "attack" entry. It'd be nice if they were more varied.

[Rollo]

yes, that is possible. You can use the 'Boarding Ship' and 'Kamikaze Attack Ship' design types for you alternate Ships of the Line.

Those design types are treated just like Attack Ships in regards to inclusion into fleets. I use this a lot for my AI. Works fine. I usually do a 2nd Attack Ship with a different weapon combo and use the 3rd design for a support role (supply ship, repair ship, PD ship, and/or sensors; whatever fits your strategy best).

[ February 15, 2004, 00:59: Message edited by: Rollo ]

[Urendi Maleldil]

Is it possible to get the AI to design and use ships that are cross between Attack Ships and Carriers?

Ships would have main weapons like an attack ship and be used mostly for the same purposes, but have one of two Fighter Bays.

[Atrocities]

I can get them to make alternate designs as well. Its a bit of a trick, but can be done. Thanks Rollo for the help on the STM.

[Rollo]

Originally posted by Urendi Maleldil:
Is it possible to get the AI to design and use ships that are cross between Attack Ships and Carriers?

Ships would have main weapons like an attack ship and be used mostly for the same purposes, but have one of two Fighter Bays.

yes, that is possible. You'll have to use the Carrier design type for that (otherwise the fleet minister won't fill up the bays before joining a fleet). Simply use weapon as majority component, then the AI will use a warship hull for the design instead of a carrier hull. Add the fighter bays via the misc. abilities. Voila.

PS: that is also a good way to create alternate attack ships.

[ February 15, 2004, 01:28: Message edited by: Rollo ]

[Atrocities]

That is actually a pretty cool idea.

[TNZ]

I was trying to get the AI to use more than two weapons types in the AI design creation file. My idea was to add an ability to the weapon components, so I could get the AI to add more than two weapon’s types to its design creation. e.g leaking armor. Using this idea, I was able to get the AI to make a carrier with three different weapon types excluding the point-defense weapon. I don’t know if this is a new idea or not.

[Litcube]

Yeah, I thought of doing that as well. I might try it.

Right now, I'm fiddling with creating new ship "types" in the Construction Queue AI file, such as "Attack Ship - Long Range", "Attack Ship - Missile." So far I'm having no luck.

[TNZ]

In my experience the AI construction vehicles file only use the default design type.

Default AI Design Type -
Attack Ship, Defense Ship, Attack Base, Defense Base, Base Space Yard,
Cargo Transport, Troop Transport, Carrier, Colony (Rock), Colony (Ice),
Colony (Gas), Mine Layer, Mine Sweeper, Boarding Ship, Open Warp Point,
Close Warp Point, Create Planet, Destroy Planet, Create Star, Destroy Star,
Create Storm, Destroy Storm, Space Yard Ship, Mine, Satellite, Weapon Platform,
Troop, Fighter, Create Black Hole, Destroy Black Hole, Create Nebulae,
Destroy Nebulae, Satellite Layer, Kamikaze Attack Ship, Recon Satellite,
Anti-Ship Drone, Anti-Planet Drone, Drone Carrier.

But if you want a long range attack ship and a missile attack ship in the AI design creation file, try this.

Colonial AI Design Creation File- Colonial Republic by TNZ

Name := Gunstar
Design Type := Attack Ship
Vehicle Type := Ship
Default Strategy := Optimal Firing Range
Size Minimum Tonnage := 10
Size Maximum Tonnage := 2000
Num Must Have At Least 1 Ability := 1
Must Have Ability 1 := Weapon
Minimum Speed := 4
Desired Speed := 4

Name := Strikestar
Design Type := Defense Ship
Vehicle Type := Ship
Default Strategy := Optimal Firing Range
Size Minimum Tonnage := 10
Size Maximum Tonnage := 1400
Num Must Have At Least 1 Ability := 1
Must Have Ability 1 := Weapon
Minimum Speed := 4
Desired Speed := 4

[Rollo]

Originally posted by Litcube:
Yeah, I thought of doing that as well. I might try it.

Right now, I'm fiddling with creating new ship "types" in the Construction Queue AI file, such as "Attack Ship - Long Range", "Attack Ship - Missile." So far I'm having no luck.

Thought of doing what as well? Not sure what you are referring to.

You cannot create new design types, but what you can do is using the design names in the queue. It is not working as well as using differrnt types (as described in my earlier post), though.