Wishlist for AI

[Mephisto]

Hi all,
I would like to make a list of AI issues most of us players think should be worked on.

Let me start with "my" wishes:

1. Problem: The AI seems a bit weak on the defence. A reason could be that non of the AI players ever construct or build a “defence-class” ship. So maybe its enough making the build "defence-class" ships.

2. Problem: The AI should build up more fleets instead of spreading forces over the whole sector. This would probably eliminate the problem of piecemeal attacks, too.

3. Problem: The AI does not use any stellar manipulation (or does it?)

4. Problem: IMHO an very important issue. As I read the config-files, the AI colonizes a planet, determines what should be build and never returns to review its decision. The result is that, as it seems, ther AI never upgrades any planets, i.e. build atmospheric converters and the like.
The AI should review all of its planet on a regular interval (0.5 years?) and should try to "upgrade" its planets.

5. Problem: "Inefficient" population transfer.
The AI shifts population around its empire quite a lot. This way some colonists usually find their way to their preferred atmosphere if the AI has more then 1 race at its disposal. But this is to no avail because of you have some "wrong" colonists on the planet mixed up with the right colonists for this atmosphere the colony is still doomed. A simple solution would be to make the colony a prospering one when one of the local races is in its preferred atmosphere. The other way would be to shift all doomed colonists off the planet and only leave the prospering colonists on the surface. I think this Last way is hard to code into the program the right way (as we can see as it is "broken" at the moment

Philipp

[Tampa_Gamer]

Agree on all your points (I had posted some of these in my "Wishlist" post a few days ago). If you are looking for a defensive ship design, I included one in my Mod posted to the scenario/mod section of this message board. The Mod also incorporates the design more heavily into the default AI routine.

[thecyclemania]

Interesting points,
I have a question though,
what do you consider to be a defense class ship ?
What is the difference in your design for defense and offense ships ?

Your defense ships don't have suppy storage, or they have more armor or they have more point defense phaser ?
Or maybe they have medical component or stuff like that (to prevent plague)?

I'm just curious to understand how you caracterize them.
Guess the same thing could be said about defense base and offense base.

- thecyclemania

[Seawolf]

Ai always need to be treaked but it pretty good right now. Just a FYO defense ships not always needed since you can build defenses on planets in the for of weapon platforms and satilates

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Seawolf on the prowl

[Mephisto]

I personally don't build "defence" ships as they would look like my offense ships.
The difference is in how the AI uses these ships, i.e. in offense or defense. At least in SE3 the Ai needed defense ships otherwise it would not defend itself with the ships.

[Shadow99]

Well in modern militaries their are defense shps they call monitors (maybe we should design a new hull type?) Monitors are slow, use trusted older techs, aren't expensive, etc. Though they still can accomplish their jobs pretty well figuring they are supposed to already be already at whatever location they are defending (or darn near it).

I use defense ships in SE4 though & for me defense ships are slightly slower (maybe drop 1 or 2 engines below max), use cheaper weapons, have alot of shields (almost twice what my normal ships carry), & generally can assist other units in defending planets & warp points... Oh they also don't carry resupply/quantum reactor/supply storage containers either figuring they'll be near a resupply pt. at all times. For an example I've built defensive missile cruisers (standard cruiser with only missiles & PD) & they normally hold their own quite well unless massive numbers of ships attack & they have PD as well...