What now????

[Taqwus]

I've seen quite a few battles where, in tactical combat, I'll do FAR better than an AI with the same forces.

I once ran a test involving something like 2 heavy carriers and a few DNs for escort, attacking several identical DNs. Under my control, the carriers won hands down: complete obliteration of enemy force. With the AI controlling both sides, the defenders win hands-down, obliterating the carrier force with no losses. Conclusion: Micro-manage fighter combat. It has no understanding of holding back waves, or 'recycling' fired rocket-fighters to soak up PD so that unused RFs can fire unharmed, or using ships as decoys so big guns impact on ship shields, not fighter swarms.

In smaller galaxies before CSMs were boosted in speed, I routinely used an escort with one CSM I to destroy an escort with one CSM I by the obvious run-while-firing-out-yer-rear tactic.

I've used *1* DN, with no weapon of any range above 7, to defeat a fleet of *7* DNs and a CA, with range-16 seeker parasites and range-8 beams, partly because the AI doesn't understand when missiles are useless.

Also, it still doesn't take full advantage move-fire-move, which is a must when taking on a planet protected with 30 weapon platforms with range-8 beams and range-16 speed-5 missiles... something that can be done with zero risk w/ a speed-6 ship w/ range-7 beams, but only in tactical.

It's really not that good, tactically, as of the first patch...

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

[Courageous]

It's funny; you conclude that you should
micro manage fighters, where, in a game
against the A.I., I conclude that all games
should be strategic. Why would someone want
an ADDITIONAL advantage against the A.I.?

C//

[Seawolf]

Taqwus,

Since MM is working on the game I'll defend them.

Personally I think you are asking too much from the AI at this stage of the game. Also considering that this game runs on home PC rather than a Cray or Deep Blue a human player will allways have an advantage in tactical combat. How could a AI micromanage a large fleet of fighters like it seems you do? An AI improves as it plays others and learns from experience. This AI is under the constraints. MM wanted to get the game out and running, so while the Ai may not be much of a challenge for you try playing other human players. Have you uped the AI bonuses in the game you are playing? That does make a difference too.

Sorry this game doens't met your expectations as of yet but give it time.



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Seawolf on the prowl

[Baron Munchausen]

The AI is getting better at tactical combat but still flubs now & then. It's programmed to fire missiles & then run away, for example, but occasionally runs TOWARDS the enemy it just fired at instead of away. Duh! I've slaughtered more than a few Jraenar ships because of that goof. The latest beta, as the info file posted in another thread here states, is supposed to have improved tactical combat. I've got to get into contact with some major rivals in my new game and see how it goes now. I did have one serious contest with a neutral that I stumbled across shortly after starting the game. They were in the adjacent system, and even though they only had 20 turns or so start they were suprisingly tough.

[Taqwus]

One improvement would be if the fighters didn't go tearing off towards the enemy until all were launched, or other ships on the same side do. Going piecemeal is a good way to get diced... especially against a PD-heavy fleet, because PD now targets a finite number with high precision (an alternative: PD fires w/ fairly low probability to hit, but for EVERY incoming seeker/fighter). But for now, fighters are much more potent massed, and with a keen eye on enemy PD count.

If it could hide its attitude, it'd also gain a bit methinks; right now, once your score hits 500k+ (possible to do quickly even w/ a single armed ship, if you go econ-happy), you know that you still haven't tripped 'evil empire' status until they go Murderous -- and once they do, you still have a few turns warning methinks. Add an Intel op to discover their "true" impression if need be; you may *think* they like you, but... I'm also tempted to think that the racial traits maybe should be hidden, which would slightly help AIs since people are much better at deducing a possible playing style from the traits...

I suspect the AI may not analyze ships as often as it should; saw a fleet running around w/ Org-6 weapons, and a ship that I'd captured and gave to them, that IIRC had Org-10 weapons. Hyper-plasma V, anyway, versus the much worse Lightning Ray III. Something to check for whenever it receives a ship that's a gift, or it captures one. A bit odd, since analyzing for a new tech is usually a plus. If it doesn't have any tech you can't learn (e.g. you've gotten a ship w/ WMGs and a Talisman, and you're not religious... might actually want to keep it, then), then it's almost certainly a plus, unless you're absolutely, critically low on resources and you'd prefer to scrap it.

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

[AJC]

The latest AI in the beta code is doing much better - much more aggressive and much better organized. MM is working hard on it - and it is starting to come together. The next patch to the public should make alot of people happy.

[Jochen Schmidt]

I´m happy to hear, that MM is working on the AI. Perhaps, the whole discussion could be avoided in the future.

Greetings to all!

Jochen