Good game, but....the AI is very bad.

proteus · #1 May 11th, 2004, 02:25 PM

Gandalf, I am always playing with indep str 5, because I heard that its the best for the AI.

Hmm I am playing against 1-8 AIs, different maps.
All settings on normal, except the AI. Some AIs are on normal, some on the highest diff level.
I do this because that way 1-2 AIs will be very strong in the early game, so more challange!

I think I will play against allied AIs, I never tried that. I think that will be hard enough!

MStavros · #2 May 11th, 2004, 07:12 PM

Hm, this will be a bit harder than I thought. I need some advice. What should I do with the provincial militias? Make them 'unavaible' in a way, example all of them will cost 100 resources, so the AI propably won't recruit them, OR make them all heavy troops?
I like the first one better, that way the AI will only use the national troops, and maybe it will build lot more forts, since the provinical militias will cost more than any other unit.
It sounds weird I know, but maybe the SP AI will be lot more challenging.

[ May 11, 2004, 18:26: Message edited by: MStavros ]

Gandalf Parker · #3 May 11th, 2004, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by proteus:
Gandalf, I am always playing with indep str 5, because I heard that its the best for the AI.

Hmm I am playing against 1-8 AIs, different maps.
All settings on normal, except the AI. Some AIs are on normal, some on the highest diff level.
I do this because that way 1-2 AIs will be very strong in the early game, so more challange!

I think I will play against allied AIs, I never tried that. I think that will be hard enough!

Other things that boost AI's are:
lower indepts (5 is about human normal)
higher resources
higher magic (if you are not big on spell use)
low random events

If you are going to try allied AI's to make the game harder then take a look at some of the maps Ive done at www.dom2minions.com such as "Poke in the Eye" "Mazes and Monsters" or "War for Independents". Also, I could probably use some suggestions from you on how to make "WE vs THEM" harder since thats supposed to be a game which FORCES players to ally against the AI (if I can make it that hard)

PvK · #4 May 11th, 2004, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sachmo:
I hope my wife never reads this board. She might learn a new tactic to get attention.

LOL! Yep!

PvK

Gandalf Parker · #5 May 11th, 2004, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MStavros:
I like the first one better, that way the AI will only use the national troops, and maybe it will build lot more forts, since the provinical militias will cost more than any other unit.
It sounds weird I know, but maybe the SP AI will be lot more challenging.

To at least test the concept quickly the first one would be easier. Leif or I could also write you a routine which populates a map on purpose with certain pop-types and leaving others out. Maybe making all the provinces have knights and longbows

Leif_- · #6 May 11th, 2004, 08:27 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

Quote:

To at least test the concept quickly the first one would be easier. Leif or I could also write you a routine which populates a map on purpose with certain pop-types and leaving others out. Maybe making all the provinces have knights and longbows

Actually, look at the DovregubbensHall.ran included with the DomScripts.zip for an example of a randomisation configuration that does just that (although mooseriders are much more fun than longbows).

PvK · #7 May 11th, 2004, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

quote:
Originally posted by proteus:
Hummm, are you a veteren player?? I am not, and I can beat the AI all the time easily, and I am not using any SCs etc. at all.

Its possible. Why dont you post the game parameters. What map? what AIs? what settings on resources and indept strength? What nation do you play?

Well proteus, I've been playing Dominions since several months before Dominions II came out, and I got Dominions II immediately after it was released.

As Gandalf suggests, and as I mentioned, the game setup, and the method of play, make a big difference. I tend to include plenty of AI's, and usually end up fighting one or more AI's within the first 20 turns, because they start out only a few provinces away. Or, in another game, I managed to spread out fairly well when I ended up having to fight three AI's at once (who were also fighting each other) and got down to about two or three provinces left before I made a comeback.

Anyway, difficulty depends a lot on the situation.

P.S. That is, it's essentially impossible to program an AI for a game like this that will be as challenging as a smart and experienced human player. However it is very possible to set up the situation (more AI's, AI difficulty level, do nothing for a few turns at game start, etc.), and/or to limit yourself from taking advantage of the AI by not over-using techniques that the AI doesn't, or not using techniques that exploit known AI limitations, or simply to think and play like a roleplayer rather than like a minimaxing munchkin). I haven't found it necessary to do more than include enough AI's to get some extremely satisfying, interesting, and challenging games, though.

PvK

[ May 11, 2004, 19:42: Message edited by: PvK ]