Is there a way to make SEIV more challenging?

[apocalypso]

Thank you everybody here for your answers. This includes the Last five answers.

For me I can say, that I've understood everything you told about the mods. I'm playing the game myself since the very beginning, even if I've given it up for a long time. Until a few days ago I only installed some additional races (which helped a little) but never a mod. Actually I'm playing the AST mod. A very interesting one But it's the same as every time. The AI is much too weak. Perhaps the next time I play I will try to restrict myself. Perhaps I stop to steal technique by capturing ships that may be a good one to begin.

And I will try the TDM mod. Let's see when I will find some time to try these things out. But a theoretical question for the end: Is it possible to use the "improved AI" files of the TDM mod for the AST mod too or not. Or does the AST use these anyway?

I've only wanted to say that if you have any more tips, please feel free to post them. I've not the intension to close that thread. Its always interesting

[Fyron]

Is it possible to use the "improved AI" files of the TDM mod for the AST mod too or not.

You would have to edit them to be able to use the new technologies and other items in AST properly. The TDM AIs are designed for the stock, unmodified game.

You might want to look into the Star Trek Mod, which has far more of a Star Trek feel than AST. AST is basically stock SE4 with some light sprinklings of Star Trek. The Star Trek Mod is more of a total conVersion mod. Note that they were made primarly by the same person, Atrocities.

http://www.astmod.com/startrek/stm.htm

[Will]

apocalypso said:
Does anybody know a mod that handles these problems, so that the game is more challenging and I'm not going to win that easily all the time?

Play blindfolded

More seriously, a lot of the suggestions below are good for increasing the challenge of the game. Especially playing-as-neutral and Pirates. Or both (THAT was an interesting game...) I'm almost tempted to load up SEIV here at school, and I would if I didn't have finals and two jobs to worry about. Definitely not a good time for a return to JOMT Syndrome (Just One More Turn).

[apocalypso]

Suicide Junkie said:
Start a game with both regular and neutral AIs.

Then on the first turn, set your race to AI control, and set one of the neutrals to your control, and play as the neutral.

Hmm interesting idea. But why is that so much more challenging? Just because of the low race points they have? Or what are all the special things with neutral races?

Totally other question! I've choosen at the beginning that I can only see the races I'm allied with in the comparison screen. Can I change that during the game somehow? Cause I want to see if there is anybody left in the unexplored space that may challenge me.

[Atrocities]

Totally other question! I've choosen at the beginning that I can only see the races I'm allied with in the comparison screen. Can I change that during the game somehow? Cause I want to see if there is anybody left in the unexplored space that may challenge me.

I am afraid not.

To make your game more challenging, use TDM, set the AI to use 5000 points, set the Computer AI bonus to High and the Computer Player Difficulty to high. Then you use 0 racial points with the neutral culture and no Advanced Racial Traits. For added flavor set all of your characteristics as as low as they will go and then launch your game.

[dmm]

I don't like giving artificial bonuses to the AI. But here are some role-playing ways to help the AI:
1) Ooops! Scenario: Start with 3 or 5 or 10 planets for everyone. Then on the first turn abandon all but your smallest planet. (In retrospect, it was NOT a good idea to automate EVERYTHING!)
2) Duh! Scenario: Pretend that your race doesn't know about wormholes until another race comes through one. (It can really cramp your style if nobody discovers you for 50 turns!)
3) Aargh! Scenario: Use some of the ministers. (If you are a despot, you have a duty to provide ministerial positions for the oligarchy. Plus, you want to enjoy your despotic wealth a little. If you are only a president or prime minister, then your power is limited by the legislature and the bureaucracy.)
4) YUK! Scenario: Play as a total xenophobe. Immediately declare war on everyone, and never use anything from anyone else. No planet or ship capture, no use of their population, no tech stealing, no demanding tribute or surrender, no treaties, etc. No cessation of hostilities. The galaxy must be cleansed of all filth (i.e., all races but yours).
5) WWJD Scenario: Or, play as a total dove. Short of surrender, do whatever you can to keep the peace. Declare that all space is open to all vessels. Never fire the first shot in a battle. Never glass a planet; only capture is allowed. In fact, don't attack planets at all unless one of your planets has first been attacked, and even then only attack planets with construction yards. Research ship capture ASAP, and make that your primary tactic in battles. Never attack colonization ships. Never use mines, of course, since they might harm innocent ships.
6) Voters Iz Stoopid Scenario: For a real challenge, roleplay a democracy, and switch between #4 and #5 every four years (40 turns). You might also want to make the populace less happy during setup. This will simulate the self-absorbed whininess of the developed world's populace.
7) King Tut Scenario: Your real goal is not to take over the galaxy, but to make a tomb worthy of you. Can anything less than a fully populated sphereworld suffice? This must be completed before you die.
8) Angry Wife/Boss Scenario: You have 2 hours IRL to live.

[TurinTurambar]

I love this place!

Turin

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Dmm: LOL

[Suicide Junkie]

apocalypso said:

Hmm interesting idea. But why is that so much more challenging? Just because of the low race points they have? Or what are all the special things with neutral races?

Neutral Races can't use warp points
This makes it really really hard to expand, and to reinforce troublespots. You'll have to be very creative with your politics.

[ZeroAdunn]

2) Duh! Scenario: Pretend that your race doesn't know about wormholes until another race comes through one. (It can really cramp your style if nobody discovers you for 50 turns!)

<===I've actually played that one, I also didn't research military tech untill I encountered another race. Made for an interesting game.