Does anyone else try to play with a "high" AI bonus

Jourin · #1 May 14th, 2001, 05:11 AM

I have tried and lost 3 games with the bonus set to High. With the map editor I separated the AIs to make sure I have some space and am trying another high bonus game again. I am on turn 115, and in 18th place (out of 20) with 5 neutrals. A very challenging game.

Nitram Draw · #2 May 15th, 2001, 01:07 AM

Tried high bonus a few times. After getting stomped every time I decided to be realistic about my abilities and went back to low.
I wish there was a way to adjust the affects of the bonus. The bonus resources are a nice help to the AI, espescially in a high tech game, but the research and intel bonuses are really hard to overcome.

Krakenup · #3 May 14th, 2001, 08:18 PM

I always play with high bonus. I play with a large quadrant with 10 to 15 computer opponents - usually hand picked from the TDM ModPack. If there is an AI next door and he finds me early, he usually attacks continuously so that I don't have time to do anything but defend. The construction bonus means that the AI can build one warship per shipyard per turn - more than I can defend against. If, however, I have a little room to colonize and time to research, I'm usually strong enough to defend by the time they find me, and I can eventually win.

PvK · #4 May 14th, 2001, 11:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Nitram Draw:
...
I wish there was a way to adjust the affects of the bonus. The bonus resources are a nice help to the AI, espescially in a high tech game, but the research and intel bonuses are really hard to overcome.

One thing you can do is to let them spend more empire creation points than you use yourself, possibly manually editing the extra abilities they have.

PvK

Will · #5 May 15th, 2001, 06:09 AM

Just wondering, since I never figured it out myself... what exactly *IS* the AI bonus? I see resource, research, intel, and construction here, but how much for each level, in each area?

Just wondering, because I haven't really noticed any difficulty with high bonus difficult AIs... Maybe I'll get modpack and try those AIs. Maybe it's just the fact that I love tactical combat, and can usually easily beat an AI force that outnumbers me 5 to 1... or maybe my playing style (neutralize, capture, reinforce, proceed) gives me enough of a boost to rival big AIs...

Biggest challenge so far has been pirates against one normal AI (difficult/high bonus). I'm thinking of pirates vs. three normal AI next, or maybe nomads...

Nitram Draw · #6 May 16th, 2001, 01:05 AM

I'm pretty sure the bonus effects the amount of research, intel, resources and construction rate of the AI. It may effect other stuff like population growth and happiness.
The high bonus is almost a necessity if you play a high tech game. The extra resources help keep the AI from running out of resources when building expensive ships from the start.

Krakenup · #7 May 16th, 2001, 12:02 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Will:
Just wondering, since I never figured it out myself... what exactly *IS* the AI bonus? I see resource, research, intel, and construction here, but how much for each level, in each area?

The low, medium and high bonuses give the AI 2x, 3x and 5x resources and intelligence and research points. This only applies to generated points, not to starting points or points acquired through trade. The construction bonus is harder to quantify, but, as far as I can tell, it is +50%, +100% and either +150% or +200% for low, medium and high bonuses, respectively.