How do I make the game hard?

[Sabre21]

This is what I have found to work very well. I use a large galaxy, 250+ stars with 20 empires..no neutrals. I have modded the set up so that all planets are huge with each system having 2-3 rock oxygen and each planet with a minimum of 100 resource types each. I reduced the probability of black holes to 1% and create AI races with 5000 points, including plus ups in maintenance, research, mineral production, and usually advanced storage techniques. I have also increased the use of organics and radioactives in producing ships and facilities. This forces me to balance out production of the 3 resources and not just concentrate on minerals. As for the game I use hi bonus and hi diff settings. I also use Mephisto's modpack..I really enjoy those Darloks. With this type of setup, the AI has no problem with a lack of resources or room for expansion. Usually by turn 50, I have seen empires with nearly 100 colonies and over 1000 ships..some even had nearly 4000...ugh. Plus with the latest AI upgrade, I actually see the different races beat up each other pretty hard, even eliminatng a few. I have never been able to achieve better than 5th place and am usually around 10th. I also dont do any cheap shots early in the game like placing mines or satelites on enemy homeworlds.

Hope this gives you some ideas

Sabre21

[raynor]

Sabre,

My mind absolutely boggles at the concept of the AI with 1000 to 4000 ships each. How long does it take to process a turn by the time one or more AI's have 1000 ships?

BTW, I wonder if the AI should be adjusted so that they defend more systems when playing in a 250 system game? I think I saw somewhere that they only defend 3 systems at a time? I wonder if that is enough in a 250 system game. With 1000 ships, I certainly think they *might* be able to defend (at least) one more.

[Suicide Junkie]

For a real challenge, try the Pirates mod.

As a pirate, you can't build (and don't start off with) ANY planet-based resource extractors. First thing you should build is a remote-miner escort
You also can't build or retrofit colony ships. Basically, your economy will be based on remote mining and ship capture & scrapping.

Note that there are some restrictions on the choice of racial traits that you must set yourself.
- no reproduction / no environment resist.
- no Psychic tech.

[Puke]

I think the pirate mod should disable the self destruct device, or at least take it off of all the AI designs, or reduce the number that use it.

[Suicide Junkie]

Why? That would reduce the challenge. All you Pirates have to do is shoot the ship until it can be captured (no SDD, no Shields)

Note that it is very OK to use tactical combat in the Pirates mod. The AIs will still do well, and if you try to play strategic combat, you're toast.

[Puke]

quote:

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Originally posted by suicide_junkie:
[b]Why? That would reduce the challenge. All you Pirates have to do is shoot the ship until it can be captured (no SDD, no Shields)

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basically, because the self destruct device is a standard component on every AI ship above a certain weight class. and they are fairly low on the research priority list. therfore, it will be quite impossible to capture anything above a LC (i think) after about year 3, unless you play all your battles in tactical and get a lucky shot on the self destruct unit. Just my opinion though, if you like them, keep em in. not like its a hard tweak for each person to put to their own preference.

[Dracus]

You can change the max number of systems they defend int the AI_Settings.txt
I changed all mine to 20 systems. They seem to build more ships to handle this.