AI Questions

leo1434 · #1 September 30th, 2003, 04:32 AM

Hello to all:

I want to know if someone can help me:

I developed an extensively customized mod, based in the excellent proportions (when is PvK goin to release another Version??) and mixing some own ideas as well as much other from here and there.

Questions: As I have a problem with AI being unable to colonize worlds (This was lost some time ago, as in previous games I saw systems heavily colonized by AI players). Somehow I modified or added something that prevents the races AI to expand. I tried appliying a patch for some AI uploaded by PvK for proportions which was apparently suffering a similar problem some time ago, but no effect was seen. Any Ideas?

Anyone know where can I get info about how to design AI for computer players after having heavily added and modified the Techarea, Vehiclesize, Components, CompEnhancement, Settings files? Is there a kind of AI developer guide somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

Baron Grazic · #2 September 30th, 2003, 05:13 AM

I'm not a modder so someone will probibly say I'm wrong, but I beleive the Colony modules have to be the first components in the "Components.txt" file.
Perhaps take a look in this direction, or do a search thru the forums, cause I do remember this being asked before.
Don't forget to post the mod here when its finished, so we can take a look.

Suicide Junkie · #3 September 30th, 2003, 05:21 AM

It quite possibly could be that the AI is trying to use the wrong components, and can't fit all the ones it thinks it needs onto a colony ship.
It would thus never finish designing one, and never build colony ships.

Check all the options for the colony components against which ones the AI will choose to use.

[ September 30, 2003, 04:21: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

Q · #4 September 30th, 2003, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leo1434:
Yes, I think this is the case. Some thoughts about:

I included a "universal" colonization module which can colonize any kind of planet, from the mod I took it, it said it had to be first place in the components.txt file, so here it went. Anyway, the colonization problem was happening before I added that. If someone thinks this can be one part of the problem, I will readily remove it.

About SJ comments: I think you are right as I checked in a game how were the AI players progressing (took charge of some of them for a turn) and saw a lot of colony ships hulls full of armor or shield comps. Besides, I saw a lot of announcements that x design coud not be upgraded because of a way to high cost difference between new and old template (more than 60%, this is my setting). Anyone help?

By the way: How can be learned to desing effective AI AFTER you canged a lot of game things? Is there any documentation or tutorial?

Did I understand you correctly: you changed the component.txt file within an ongoing game?
This might mess up all previous vehicle designs. If you introduce or delete any component you get strange designs as engines turn to armor and so on. The only way to add some new components and continue a game without problems is to add them at the end of the list.

leo1434 · #5 October 1st, 2003, 01:49 AM

Yes, I think this is the case. Some thoughts about:

I included a "universal" colonization module which can colonize any kind of planet, from the mod I took it, it said it had to be first place in the components.txt file, so here it went. Anyway, the colonization problem was happening before I added that. If someone thinks this can be one part of the problem, I will readily remove it.

About SJ comments: I think you are right as I checked in a game how were the AI players progressing (took charge of some of them for a turn) and saw a lot of colony ships hulls full of armor or shield comps. Besides, I saw a lot of announcements that x design coud not be upgraded because of a way to high cost difference between new and old template (more than 60%, this is my setting). Anyone help?

By the way: How can be learned to desing effective AI AFTER you canged a lot of game things? Is there any documentation or tutorial?

leo1434 · #6 October 1st, 2003, 01:51 AM

Sorry, I forgot, How can you make the check that Suicide Junkie suggests? in his previous post?
Which files had to be checked?

Thanks.

leo1434 · #7 October 1st, 2003, 04:53 AM

No, may be I was not clear enough. I started a new game after I added this and every other new comp. That is the reason why I start a lot of games and rarely finish one. I start playing, then new ideas and modifications begin to appear in my mind so I take notes. After some turns I stop playing, mod the files and start again. I know that if yu add something and try to continue the same game, components messes and you (and all players) find all the designs garbled.

Still looking for some help, please...

TNZ · #8 October 1st, 2003, 07:34 AM

If the AI is making colony ships, but is not adding a colony component.

Possibly if you have changed the sizes of the components, especially the propulsion components or colony components, that might be the cause.

This site has a tutorial.
http://galileo.spaceports.com/~kazharii/index_top.html