Some observations on AI ship building in Proportions, Babylon5 and other QNP mods...

[oleg]

Well, there've been some complaints about erratic AI ship buildind, namely that AI build exclusively escort (frigates) even in late game when AI designs big ships but does not build them.

Here is what I learned from observations on Jraenar AI in Proportions 2.42.
First of all, for people unfamiliar with Proportions, it utilizes Qusi-Newtonian propulsion. It nesecciates the diferent design entries for different hull sizes. Thus, we have "attack escort", "attack frigate", etc. All of them belong to generic "Attack ship" class. Now, AI_construction_vehicles.txt calls to "attack ship" and there are plenty of them, from escort to dreadnought. One can assume AI will build the biggest one but no, AI will buils the FIRST ENTRY in design file. Since first "attack ship" in Jraenarinan design file is escort, AI builds ONLY escorts. True, occasionally it builds bigger ships when it see difeerent names in AI_construction file, but vast majority are escorts.

I rearranged the order in AI_design file in descending order and now it builds bigger and nastier ships with dramatic improvement in AI combativeness ! If there is interest. I can look through other files and post them here.

[ September 20, 2002, 19:45: Message edited by: oleg ]