An analysis of the AI_Anger files in 1.19

[Baron Munchausen]

quote:

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Originally posted by Talenn:
mafia:

Yes, what you are experiencing is a problem that needs to be addressed IMO. There is NO enforcement of agreements etc...not even diplomatic penalties for reneging. IMO, if you agree to something, you should be bound to it or else face SEVERE penalties from the other races as someone who cannot be trusted.

The same problem also occurs if you simply dont respond at all. There is no penalty assessed for that but a rather hefty one for a 'refusal'.

Note that this is something known to MM (or at least the playtesters) so I hope it will be addressed in the next patch. For now, I just make sure I: 1) always respond to all the enemy Messages with either a definate 'Yes' or 'No' answer and 2) I always honor all agreements made. If I SAY I'm breaking a Treaty, I do it...otherwise I tell them to go bugger off.

Its a MUCH better game when you enforce these rules as well. The AI actually seems to come to life a bit more and definately is far more hostile when its demands are continuously rebuffed. I HIGHLY recommend playing this way as so as not to exploit another weakness in the AI.

Talenn

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That's funny, the Eee literally went to war against me for simply breaking a treaty... that's not a penalty? It took them a long time to cool down, too, because they kept sending ships into my minefields and getting a ship destroyed is an increase in anger even though it's not technically a "battle" as far as I can tell. Also, there does seem to be a negative reaction to no answer for a treaty request. It's just less than the penalty for an outright refusal.

[Talenn]

Baron:

Oh if you break treaties etc there is DEFINATELY a penalty. What I was refering to was when Race 'x' comes and tells you to break a treaty with Race 'y'. You agree to do so, but then dont actually go through and break the treaty. A few turns late, Race 'X' simply asks again. And the REALLY twisted thing is you get the GOOD modifier for 'agree with demand'. That is a definately problem IMO. Not only is there no penalty for reneging on a deal, there is a BENEFIT.

Now perhaps I am reading the file incorrectly (its a bit cryptic at times), but from what it appears and from game experience, thats the way it works out. And I have yet to see an AI go more unfriendly from simply ignoring their requests. If you refuse a Treaty or request directly you can see their happiness decrease instantly next turn. If you simply dont respond to the message, there is usually little or no change...although once in a while the 'default decrease/turn' kicks in and their happiness with you INCREASE. Its very odd.

Talenn

[Tomgs]

Since I play a bloodthirsty race usually I don't see this that often but in one game I made a non-aggression treaty with one race because I didn't want to fight a three front war in the early turns. I tried to get that AI to hate me after I took care of the immediate threats. I asked him to give me his homeworld a couple of times and asked him to stop fighting a race we were both at war with and after all of this it was only indifferent to me. I could have broken the treaty to make him angry but I hate to break treaties. I didn't finish that game because I made a few mods to the files and wanted to try them out but I will try that again someday to see what it would take to really anger them.

[warp nine]

A note on AI coveting your planets: they only covet a percentage of the planets they KNOW about. Which is why you have to be careful with treaties: upon forming a Partnership treaty, both sides exchange system maps. Then a coveting race will see how many planets you really have and immediately get angry at you. How angry they get is specified in the file, and within 2 turns of forming a Partnership you may find yourself at war with an empire that knows EXACTLY where all your planets, resupply, spaceports, shipyards, etc. are. So when your Military ally offers a Partnership, sometimes a polite 'no-thank-you' is best!

[UmberGryphon]

Well, someone just asked about something this topic covers, so I'm "bumping" it to the top so that anyone who missed it the first time can read it.

[pathfinder]

Question here as all those numbers make my head hurt

What settings would I need to change to make a bloodthirsty, warrior race quick to anger?



[This message has been edited by pathfinder (edited 15 January 2001).]

[Tomgs]

I would start in the AI_politics.txt file. Eliminate or make very unlikely that it would make treaties and increase the anger it feels when it sees ships from other empires. Make it send Messages about infringing on its space earlier and go to war faster.