Does the AI use 'peace' and 'war' between factions

General_Jah · #1 February 10th, 2007, 03:13 AM

I'm still in my first game and trying to figure this beast out and thankfully its been pretty challenging so far!

I'm trying to figure the AI out a bit and have a few questions...

My capital is way behind my front lines and happens to be next to water... This damn water faction builds up a HUGE force whenever I have my army off on the other side of my lands fighting and attacks me.

Well my spies have cruised around and determined that 2 other factions that border this water faction have virtually NO defense in their territories bordering them. It would be far easier for the AI to take them over than trying to sack my capital that has decent defenses...

Any thoughts on this? Am I missing something here?

Also, one of the enemy factions that borders my land in the game has not attacked me all game and I have never attacked them. My forces aren't much at all if they wanted to come in and invade, yet they haven't. I can't figure out why, is there such a thing as peace? Is it because I have never attacked them?

The faction I'm currently at war with was kind of a test. He had a easily conquered provine on my border and I took it real quick. Next thing I know his WHOLE army is invading my territory... I'm assuming this faction took it as some kind of act of War.

If you veterns could shed some light on this I would appreciate it!

Thanks

Taqwus · #2 February 10th, 2007, 05:27 AM

The AI tends to prefer peace until

- you attack it,
- you look quite weak (and perhaps it's not too busy elsewhere), or
- it runs out of expansion room except in your direction

Endoperez · #3 February 10th, 2007, 07:00 AM

Did you use units named Spy, or just normal Scouts which happened to spy on enemy lands? Spies and other specialized troops can gather more precise info about enemy lands, including details of the spesific province (magic sites, income, provincial defence). If you use just scouts, the only thing you see is whether or not they have any armies in there.

I guess those other two nations had lots of provincial defence, or PD, in their provinces. AI pays lots of attention to PD levels when it chooses where to attack.

Nick_K · #4 February 10th, 2007, 09:42 AM

At the beginning of the game all factions are at peace.

The AI will consider a war has started if you attack it or if it attacks you. If you both attack someone else's province (or a neutral one) and end up fighting it doesn't consider that a declaration of war.
Once war starts the AI will basically attack you forever.

The AI seems to pick the weakest border province as a target. It will usually conquer most indep provinces forst then choose a province with few troops & low PD. If you can keep narrow borders with the AI and place solid armies there you can usually keep the peace for a while.

So, if the water faction is at war with you already, then it will attack you in preference to its other neighbours, unless they launch an attack against it.

Gandalf Parker · #5 February 10th, 2007, 12:38 PM

Some maps can setup alliances between AI nations but it doesnt get done much. If you are playing my "WE vs THEM" campaign then D.A.R.E (the Deadly Atlantis Ryleh Ermor alliance) will refuse to attack each other.

Big army buildups tend to get its attention also. If you and the water nation (call them A and B) are already warring, then see if your scouts can take provinces from C and D that border the water nation. That will get them to send big armies to that shore and after they take the province back it might spark a war. It can also get the water nation to shift some large armies that direction and lighten the load on your shore.

If you can make water-breathing items then you might send some to C and D. It might give them an incentive to attack the water and its not likely to hurt you later.

Nick_K · #6 February 10th, 2007, 04:08 PM

To be honest, I don't think the AI is likely to use water-breathing items sensibly enough for it to be worth the gems. I imagine the cnaces are some researcher will end up holding them. You'd be better off keeping theitems and using them to smash the water nation.

Ironhawk · #7 February 10th, 2007, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Nick_K said:
Once war starts the AI will basically attack you forever.

Not entirely true. The AI will never declare peace, but it may stop attacking you. Particularly if it has a more threatening enemy attacking IT. Watch your neighbors carefully! If they back down some you may be able to have a break on that front by not provoking them any more.