Vote-hardest campaign-non moded

[Tarquelne]

Here's what I've found:

"Medium" or "Low" number of computer players gives the best (most challenging) results. (I enjoy having lots of computer players, but they seem to get in each others way more than they get in _my_ way.)

Don't play with any "Neutral" AI players. Why? Too easy to get access to new Colonization tech and other-atmosphere breathers.

If there's a tech you like to use that the AI can't seem to cope with disallow it when setting up the game.

Play a 2000 or 3000 pt. race while the AIs get 5000 pts.

Mini-max the AIs some... buy down ground combat say, since that isn't used much. Or maybe give them all Advanced Storage Techniques (or whatever it's called) - that ability seems worth more than 1000 pts to me.

Try to start in the center of the map. (I don't think I've ever played a game in which starting in a corner wasn't an advantage.) The simplest way to do this is to keep setting up games untill you start in the center. The _best_ way to do it is to generate a map with the Se4 map generator, setup a starting position in the center and then use that map.

Here's a mod - but a very simple one - that effectively gives a huge boost to the AI races. Add a new culture to the cultures.txt file. You'll use this culture for your race. I like using these modifications:
-30 production, research, trade and intel.
-20 happiness.
Modify whatever culture you would otherwise be using. (So, for example, if the culture normally gives a +5 to intel, give yourself a -25 to intel, not -30.)

I first tried -50 for p r t and i, but that seemed to be too big a penalty, though a -50 in just one or two area would probably work.

I like the negative cultural mods because you're not just handing more resources to the already inefficent AI, you're making yourself try to get by with less. (I also like the feel of changes to the culture file - it's easier for me to pretend the AI got smarter. And I can pick favorable characteristics for my race without feeling as guilty about it.)

[This message has been edited by Tarquelne (edited 13 November 2001).]