Why does the ai EVER choose Fire Flies?

[tinkthank]

I dont understand why the computer EVER selects Fire Flies as a spell to cast once Evocation 1 is researched. Fire Flies cost 20- fatigue, does 6ap damage, has -1 precision, a range of 25+, and requires 1 fire. Fire Darts has identical stats, but does 10ap damage and has +4 precision. Obviously, Fire Darts is better in all ways to Fire Flies, which is also represented by the fact that you have to research Fire Darts in order to cast it, while any pyrodork can cast Fire Flies out of the box. Yet once scripts run out, or if none are chosen, the computer will more often cast Fire Flies instead of Fire Darts. But why, if it doesnt save fatigue? And if Fire Flies is actually a better choice for some other (which?) reason – why is it a freebie?

[Endoperez]

All of this is under 'IIRC' -warning. I really hope I remember this right...

DomII AI does not calculate by the numbers - it tests the spells. The AI runs maybe five tests with both Fire Flies and Fire Darts. The one which has most effect on the tests (most damage caused) will be cast. Lucky cast of Fire flies can be better than that of Fire Darts, and so can be five.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Fire Flies has 6 shots. Fire Darts is 3+ (so an F1 would send 3). The AI assumes (I guess) that "hey, I have twice as many chances to hit!" without noticing that the Darts are bigger hits and better targeting.
Try with an F2+ (gets more Darts at higher levels.) I imagine an F4 would not use Flies at all.

[tinkthank]

Hm.... sounds like there could be room for improvement here.

Perhaps if the computer decides it is going to cast some form of damage-dealing spell, it should calculate research level of that spell into the algorithm somehow?

[Endoperez]

Why should the research level matter? Better spells often need more research, but that doesn't mean they always are. For example, in many cases I prefer Falling Frost to Frozen Heart. Both are good, but for different reasons, and should be used depending on the situation.