Poor AI

Pnakotic · #5 June 13th, 2001, 03:02 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jc173:
Definately get the TDM modpack. It doesn't change the tech and or mess with any of the game's rules, but it does script the AI's to act more intelligently or efficiently...
...Get the modpack though, you'll see a big difference. I find that the Modpack Sergetti (Sp?), Rage, and XiChung to be very agressive and intelligent opponents.

Unfortunately, the Modpack can't do anything to improve the underlying *hardcoded* problems with the AI in SEIV. The Modpack does a pretty good in making AI ship design and production more efficient. But the real showstopper is that the AI has very little idea of what it's doing or what it should be doing in a strategic sense (FYI, I'm not even talking about tactical combat - just the overall strategic play of the game). It really comes down to two main issues:

1) The AI has some very obvious problems when it comes to deciding what its goals are each turn. It tends to fortify starsystems with little to no strategic value while often leaving its important systems wide open for attack. SEIV AI really needs to be taught the "choke-point" concept, as well as how to tell the difference between important targets and unimportant targets. Coordinating the movements/attacks of ships and fleets is also something SEIV is fairly bad at. It mostly comes down to goal-setting; SEIV AI just tends to wander around without a plan

2) What happened Last turn? SEIV obviously doesn't know. If any code for turn-to-turn goal inheritance exists within SEIV, it sure isn't working. This apparently leaves the AI with the job of re-evaluating its goals each turn from scratch. SEIV has a lot of potential, but it's been a long time since I've seen a strategy game with AI that had so many problems coordinating and following through with attacks, goals and battle plans.

Basically, SEIV's AI seems to suffer from a combination of Attention Deficit Disorder and Amnesia. No mod is going to be able to fix that.

PS - Try not to take offense. I'm not trying to bash MM, SEIV or any of the fine modmakers out there. I'm just pointing out that the real problems are beyond the scope of any mod (even one as good as the Modpack--which I myself play SEIV with).