Dominions 2. AI. Suggestions, that how to fix it.

ywl · #1 October 28th, 2003, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MStavros:
1.) I understand it, but it seems to me, that it don't have enough units..well this is maybe it is trying to make more and more small armies? I have no idea, but I had the feeling that it never had enough troops.....

2.) Kris, I think that the AI should make at least 1 bigger army in the early game. It is too easy to kill the AI's small armies 1 by 1.

3.) I meant that the provinces of the AI are usually empty.

4.) Well examples: trying to attack your undefended side, trying to focus his little armies on one point, make at least 1 big main army etc.

1) I've seen very large AI armies in my few test games - e.g., Pan, a lot of undeads.

3) It's a good move. You don't and shouldn't play thd game by scattering your force to "protect" individual provinces. Your army will be eaten piece by piece.

Usually, you would rather concentrate and hide your mainforce, releasing them only when the fight breaks out. If you need to protect key provinces, you build fortress and have some defensive force (even cheap units are enough) behind the wall to defense against a seige and wait for rescue.

4) It's hard enough to teach human good strategic moves - not to mention AIs.

Can you summarize them in a few clear rules for the program - better yet, an algorithm? For example, before major war, split your army to expand. And once under attack, concentrate them and go all the way to your enemy's capital. But I guess some of these have been implemented already.

Kristoffer O · #2 October 28th, 2003, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MStavros:
1.) I understand it, but it seems to me, that it don't have enough units..well this is maybe it is trying to make more and more small armies? I have no idea, but I had the feeling that it never had enough troops.....

2.) Kris, I think that the AI should make at least 1 bigger army in the early game. It is too easy to kill the AI's small armies 1 by 1.

3.) I meant that the provinces of the AI are usually empty.

4.) Well examples: trying to attack your undefended side, trying to focus his little armies on one point, make at least 1 big main army etc.

One larger army might be an idea.

I believe that they are empty because the armies are occupied elsewhere. I and JK rarely keep defending armies at peaceful borders unless we expect an attack. The AI probably shares our motivations to some extent. The problem is that when armies arrives at his borders the AIs armies are probably busy conquering other lands. As in most games attacking strongly and unexpectedly is a winner (MP or SP). Then your opponent cannot strike back in time. If the AI attacks you first I believe it would be another matter (but on the other hand I do not now this was not the case).

The AI avoids provinces that are well defended and usually goes for weaker ones.

One thing it doesn't do (unfortunately) is trap humans. Nothing is more satisfying than luring your MP enemy into a province where you can attack him from several directions.

Saber Cherry · #3 October 28th, 2003, 08:36 PM

I know this is not really an "AI" solution, but it might be a good idea to scale the AI's starting army size with indy strength, so they won't get into long-term trouble if they make a bad strategic choice on turn 1. In other words, start them with 25% more units per level of indy strength - +25% units at 4, +50% at 5, and so on. Eventually I suppose they would need an extra starting commander to control all the extra starting troops.

-Cherry

Gandalf Parker · #4 October 28th, 2003, 08:39 PM

I find the AIs doing better on games where the indeps are set to about 7. On 2 I can use my human flexibility to get to them too quickly and make maximum use of the situation.

I think the AI for an indep 2 game would have to operate very differently. Such as investing in a much more defensive position much earlier in the game.

LordArioch · #5 October 28th, 2003, 08:44 PM

I've found the ai rather good so far...more or less like the dom1 but with some human exploits like patrolling removed. I don't see the normal AI beating me but it at least offers a threat...and the impossible one is probably quite tricky.

Sure beats the Age of Wonders AI

Or that of a number of games i could list.

licker · #6 October 28th, 2003, 08:44 PM

How does the AI respond to the intricacies of the strategic map? Do they recognize choke points and make early attempts to gain them? Do they account for fronts and important provinces (ones that leed to many other provinces)?

Once the AI controls a strategic point do they prioritize its defense? Do they look at the list of controled provinces and have a defenseive ranking?

Just questions while I think on this issue...

MStavros · #7 October 28th, 2003, 08:45 PM

Hm yeah I understand the problem with the empty AI provinces. You cannot defend everything.

Yeah indy str 7+ and you cannot conquer that fast.

Once again I think the biggest problem is that the AI won't make bigger armies. I never seen one at least so far. Maybe I am crushing the AIs too fast? I dont know.
More, small armies are very ineffective, this is the problem IMHO.
+ The AI cant be bothered if you kill his little armies one by one. I never seen more small armies in the same province, also I never seen an invading, bigger attacking force so far.

[ October 28, 2003, 18:46: Message edited by: MStavros ]