Dominions 2. AI. Suggestions, that how to fix it.

[Kaljamaha]

Another thing that I think should be looked at is AI dominion design. Now, granted, I'm no pro, but sometimes the AI makes design decisions that are utterly suicidal. It has effectively lost before the game even began. One example, from Dom I would be Marignon with Turmoil 2, Cold 3, Death 3. Can't remember if it had sloth also. Granted, those are worth a lot of points, but I'm pretty sure that whatever the AI bought, it wasn't worth it. In the Dom II demo, turmoil seems to be a favorite of many AI opponents, and I can't figure why, as I'm always strapped for cash. As someone mentioned earlier, human designed pretenders for AIs would probably make a lot of sense. As I play mostly SP, it always pains me (when playing Dom I) to see the AI shoot itself in the foot with an idiotic domain.

Next, some anecdotal evidence of AI brilliance. I was playing Abysia, and was besieging the Tien Ch'i capital. I had Anathemant Something, plus three Warlocks as combat mages (probably not a great choice). Anyway, while sieging, there was a break-out attempt, as there always is. However, this time was different. It consisted of one commander, a mage with 3 Astral and something else, plus a few traditional troops. What happened was that the normal troops drew my army's attention long enough for the mage to slay all three of my Warlocks with Magic Duel. Naturally, the mage died in the end, but if this was a deliberate move instead of a random happening, it shows an amazing cost/benefit analysis by the AI. Anyway, just wanted to share the story,it gives me some faith in the AI.


K.

[Particle]

Originally posted by Kaljamaha:
Another thing that I think should be looked at is AI dominion design. Now, granted, I'm no pro, but sometimes the AI makes design decisions that are utterly suicidal. It has effectively lost before the game even began. One example, from Dom I would be Marignon with Turmoil 2, Cold 3, Death 3. Can't remember if it had sloth also. Granted, those are worth a lot of points, but I'm pretty sure that whatever the AI bought, it wasn't worth it. In the Dom II demo, turmoil seems to be a favorite of many AI opponents, and I can't figure why, as I'm always strapped for cash. As someone mentioned earlier, human designed pretenders for AIs would probably make a lot of sense. As I play mostly SP, it always pains me (when playing Dom I) to see the AI shoot itself in the foot with an idiotic domain.

K.

Yup, I've noticed this also.
As for forts....hrm a complicated question. I would say the AI should build castles 3x or 4x more often than right now. Sometimes I see 1-2 AI castles before turn 40, so 4-8 castles before turn 40 would be ok.

[-Storm-]

Just a little addition to the army setup:
IMHO the AI should build 50% LI before turn 10, 40% until turn 15, 30% until turn 25, 25% until turn 30, 20% until turn 40, and >20% after turn 40.
As for the rest of the units, they should be HI - HC - Creatures - Heavy Bow/Xbow of course.

[ November 14, 2003, 20:55: Message edited by: -Storm- ]

[Zerger]

Originally posted by -Storm-:
Just a little addition to the army setup:
IMHO the AI should build 50% LI before turn 10, 40% until turn 15, 30% until turn 25, 25% until turn 30, 20% until turn 40, and >20% after turn 40.
As for the rest of the units, they should be HI - HC - Creatures - Heavy Bow/Xbow of course.

Hrmmmmm I dunno. LI is very weak in Dominions 2. I think the AI should avoid to use them, MAYBE if a patch will make LI more useful......until than I don't wanna see LI from the AI at all. They are weak, routing easily etc. etc.

1 suggestion: the AI should use more army Groups on the battlefield, and use some tactics.
[Ok this is nothing new, I guess we all know about this already, but Aristoteles didn't posted any details about the tactics part.]

[ November 15, 2003, 13:33: Message edited by: Zerger ]

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Zerger:
Hrmmmmm I dunno. LI is very weak in Dominions 2. I think the AI should avoid to use them, MAYBE if a patch will make LI more useful......until than I don't wanna see LI from the AI at all. They are weak, routing easily etc. etc.

Ummm have you tried playing that way? Yes the LI units have some drawbacks, they also have some advantages (such as cost, and patrolling). But I dont think there are very many nations that can afford to use no LI at all. That would make an army stronger, but make the AI easier to beat.

I disagree with Zerger on this point. I haven't found a more cost effective way of getting more provinces quicker other than in the first few turns than with LI.

Maybe it would help if you posted what you would build in the first 4 turns as opposed to LI and that would help.

[NTJedi]

Storm has half of the idea correctly... which is as turns pass the AI decisions should also change. However all previous suggestions from anyone regarding a fixed percentage is wrong. This will cause human players to see Army_A, Army_B and Army_C as almost identical. The percentages used for LI, HI, ranged_units, etc, etc, ... these percentages should be a random range thus keeping human players guessing. Human players could easily master one fixed percentage.

Here's an example:
Day_1 thru Day_15: LI =20% thru 40%, HI = 20% thru 30%, LC = 2% thru 10%, HC = 2% thru 5%, Creatures = 5%.
Weak ranged units = 20% thru 30%, Moderate ranged units = 5% thru 15%, Strong ranged units = 1% thru 5%.
Day_16 thru Day_35: The percentages should change based on its kingdoms total strength.

The above is just an example... but I guarantee it would make the AI more interesting then any fixed percentage.

[ November 15, 2003, 15:18: Message edited by: NTJedi ]