My Final Verdict (until the next patch, that is...)

seldon99 · #1 December 5th, 2000, 01:39 PM

Jowe

Thanks for your post you saved me a lot of time and some frustration. If you are giving the computer maxiumum advantage and still beating it. I guess it is pretty hopeless.

One of the best things about MOO2 and Alpha Centauri is that on the toughest levels, I don't always win. Now at some point victory in those games becomes inevitable and the mopping up operation is a bit dull, but the beginning and middle games are fun.

I bought this game partly due to the reviews, and a lot because I want to support Indy developers and publishers. I was so impressed with Combat Mission: Overlord I figured I should these guys a shot.

Please, Please ignore the requests for more features, and make the AI better. I don't care if the AI cheats a bit, I want a good single player game.

Mephisto · #2 December 5th, 2000, 03:57 PM

The AI needs some serious tweaking IMHO.
In the meantime I have modified many of the AI files. I will post it to the MOD-section in the near future (maybe today).

What have I done?

First of all, I did NOT change any components.

I did change what the AI is building in terms of ships and units in numbers and designs.

I altered the research for the AI so it will research any tech that the Ai is using (i.e. fighters but not ring worlds).

I heavyly altered ship design for the AI.
First of all, it now designs defense ships (and so will defend itself as this design is needed for the defense plans of the AI - at least in SE3...).

Second, it will use quantum reactors, ECM and ECCM.

Third, it will use 2x to 3x more PDCs.

It will never use a master computer. Sorry guys, but the AI does always build a ship with bridge ect so there is no reason to include a mc. This is - as it seems - hard-coded.

Philipp

DirectorTsaarx · #3 December 5th, 2000, 04:27 PM

Another mod you might want to make in the AI files is changing the "Turns to Wait until next attack" variable in the "AI_Settings" file (there's a unique Version for each race, plus the default). In every settings file I checked, this value was set to 6! Which I interpret to mean the AI waits 6 turns between attacks on any given target. Personally, I've been known to attack the same target three or four times in the same turn (generally when trying to glass an enemy planet).

One could probably also modify the "Get Angry over colonizable planets" and "Percentage to consider as attack locations" settings in the AI_Settings file as well.

Just my two centi-credits' worth!

Mephisto · #4 December 5th, 2000, 07:26 PM

My Mod should be available now in the mod section. Please give me some feedback.

Tampa_Gamer · #5 December 5th, 2000, 08:05 PM

Thanks for posting your mod Mephisto, I will compare it to what I have done so far. Perhaps there are enough people out there interested in single play (and with a little assistance with the mid-December patch) that we can put together a stellar AI (non-cheat).

Mephisto · #6 December 5th, 2000, 08:10 PM

I very much hope so. Drop me a line on your review, Tampa.

quote:
Originally posted by Tampa_Gamer:
Thanks for posting your mod Mephisto, I will compare it to what I have done so far. Perhaps there are enough people out there interested in single play (and with a little assistance with the mid-December patch) that we can put together a stellar AI (non-cheat).

Talenn · #7 December 5th, 2000, 08:52 PM

DirectorTsaarx:

Yes, tweaking those numbers and a few in the AI_Anger files will indeed make the AI players more hostile. Unfortunately, it makes them more hostile to everyone they meet...ie, it doesnt just react to Human players that way (which is good..its not cheating). But what it DOES mean is that the AI is going to war with just about the first person it meets. Thus, the AI players are all fighting amongst themselves and are even LESS likely to attack someone else.

If the Human player plays it cool, its very possible to stay out of prolonged conflicts with the AI. Either that, or the Human player can just stomp the first AI player they come across and be reasonably safe from the others who are constantly embattled with one another.

The other problem concerns the QUALITY of the attacks. As observed below, the AI attacks on others are half-hearted and ill-advised most of the time. So even when the AI is currently engaged in hostilities with a player, its unlikely that they will do too much damage.

All:

I'd like to test some of this too, but my Data is so customized at this point that I dont think I can be of much direct help. I will go through your list of changes and see what I can implement into my set. I can then at least have a similar frame of reference with others to continue comparing notes.

Has anyone been able to translate anything in the 'politics' file? This one is obviously the key to the AI being so 'treaty happy'. I cant really make enough sense of the file to want to change anything, though. I'm pretty sure that making use of this file and the anger file, we can create distinctive AI personalities. But I'm not sure how to go about it just yet...anyone?

Thanx,
Talenn