My AI Design Q&A

[JLS]

[quote]Originally posted by cybersol:

Originally posted by cybersol:
[qb]Ah, I think I see why we seem to be miscommunicating now. Obviously I was not clear. First of all, I am mainly advocating an EVEN build up of forces. Consider the AI in the midgame for now. Assume its in a state like defend (short term). Assume there are just three ship designs for the whole empire: colonizer, attack, and layer for example. I am saying the defend (short term) queue should look something like this:

name ppi mhal
attack 120 2
colonizer 360 1
layer 720 1
attack 60 4
colonizer 180 2
layer 360 1
attack 30 8
colonizer 90 4
layer 180 2
attack 15 16
colonizer 45 8
layer 90 4

Thus it starts out building small numbers of everything in the "right" relative ratios. Then it goes back and build more of everything in the same ratios. The top repeat is designed to handle the no bonus early game case while the bottom repeat is designed to handle the high bonus late game case.

Most people do something like this for their most important ships, say attack ships, but not for the entire line of attack, support, infrastructure, and colonizer ships.

Now in the exploration and not connected queues at the begging you have the normal build one attack ship, build one colonizer, etc. But after the initial preparations, you again have escalating copies of the heart of the build queue.

Does that explain it better? It thus builds very deliberately at first, then an even small number of all your ships, then an even medium number of all your ships, etc. Thus as long as you have resources all the shipyards will be producing full bLast. Only when the maintenance limit approaches will the AI slow down its building process. In a no bonus game it will produce a smaller number of ships and stop in the second doubled copy, but in a high bonus game it might get to the fourth or fifth doubled copy.

The results are the same in respect to a quicker build up of the Ships and Base amounts, from previous se4 Designs, in the opening to mid stages of the game. Possibly, the maximum depletion of the AIs Resource Reserves, well before the latest and strongest ship designs can be built in the Mid to Late game and leading to probable exasperated retrofit problems (“50% bug3, 3a,3b”) in the Mid to late game for the old existing designs the AI built and NOT lost thru combat from the early to mid game builds.

Possibly resulting in a loss of AI intimidation in mid to Late AI game play, and overall Ship and Base Strength as it relates to score that is directly related to AI Diplomacy and the quality of the AI Ship and Base designs built, in that of itself.
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With this aside, you are not suggesting that a Designer would start his Short Term Defense State in the manner as you described.

The objective of the AI Player, in the Short term defensive State; will be to expel the other Player out of his territory as soon as possible and for that AI Player to consider Defensive and Counter Offensive, options; thru a Strategic State Change and/or Diplomacy measures.

Colony ships would not be a good early placement in this AI Strategic State.

Even, Mine and Sat Layers would not be a good early choice unless they followed Attack Ships with a few STALL entries to increase their survivability.
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Possible early entries for the AI, Vehicle Construction File Layout for the AI Players Short Term Defense:

A much higher Attack Ship MHAL should be suggested not to mention *Displacement Attack Ship Grouping to expedite the need for a quick preemptive measure. A few Mine Sweepers /(types) also must be introduced very early if your (minefield value is :=False) , as not to have your AI, suckered into uneeded and continued losses; thru other players Minefields

Another possible, less likely to be successful scenario, in the short scope, but safer for your AI. Would be, If your Minefield Value was :=True , then you could build ALL attack ships and CV's first, and ending a preconceived fleet with many Standard Mine Sweepers, at that point your AI Players Offensive Attack Ships will be in near Position to Counter attack or in defensive actions with in, and the AI Players, latest built; Mine Sweepers will attempt to clear the way for the INITIAL Counter Offensive in the enemies terrotory.

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*Reference:
(EE, FF, DD etc..Displacement Attack Ship Grouping. Please refer to PvK’s Proportions, and PvK’s XiChung race Design File of an Excellent if not the best; Displacement Ship Design Group, example.)

Link
> Proportions for se4 <

[ June 18, 2003, 23:24: Message edited by: JLS ]

[cybersol]

Ah, I see more what you are saying now as well. I guess I'm not as worried about obsolete (old tech) ship designs on the battlefield. If you are at war, then there are two possibility for these obsolete ships. If they survive then your fleets must be strong enough to conquer the opposition without having the latest tech (so it doesn't matter). And if they die, then the resources are free for modern ship designs to start rolling off the line.

As for the example I gave, I was assuming for demostration purposes that only three type of ships existed (which would be a dumb thing to do, but makes the example easier to show).

[JLS]

Originally posted by cybersol:
Ah, I see more what you are saying now as well. I guess I'm not as worried about obsolete (old tech) ship designs on the battlefield. If you are at war, then there are two possibility for these obsolete ships. If they survive then your fleets must be strong enough to conquer the opposition without having the latest tech (so it doesn't matter). And if they die, then the resources are free for modern ship designs to start rolling off the line.

As for the example I gave, I was assuming for demostration purposes that only three type of ships existed (which would be a dumb thing to do, but makes the example easier to show).

I am not confirming what you say is true, in regards to Bug 3, 3a, and 3b.

From “your play testing trials”, and in all aspects of your Posts and the follow-up post of others, it gives the impression that your “ obsolete (old tech) ship designs ” may never make it to a " forward battlefield ". For this reason, that you have declared, only the Newest and Strongest designs in a fragmented fleet will do the forward fighting, as the “ obsolete (old tech) ship designs ” will remain in a Ship Yards "orbit for a very long while"?

Please Refer to the Follow up reference:
quotes 5 Posts down.
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The AI Strategic State Planning and Layout is important, I posted the rebuttal only so others may understand that; your choices here, may decide the out come of that AI Players situation. A bad layout in the Short Term State (or many other AI States) may result in a prolonged and time-consuming Solid AI LT-Defense State; spelling the doom of this AI, with little hope for that AI Player changing the fortunes; of the chance for a Counter Offensive.

Also to point out the AI State Vehicle Build layout must have strong consideration as to the AI settings; you made for (Ships don't move through minefields := True or False) as well as all the other changes and/or additions you made thru the entire AI Race’s Folder
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Opinion only, for the need of a structured AI State plan, is outlined below:

The most forgiven AI State may be Not Connected.
The most flexible AI State may be Secure Holdings and/or Incursion.
The most, Strait forward AI State is Prepare to Attack and Attack
The most need for a meticulous planed AI State, may be explore and Infrastructure.
The most unforgiving AI State is Defend Short Term, Prepare for Defense and Defend Long Term.

[ June 19, 2003, 14:55: Message edited by: JLS ]

[cybersol]

Originally posted by JLS:
I am not confirming what you say is true, in regards to Bug 3, 3a, and 3b.

From “your play testing trials”, and in all aspects of your Posts and the follow-up post of others, it gives the impression that your “ obsolete (old tech) ship designs ” may never make it to a " forward battlefield ". For this reason, that you have declared, only the Newest and Strongest designs in a fragmented fleet will do the forward fighting, as the “ obsolete (old tech) ship designs ” will remain in a Ship Yards "orbit for a very long while"?

Are you saying I'm crazy and I like to make AI bugs up?
Luckily AI bugs 3, 3a), and 3b) do not occur all that frequently. I've only seen up to about 5 ships affected simultaneously so far.

Originally posted by JLS:
The AI Strategic State Planning and Layout is important, I posted the rebuttal only so others may understand that; your choices here, may decide the out come of that AI Players situation. A bad layout in the Short Term State (or many other AI States) may result in a prolonged and time-consuming Solid AI LT-Defense State; spelling the doom of this AI, with little hope for that AI Player changing the fortunes; of the chance for a Counter Offensive.

Also to point out the AI State Vehicle Build layout must have strong consideration as to the AI settings; you made for (Ships don't move through minefields := True or False) as well as all the other changes and/or additions you made thru the entire AI Race’s Folder
==============
Opinion only, for the need of a structured AI State plan, is outlined below:

The most forgiven AI State may be Not Connected.
The most flexible AI State may be Secure Holdings and/or Incursion.
The most, Strait forward AI State is Prepare to Attack and Attack
The most need for a meticulous planed AI State, may be explore and Infrastructure.
The most unforgiving AI State is Defend Short Term, Prepare for Defense and Defend Long Term.

Thanks for this great insight on AI State and its implications. I am still learning a lot here. For now, I am still using basically three build queues. One for exploration, one for not connected, and one for everything else (similar to Mephisto's AIs). I may expand on that later, but right now there are more critial areas under development.

In the meantime, why don't you explain a little more about AI state. You start out in exploration (assuming you are connected). Then encounter another empire. If they are far away, not a threat then you most likely go into infrastucture? If the are close by and maybe a threat then defend (short term)? What other state transitions are possible starting in the exploration state? The reason I ask is because it is important that my AI manage this transition from being alone in the universe to encountering another race, because right now it is very aggressive with colonization in its expansion phase (exploration state).

[JLS]

I also have used a few of your Posts to redo a few changes in AIC...

EDIT:
If I came off a little scruffy, I had the flue most of Last week

Thanks for this thread, Cybersol

[ June 21, 2003, 23:36: Message edited by: JLS ]

[JLS]

ALL quotes: Originally posted by cybersol:

You start out in exploration (assuming you are connected).

(Yes) In the very first turn of the game. If the AI Starting HS is void of a warp point and unable to Explore and not a Ancient Race, the AI will Change to the Not Connected State.

~

Then encounter another empire. If they are far away, not a threat then you most likely go into infrastucture?

(No) The AI will remain in the Exploration State, if there are more Systems nearby still unexplored

~

If the are close by and maybe a threat then defend (short term)?

There is not a (maybe a threat), for the AI.
Threat would be constituted, if the other Player was not in an (Right Of Passage) Agreement, that Player would be considered the (Enemy) for the sake of this discussion.

(Yes) There is an Enemy ship in your AIs Claimed territory… Your AI may Change to Defend Short Term State.

(No) If there is an Enemy Near but not in the Claimed Territory, then your AI may go into Infrastructure State
~

What other state transitions are possible starting in the exploration state?

Again, there are many possible Scenarios that can occur.

However, along with the AI Exploration State change in the Scenarios posted above. I would say the most Common would be if:

Your AI had an agreement with another Player and Your AI no longer had Systems, reasonably close to Explore, your AI would go into the Infrastructure State.

Definitions.

AI Exploration Strategic State:
This is where the AI; will explore new worlds and seek out new life, and boldly go where no other, AI has gone before.

On the serious side, your AI is expected to colonize more in this AI Exploration State and the Secure Holdings State then any other State.
However, it is recommended the Designers; AI Colonizer Production, stay within the Parameters of the MOD he, or she is designing for.
The finished product, in my opinion. Would be measured not how your AI competes against another AI, but how that AI deals and interacts with a Human Player
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AI Infrastructure Strategic State:
This is where the AI, will build up its Infrastructure, to setup Passive defenses and to Start long term Projects. Example: Non-Offensive Stellar Manipulation devises and other Vehicles that would require a long and extensive build process.
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AI Defend Short Term Strategic State:
This would be the first stage for the AI Player, to boot the other Enemy player out of his territory and for that AI to analyze its current Status for that current Situation.
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AI Not Connected Strategic State:
This AI Player has colonized all of its available systems, and this AI player is currently disconnected from other systems in the Quadrant.
The basic goal for the AI here is to Research Techs that will Colonize new Planet types, open news Warps, Create new Planets and to stay competitive with its own Ship Designs, so when the Warp is opened; this AI has not opened Pandora’s Box

[ June 24, 2003, 04:52: Message edited by: JLS ]

[JLS]

Originally posted by JLS:
Regarding mine sweepers and cloasks).I don't see why not. I need and will test this, for both of us, I use this for 2 or 3 AI designs.

Originally posted by cybersol:
Scout and Colony ships with mine sweeping and cloak died horribly without sweeping any of the mines. Mine sweepers will de-cloak for a previously marked mine field, but then they will cloak and move forward and happily die without sweeping any mines on the next warp point that has not been marked. So it sort of works for mine sweepers, but not at all for the rest.

Cybersol, thanks for the tip.
I was able to change a few things around in a few of the AIC designs in this Last Version

Again, thanks

[ June 21, 2003, 23:30: Message edited by: JLS ]