Difficulty... is the computer too easy?

[Lach]

Just got a copy of SE4.... on normal difficulty I am able to steam roll over the computer, every computer repetadly with minimal problems. Are they alot harder on the hard setting? Do they cheat with bonus resources ETC or play smarter?

[JLS]

It is now time for you to Play TDM mod pack

I will be right back with its location

[Fyron]

Difficulty setting affects how many AI ministers are enabled. High means all. Low and medium have fewer ministers enabled. It does not mean that they cheat with bonuses. There is a separate setting for bonuses, to the right of Difficulty, when setting up a new game.

To get more challenging AI, try the TDM Modpack. Of course, playing against humans via PBW is far more challenging than AI can ever be.

[Paul1980au]

A few hints on how to do better against the AI

Play against hard always - medium and easy are just to easy. Play bigger systems (200+ per map) need to mod the data files for this - do a forum search.

Play against less AI players (max 5 per 200 system map) as smaller enemies are easier to beat - if you have a few bigger enemies they get a lot bigger before bumping into each other - higher tech and they do use it.

Change youre racial modifiers

Once you get advanced and into modifing the game files you can raise the resource generation of mineral and organic production facilities - this gives you more production capacity but also more to the AI which it uses.

Fiddile with the ship yard tech and raise the number of tech levels ie lvel 1 = 2000 resource construction - level 2 2500 level 3 3000

Add up to level 10 - the extra levels i have are follows (without temporal shipyards which i also bump up in a corresponding way)
level 4 - 4000
level 5 - 5000
level 6 - 7500
level 7 - 8500
level 8 - 10000
level 9 - 12500
level 10 - 15000

These techs are later game and more expensive to research but later game with the AI both you and them can put up massive fleets (baseships) that can be pumped out very quickly and this leads to massive fleets that at least make the game Last longer.

There are all sorts of other mods that can be made to the game data files to boost the AI competitiveness - ie making intel much cheaper to research - this gives the AI access a lot earlier and you and leads to a much more less secure game - having crew insurrections early on makes the AI more underhanded etc as once they have a tech they will put them into use.

[primitive]

Wellcome to the SEIV community Lach

Back to your original question, from before Paul tried to steal the thread with another post of cheesy tactics

Yes, tha AI lacks a bit in killer instinct, but with the right settings and house rules it can put up quite a challenge.
- Be sure to patch up to 1.91
- Use the TDM modpack (just improved AIs)
- Always play on hardest difficulty
- The AI is handicapped in some ways, so always give them at least a small bonus to offset that.
- No neutral races
And then a few house rules:
- No trade with AI (they have no idea of the value of stuff so its too easy to sucker them)
- No suckermoves when breaking a treaty (or even better, no treaties at all)
- No minefields (the AI has no concept of mines so...)

When this become too easy, then come se us at Play By Web

[Suicide Junkie]

If you want a very difficult challenge vs AIs, you could also try the Pirates & Nomads mod.

Can your little band of planet-less wanderers make it in the big, scary universe?