And The AI is ???

[Richard Link]

What`s the take on the AI in this Game so far ?

It sure seems strange that no one is talking about that at all since it's the core of the game, and it is a Combat sim after all....and Yes, I know that 100 turns is just starting.

I find the AI in SE 3 to be excellent if a little "lets all gang up from the getgo and kill the Human player" type stuff. As an example, let the " AI Ministers " run everything for you and you will still lose to the other 2-4 races played by the AI.

Maybe some SE IV Beta Testers will weigh in here.

[Psitticine]

Well, I've not been talking about it because it keeps beating me in an embarassing fashion and I rather thought I'd keep that to myself.

IOW, I've found it excellent. I'm not a beta-tester, BTW, just a 100-turner, but I've seen it doing an excellent job with things like following up one line of research to a useful degree instead of spreading the RPs around too thinly to make a difference.

It does seem to have a tendancy to launch attacks identical to ones which have already failed. Many times, I'll find an identical class ship making another try against, say, a space station which just ate the attacker's sister ship for lunch Last turn.

Of course, it will eventually pull out all the stops and send in a force large enough to crush that station into titanium dust, and I suppose all those puny attacks dotted about could be intended to keep me from knowing where the big one is landing . . .

But, nah, I think it just doesn't correct failed attack strategies quickly enough!

Other than that, I've been finding it a nicely difficult opponent.

[Master Belisarius]

Your you have a point here Richard.
I have only played the demonstration, and I am conscious that SE4 are still in development, and that MM will continue improving the game, but regrettably, the AI in the Se4 Demo 0.56 is MUCH worse than the AI in SE3.
As I said before I am conscious that SE4 are still in development and that SE3 is a completed game with one of the betters AI that I know... but, for this same reason, although in this and other forums I can see tons of good suggestions (most of them to make more complex the game), I would prefer that MM put its efforts to create an AI like they already did for SE3.

[This message has been edited by Master Belisarius (edited 20 September 2000).]

[General Hawkwing]

I agree with Master Belisarius, the AI is much weaker than SE3. in SE4, I'll lose a few minor battles in early game but by turn 40-60 will have pretty much sealed up the victory. In SE3 the game was still contested (and sometimes lost) at turns over 100.

[wingte]

Hmnnnn,, I never lost a game at the "normal" setting in SE III and so far I haven't found the "normal" setting in SE IV to be either easier or harder. I always run out of turns before there is a clear indication of wheather I am going to win or lose.
My biggest problem is that when I pick "generate random computer empires" even on the "low" setting for the number of other empires,, there is always a minimum of 4 and often as many as 8 enemies and half of them will be the type that attack on sight.
It is also very frustrating to have to always fight everytime another ship enters the same square I am in. This results in making enemies of those races that would otherwise be inclined to become alies.

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Wingte

[Master Belisarius]

No offense Wingte, but I must disagree with you: if you play a Se3 game with not warp point manipulation, and not star manipulation techs, you will have a challenging game.
Also, if you start with less starting techs points, all the AIs against you and large galaxy, I think that really you will have a hard work...
I have played the SE4 demo giving all the advantages to the AI, and with all the AI against me... and always was an easy job.

[This message has been edited by Master Belisarius (edited 21 September 2000).]