Newbie Questions (on the AI)

fahdiz · #1 February 19th, 2004, 12:46 AM

I'm very new to the game as well, and it always kind of startles me where I read about someone from this forum having the game for a couple of weeks and finding no challenge whatsoever in the AI. I figure those people must either be 1) lying; 2) incredibly lucky, or; 3) just so intrinsically good at strategy games that no SP game on the market would provide them any competition.

In my (very limited) opinion, I believe the AI is quite good. Sometimes it really surprises me. I am sure it has exploitable weaknesses, and that I will eventually discover them - but somehow I can't imagine that after *discovering* the weaknesses, I'll always be *prepared* to exploit them, since there's a lot of randomization thrown into the mix, especially on maps without fixed starting positions.

I've seen veteran players (who would probably utterly destroy me in multiplayer) posting on this forum who say that a continent full of Impossible AIs gives them a challenge, so that's good enough for me.

EDIT (for typos, poor wording, and grammar.)

[ February 18, 2004, 22:49: Message edited by: fahdiz ]

Arryn · #2 February 19th, 2004, 12:53 AM

Once you find that you can consistently beat the AI almost every time (barring bad random events that may cripple you early on) with a given nation, then it's time to switch and try some other nation. Before you can master all 17 nations, and the many themes, there'll be new mods and patches that will alter the game sufficiently for you to have to try to re-master it all over again. In short, anyone who claims to be an expert is either cheating vs. the AI, or lying. There aren't enough hours in a week to do the amount of gaming they'd need to do.

fahdiz · #3 February 19th, 2004, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arryn:
Once you find that you can consistently beat the AI almost every time (barring bad random events that may cripple you early on) with a given nation, then it's time to switch and try some other nation. Before you can master all 17 nations, and the many themes, there'll be new mods and patches that will alter the game sufficiently for you to have to try to re-master it all over again. In short, anyone who claims to be an expert is either cheating vs. the AI, or lying. There aren't enough hours in a week to do the amount of gaming they'd need to do.

My problem is that nations in Dom II are just like Lays' Potato Chips..."you can't eat just one."

I find myself trying new nations all the time - practically with each game. Maybe I'm not systematic nor focused enough, and maybe that's why it will probably take me longer to gain expertise.

But I'm having fun.

Arryn · #4 February 19th, 2004, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fahdiz:
But I'm having fun.

Which is all that matters!

fahdiz · #5 February 19th, 2004, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arryn:

quote:
Originally posted by fahdiz:
But I'm having fun.

Which is all that matters!

Well, yes...but I'd like to get competitive enough that I can play in multiplayer without getting smoked every single game. It will probably just take someone like me a lot longer to get there.