Does the AI use creative tactics?

[Gandalph]

I decided to test this and spent the time necessary to create a map with only 2 systems, 1 planet in 1 and 2 planets in the other, then set them both to starting points, then saved the map and started a game with it. I used a transport to divide the population evenly between the 2 target planets, (after colonizing the second planet), then decided to test with different kinds of defenses, ie mines, WP's, fighters. To shorten the story, after everything was ready for the test, I turned on all Ministers for the attacking Empire and sent the recently built Dreadnought through the warp point to see what happened. Well, the minister sent the warship back to the planet and scrapped it. So, though we still don't know the answer to the question, it has definetively been proven that THE AI IS STUPID!!!!

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Gandalph:
THE AI IS STUPID!!!!

You mean you had to run that test to figure this out? *tisk tisk* We could've told you that without having to run tests man.

[Master Belisarius]

I go for the first option...
Sorry Rollo, but I'm with Mephisto and Alpha Kodiak: I think that sometimes the AI can do some "intelligent" actions, but really is not smart. In fact, I would prefer that the SE4 AI could cheat something and then, play better.

[Gandalph]

OK, I have completed this test. With all else equal, I put up a minefield on planet B and the AI attacked planet B and blew up, conclusion - AI cannot see mines. Next scenario, I put 5 small WP's on planet B, AI attacked and destroyed planet A. Next scenario, I put 25 fighters on planet B, AI attacked and destroyed planet B. Last scenario, I put 50 fighters on planet B, AI attacked and destroyed Planet A. Between scenarios, I wiped out previous defenses. From this, I conclude that the AI CAN see WP's and fighters and will avoid that planet if it does not think it can win.

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Gandalph:
[QB] Well, the minister sent the warship back to the planet and scrapped it. QB]

ROFLMAO I didn't really predict this, I've seen it before when I take over an AI that's losing just to see what it's doing, often it will make and break it's new ships immediately. Must be some hard coded algorithim -- it must want have a certain amount of planets producing resources to keep ships. Typical conflicting ministers.

Gandalph -- I gotta say thanks for doing this and the next test. I wouldnt have had the patience, but now that you see a pattern, I'm intrigued. It can see WP and fighters but not mines(we shoulda guessed that one, or it would never bungle into a mindfield -- that would be too obvious). I'm in the mood to try it out myself. Questions remain:

1). Does it always find the right planet, or is there some ramdomness. Or is there some other rule, how nice the planet is, how close a planet is to it's homeworld, what direction the ship was traveling, etc?

2). So it can count fighters in cargo. If it can see the difference between 50 and 20, can it see the diference between 20 and 25, 20 and 21? Could this just be a non-obvious bug -- it should be able to count fighters in orbit, maybe MM did'nt put in a flag to hide this info when they are cargo? Does it care about small medium large shielded armored fighters or would a ton of cockpits and life support fighters keep a planet safe?

3). What can it see of the weapon platforms. What's it more afraid of large full of armor and point defence vs mediums with engine destroyers?

4). Obviusly it can see sats in orbit, but how about cloaked ones?

If I'm bored enought this weekend I'll try some of these

[Gandalph]

I can save you the time with some of these.


1). Does it always find the right planet, or is there some ramdomness. Or is there some other rule, how nice the planet is, how close a planet is to it's homeworld, what direction the ship was traveling, etc?

There were only 2 planets in the system and both were homeworld, large, breathable, identical population numbers, identical facilities, and identical distance from the warp point, which is why, in my previous post, I said "all things equal". The AI randomly chose a planet if no defenses on either. With WP's or fighters, it always chose the planet it could defeat. If it could not defeat either, it seemed to choose the lesser populated, (the differences were minute, ie 4184 to 4056). If there were sufficient defenses it would attack the weaker planet and , if it could not defeat either, it would hold from attacking.

2). So it can count fighters in cargo. If it can see the difference between 50 and 20, can it see the diference between 20 and 25, 20 and 21? Could this just be a non-obvious bug -- it should be able to count fighters in orbit, maybe MM did'nt put in a flag to hide this info when they are cargo? Does it care about small medium large shielded armored fighters or would a ton of cockpits and life support fighters keep a planet safe?

See above observations.

[QB}3). What can it see of the weapon platforms. What's it more afraid of large full of armor and point defence vs mediums with engine destroyers?[/QB]

Again, see above observations.

4). Obviusly it can see sats in orbit, but how about cloaked ones?

I did not test this, but based on my obsevations, if the AI had sufficient sensors to see the Sat's, it would again pick the weaker planet.

[Rollo]

Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
I go for the first option...
Sorry Rollo, but I'm with Mephisto and Alpha Kodiak: I think that sometimes the AI can do some "intelligent" actions, but really is not smart. In fact, I would prefer that the SE4 AI could cheat something and then, play better.

Nothing to feel sorry for . Actually I agree with you. All I said was that the AI can look at things that humans cannot. Whether or not it makes intelligent decisions is a totally different matter.

Rollo