Strange Agoraphobic AI

[Loser]

For the purposes of the mod that I will probably never produce, I do not intend this AI to make Partnerships. I think I can keep them from doing so, I believe it is done with other AIs.

This particular race would be given some very potent technology, sort of a Here There be Dragons variation on the Space Monsters, only they might be a little more communicative.

My previous plan was to just give them very little supplies, so the ships sould be called back before they could get to far, though that would make it possible for them to spread a little, and might keep them from colonizing their home system, depending on planet placement.

If this works the way it sounds, and espeically if Boarders, Kamakazi, Carriers, Drone Carriers, Mine Layers, and Sat Layers will not traverse unexplored warp points, I van include angels and devils, heavens and hells, in that mod that I will probably never produce.

Also, by giving away the right System Maps, a player could direct these monstrosities into the systems of his enemies. He had just better be prepared to never make use of those systems himself.

[ February 26, 2004, 15:54: Message edited by: Loser ]

[Loser]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
Effectively, you will have a new racial trait -- 'expansionist' -- which you assign or remove by the use of Attack ships in their build lists. A 'normal' AI is effectively expansionist, while AIs without the exploring ships are not.

Actually, I think the trait is more on the other side, and I would call it Hesitant. The AI is not willing to step through any Warp Point until it knows what is on the other side. Even seeing a ship come through is not good enough, they have to be given a picture of hte other side.

I think I'd like to see some decent AIs set up this way, sort of Neutral++. They'd need a different tech progression in addition to different ship designs. I mean, they're still weak, but if you're going to play with Neutrals anyway, might as well make them a little more interesting.

[Litcube]

So your plan is to replace the current neutral AIs with agorophibic AIs?

[Loser]

No, in that mod I will probably never produce I am replacing the Neutrals with 'minor races' who will have some of the aspects of the player races, in that some special technologies can be trade or taken from them that would otherwise only be available form a player race. They can also be Uplifted, if a player race trades them the right techs, and minor races will be able to leave their systems, once they get ships.

I'm planning on using your agoraphobes as Space Monsters.

[Krsqk]

Now that I think about it, Carrier designs may explore as well.

The main concern with building a ship-heavy "Hesitant" race is maintenance--you'd need some sort of special economic tech to allow them to build masses of ships. And drones. Drones would be great--lots and lots of drones all over the place. Of course, they'd all be gone after the first battle, but what a battle that would be!

[Rollo]

Originally posted by Krsqk:
...AIs only explore using designs designated as attack ships; no other types will use unexplored warp points...

that's not true. I cannot recall for all the individual design types (boarding, kamikaze, carrier, etc.), but two things I know for sure:
1) fleets will explore (regardless of the design types included)
2) attack bases will explore

In fact the attack base design types are great for exploring, since they are not included into fleets and wander off alone. Scout ship designs using the attack base design type can help the AI explore and expand.

[Rollo]

Loser - I like your idea for the bottled demon AI. Some testing regarding boarding ships, carriers and kamikaze ships needs to be done. In any case you'll want to use a high number of turns that the AI doesn't use fleets. So the AI will not venture out for, say, the first 100 turns.

[ February 27, 2004, 21:19: Message edited by: Rollo ]