Mine Follies

HAL · #1 January 9th, 2001, 06:38 PM

This is my first use of mines in SEIV. I don't use them, but in this particular game I really don't have a choice. The computer is effectively sweeping my minefields, BTW. I think it only a matter of time before it totally over runs my position.

------------------
I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Daynarr · #2 January 9th, 2001, 06:41 PM

Well, I am trying to see how will AI handle minefields if I increase production of minesweepers in his scripts. I am still testing the changes, but from what I saw in the races files, AI just produces a low amount of mine-sweepers. It is quite possible that just by increasing its production of minesweepers it will be able to handle minefields better. It does send them to sweep mines so that is not a problem. The only question is; will he group them into fleets or not. I know for a fact that he Groups attack ships and defense ships separately and treats them separately (he usually puts defense ships in orbit of his planets or parks them in a warp point - and I really mean PARKS them

). Anyways, if he would group minesweepers like he does other ships, then the problem could be solved just by increasing minesweeper production (right now AI produces only one minesweeper at a time).

Tampa_Gamer · #3 January 9th, 2001, 07:09 PM

Daynarr - I have been attempting to test this concept with the Darloks (1.31). The AI will group carriers with the attack group, but I have yet to see Carriers + minesweepers. In my wish\list bugs thread that I sent to MM, I recommended an ON/OFF "flag" in the design file that would require the ships to be included in fleets, as a temporary cheap fix. I know the Darloks will produce at least 4-5 sweepers at a time, but I am still waiting for them to be used in fleets. . .

MoonDragn · #4 January 9th, 2001, 07:24 PM

I never believed in mines, although the computer seem to use them sometimes... I never have problems with the AI overrunning my positions. Its not hard to defeat them, dunno why I keep hearing all these AI beating people. I found the AI sometimes sits there and never sends his 20 ships grouped into my space at all... BTW I usually start the first 20 turns of my game with less than 5 ships if that, unless I meet another race. I only keep the edges of my empire guarded with ships. I also found it is stupid to build weapons platforms.They are a big waste of resources. I just build ships, lots and lots of them, the bigger the better. I found near the middle to end games, computer's intelligence attacks get rediculous, and they are too effective, and usually overrun my counter intelligence. I think that needs to be balanced a bit. I am usually tempted to just send in a star destroyer and blow up their home systems when they sabotage me.
btw, heres a trick, build about 20 ships and park them at your warp point into your empire
The computer doesn't seem to send any ships your way if there is no path to your empire. Another thing is, colonize ALL of your system's planets, even if they are just tiny ones. It seems when there is nothing to colonize the computer doesn't want to come to you at all. If you are low on resources, build ships with boarding parties that can lower the computer's shields in a hurry. Start using the computer's own ships against him. I had the warp point to my empire guarded by ONE ship with boarding capabilities, and I would constantly snag any computer's ships that came close, then the ship would be repaired and used to guard my system.
Usually by mid to end game I have warp point manipulation capability and I have made all my systems accessable within one jump. so I can mobilize my forces extreemly fast.

HAL · #5 January 9th, 2001, 07:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MoonDragn:
I never believed in mines, although the computer seem to use them sometimes... I never have problems with the AI overrunning my positions. Its not hard to defeat them, dunno why I keep hearing all these AI beating people. I found the AI sometimes sits there and never sends his 20 ships grouped into my space at all...

I haven't been as fortunate. The AI is consistently throwing mine sweepers and large fleets, 20+, at me.

------------------
I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Grognard · #6 January 9th, 2001, 07:35 PM

From my observations, the AI has never moved through a warp point with more than two surface combatant hulls (not aircraft carriers) at once. It appears the AI employs its surface combatants and minesweepers exactly the same. Any AI minesweepers actually sweeping your mines or pairing up with another minesweeper, when travelling through a warp point, is just random luck.

Grognard

HAL · #7 January 9th, 2001, 07:41 PM

I don't use mines usually. I am in such desperate straights in the current game that I resorted to mines. The computer throws a minesweeper through that sweeps most if not all of my mines and then follows up with a large fleet.

------------------
I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.