Experienced SEIV players please offer suggestions

[JLS]

Thanks, Oleg.
At no bonus, the AI plays very well in AIC.

But I am toning that down little by little, even v2.90 is down from previous Versions, by v3.00 it should be at the Average Player level when set to default Bonus none
~~~
Plus: You will always have the Options for the Human Player advantage:

Name := Opt 1
Description := Human Player - advantage Results in: Best Home World. (plays well in any play style)

Name := Opt 2
Description := Human Player - advantage Results in: Higher Proportions of Resources (may use up resourses quicker in Finite Games).

Or both,

Please do not consider the options above a cheat, the AI doesn’t; why should you

These are for the balanced game of your tastes, please take advantage of them

[ May 04, 2003, 14:39: Message edited by: JLS ]

[Gryphin]

How to Play With One Hand Tied Behind Your Back

To make your game against the AI more challenging try following some of these self imposed rules.

1) Treaties: Never make more than a Trade and Research Alliance.
2) Never break a treaty with the AI
3) Never glass a planet intentionally, Instead:
a. Invade
b. Blockade
Explanation I This is much harder
Explanation II It is more humanitarian, (ok, ok, I know what you are thinking)
On a practical level in the long run it is a good skill to learn for play against humans.
4) Do not research
a. Mines till you run into one
b. Point defense cannons till you meet Fighters, CSM, Sats.
Explanation I Basically playing “dumb” as if your race had never considered mines, Fighters, CSM, or Sats and the defense for them.
5) This gives the AI a time advantage while your engineers scramble to find a defense to mines, Fighters, CSMs, and Sats
6) Once you have researched mines or PDCs add at least one to each ship larger than a Destroyer even if the AI is not using mines, fighters, Capital Ship Missiles, or Satellites
Explanation I Most of the better TDM include these which take the place of more appropriate weapons based on what you are using.
7) Don’t use Training Faculties
Explanation I The AI does not use these. It really gives an “unfair” advantage.
8) Give TDM Races at least a “Low” bonus

There are a bunch more.

Anyone else?

Abbreviations:
CSM – Capital Ship Missile
PDC – Point Defense Cannon

EDIT:
I really do need to proof befor posting.

[ May 04, 2003, 16:11: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

[Gwaihir]

Originally posted by JLS:
Thanks, Oleg.
At no bonus, the AI plays very well in AIC.

But I am toning that down little by little, even v2.90 is down from previous Versions, by v3.00 it should be at the Average Player level when set to default Bonus none

If the AI plays well now, could you have a Version where it plays as well as possible with normal bonus, to give a nice realistic training environment?

[Gwaihir]

Is it possible to give a human the AI bonus? This would make for some interesting games - including stuff like 5 vs 1 with high bouns

oops, sorry, didn't realize i was double-posting

[ May 05, 2003, 07:18: Message edited by: Gwaihir ]

[Pocus]

JLS :

Seems like your mod should be my next target for a brand new game.
Although I'm sure you tweaked the AI races devilishly, I have trouble believing that the AI is that good. As a modder you cant change the numerous problems that the AI is plagued with, like sending most of his ships in small party, or wandering aimlessly where as a bold move could have glassed all the planets of a system.

Please do sell me again your mod, why the AI is so beastly? And dont tone it down, I want to play with max AI bonuses and be humiliated by my computer

[Gwaihir]

Yeah, what Pocus said.

Basically, even if the AI is as good as an "average" human player (like pocus, i don't see how this is possible), you don't learn much from players who aren't more skilled. So it would be a better training tool if it were smarter.

Just giving it a bonus isn't the best of solutions, because the bonus doesn't fix flaws in strategy and other weaknesses, it just ups resources to try to compensate (which results in wastage with high bonuses, apparently).