PANIC !!!

Lucanos · #1 April 5th, 2001, 03:17 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Magus38:
I edited all races anger files and changed the value from the default 50 to 100. Now the quadrants races are easing up on me a bit, which makes the game more interesting.

Can you alter the AI files and apply them to an ONGOING game?

Don't you hafta start all over?

IF not, I feel really stupid here!

chewy027 · #2 April 5th, 2001, 03:27 AM

In my games i've deleted files that were causing problems during the game, and after I deleted them the problems stopped. So at least we know we can delete AI files.

BTY are you the Lucanos who runs Kuat Drive Yards?

jc173 · #3 April 5th, 2001, 05:22 AM

I know you can alter some of the data files midgame, I've fixed typos in AI construction files etc on the fly. You just have to quit SE IV and restart it to force it to reload the files, then usually you can just resume your game. One exception though seems to be adding in new components if you don't add new ones at the end of the file everything gets messed up.

Baron Munchausen · #4 April 5th, 2001, 06:01 AM

The AI files are reloaded for EACH AI during EACH turn. The game only processes one AI at a time, after all.

You don't need to quit & reload the game for those. The systemtypes and quadrant types files are also only loaded when creating a new map. You don't need to quit and reload the game if you change those. It's components and facilities that require you to quit and reload.

Magus38 · #5 April 5th, 2001, 06:58 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Lucanos:
[b]
Can you alter the AI files and apply them to an ONGOING game?

Don't you hafta start all over?
B]

Some files can be altered in an ongoing game. First you quit the game, then make your alterations, then load your saved game and voila... As a continuation to this saga, my changing the Mega Evil Empire value in the AIAnger File value from 50 to 100 had the opposite effect intended. Instead of getting pretty angry then recovering everybody turned permanently murderous. I corrected this and then edited the Settings.txt file in the modpack data directory to adjust the Mega Evil Empire Trigger. I set it to 250, which is the same trigger level in operation between two AI's. Some values are still ambiguous though. There is a setting called:

AI Mega Evil Empire Threshold Score Thousands

With a default value of 500... What precise affect this has I am not certain. Moreover this may be one of the values that will NOT affect a game in progress. I am still experimenting.

[This message has been edited by Magus38 (edited 05 April 2001).]

Lucanos · #6 April 5th, 2001, 12:17 PM

Thanks guys! This is going to make the game a whole lot easier - mabbe even, I could finish a game once in a while.

quote:
Originally posted by chewy027:
BTY are you the Lucanos who runs Kuat Drive Yards?

...ummm. No. Sorry. Wrong guy.

DirectorTsaarx · #7 April 5th, 2001, 08:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Magus38:
As a continuation to this saga, my changing the Mega Evil Empire value in the AIAnger File value from 50 to 100 had the opposite effect intended. Instead of getting pretty angry then recovering everybody turned permanently murderous.

I'm glad you cleared that up - I thought I'd misunderstood the Anger file for a while there. I think the idea is that the MEE value in the AI Anger files is the INCREASE in anger when they decide you're the MEE. So a decrease (say, changing the default (50) to 20) would make them less angry towards the MEE.

quote:
<snip> Some values are still ambiguous though. There is a setting called:

AI Mega Evil Empire Threshold Score Thousands

With a default value of 500... What precise affect this has I am not certain.

This is an easy one; the MEE will not take effect unless the first place empire has a score greater than the threshold (default 500,000) AND has a score greater than [Trigger]% of the second place player. This prevents people from becoming MEE too early in the game. Of course, in large galaxies this value should probably be increased, since it would be easier to have rather high scores...

Lucanos · #8 April 6th, 2001, 10:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by DirectorTsaarx:
Of course, in large galaxies this value should probably be increased, since it would be easier to have rather high scores...

I don't think that is the problem - to handle large galaxies the AI must learn to expand futher.

DirectorTsaarx · #9 April 6th, 2001, 10:45 PM

Since it wasn't clear, I meant the threshold should be increased, not the trigger. In other words, you should need a score of, say, 750k (and a score more than 170% of second place player) to become MEE. In a large galaxy, it's just too easy to expand quite a bit before you even meet the neighbors, and it's disheartening when you become MEE before you meet most of the AI's...

Lucanos · #10 April 7th, 2001, 01:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by DirectorTsaarx:
Since it wasn't clear...

Oh, but you where - I understood you perfectly clear - it's me ...umm, just don't worry about it.

Here we go:

I totally agree with you that the score threshold for MEE triggering should be higher on a larger map.

I also think that research should be more expensive on a large map, for instance.

But what I don't belive is that it is a solution to the problem which is defined as: YOU being MEE so early.

I think you are MEE because you are SMARTER than the AI (or that the AI should have a higher bonus).

Because if the AI could expand more EFFICIENTLY their score would be higher and you would NOT be MEE.

Sorry I was unclear.
Take care.