Disabling AI in PBEM games?

[javaslinger]

Is there a way to make sure the AI doesn't take over or change anything when I miss a turn in a PBEM game?

Ken

[Jubala]

There's a setting that's supposed to do just that but in my experience it doesn't work. Which a monumental pain in the ***. So when I think I might miss a turn I just open it up and hit end turn without doing much and send it in. At least that way the AU won't mess you up.

[Askan Nightbringer]

If you click on the crown button, choose ministers the very Last options is
"AI should not make changes to the empire during a simultaneous games"

Put a little green circle in the box and everything should be fine and dandy.
I've never had an issue with it, not that I miss my turns much.

Askan

[Jubala]

That's exactly the thing that has never worked for me.

[geoschmo]

Java, Jubala, any that have had trouble with this feature.

I have been doing some testing to try and determine how bad it actually does with the "No changes" option selected.

In my testing it will redesign my ships, and fill the construction queues. I have also seen it build a colony ship and give it orders to colonize a planet.

I have not yet seen it send any communications to another race or respond to any, or give orders to any non-colony ship. I simply may not have run enough turns to where the AI logic gets to the point of exploring or attacking. It may simply be in a defensive state as of yet.

Also it does not put any items in the research queue.

Does this match with your results? Have you seen it do things that I have not mentioned here? Declare war, attack others, etc.

I am trying to gather some information so I can send a complaint to Aaron, but I want to have a complete picture of the problem.

Geo

[Lisif Deoral]

Another thing I noticed is that the AI will give new orders to ships without orders. Annoying...
I think that the "no changes" switch will prevent it from changing orders to ships which are already going somewhere.

[Jubala]

Oh yes! I have seen it spleet my fleets and send the ships to hell and beoynd putting my timetables several turns behind sometimes as I have to reassemble my fleets. Been awhile since I saw that though so it probably wasn't in the latest Version. I'm making damn sure I don't miss any turns even if that means just sending in a dummy turn with no new orders. I also had it put build orders for carriers in all my empty base space yards which resulted in a fleet of 30+ carriers being built with no fighters to fill them. Took forever to build fighters for them all. And they all died. It also messes with designs which is a major pain to restore. Builds sats and weapon platforms (with bad designs). Gives orders to ships with no orders. I think I've seen it move pop but I'm not sure.

The bottom line is that when you have that option selected the AI shouldn't do ****. And it should be default!