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?