A few comments about the Romulan

[jc173]

The AI can use security stations, but most don't because the ability isn't included as one for their ship designs. It's easy enough to fix if you want to though. It's probably not included because the AI hasn't quite gotten the hang of boarding enemy ships so the tonnage used on a security station is wasted unless they run into a human fleet.

[God Emperor]

dominion,
Sounds like you were using the "basic_KlingRom" mod which incorporates small and large attack and defence ships (this was done to ensure that early on the races used missile weapons only).
Unfortunately the AI builds a lot of the small ships early on for some reason with this setup (which doesnt manifest itself so much in a standard/basic game).
If you use the Romulan_DesignCreation file from my "KlingRom" mod though (which only has one type of attack and defence ship) they will build whatever the largest ship is that is available to them.

General;
I'm not sure that its possible to design a decent AI ship to counter many of the tricks mentioned in this thread - putting lots of shields or security stations sucks up space that could be used for weapons (see Master Belisarius's early comment on firepower).
At the end of the day, I think we all have to restrain ourselves a little in using some of the tricks available.....


[This message has been edited by God Emperor (edited 28 May 2001).]

[Master Belisarius]

Hi God Emperor.
I can say it in a different way: games where you don't need to research! When you have available all the tech from the start.

[PsychoTechFreak]

quote:

---

Originally posted by God Emperor:
... putting lots of shields or security stations sucks up space that could be used for weapons (see Master Belisarius's early comment on firepower)...

---

Yes, but all the firepower is useless, if the ship does not get the chance to fire: optimal boarding strategy (human): waiting one field beyond weapon range+movement points and maybe one shot from the shield depleters, next turn brings the boarding ship next to the defender, eventually the next shield depleter brings down the rest of the shield and the ship is mine before it could discharge its guns.

I don't use security stations as well, the boarding party is enough to defend against eventual boarding attacks with the possibility to board another ship. But I see, the AI needs much to learn... (But I think it just can be improved if we don't ignore the human strategies to help the AI, better would it be if the AI could be tweaked to counter these strategies... In another thread someone has suggested an open source AI, oh that would be the nicest present from MM since SEIV has been released !)

[God Emperor]

PsychTechFreak,
What do you see as the best defence then that us modders could design into AI ships - boarding parties? Must admit, I'm not entorely sure what approach to take....
Regards,
GE

[Master Belisarius]

In my view, to use boarding parties, Alliegace Converters, Mines, Stellar Manipulations and Plagues, are only a way to to have an easy game against the AI.
This is not a cheat, but not fair with the AI. Why? Because the AI is in a great disadvantage using these techs.

[Q]

Master Belisarius I humbly disagree. Even if the AI does not use them as efficiently as an experienced human player, I think the performance with mines, allegiance subverter is quite good at least with some modified races.
If you let the AI research medicine and include a medical bay in the population transport ship design, he will cure plagues quite well.
Boarding parties IMO are not very interesting even for human players. They can be rendered ineffective be the self destructing device and even if successful you usually board a severely damaged ship!
Steller manipulation especially warp point manipulation I agree with you. But even there I saw sometimes the AI use star destruction and planet creation in a reasonable way.


[This message has been edited by Q (edited 29 May 2001).]