Question on refusing Treaties.

[Talenn]

Ebonyknight:

Oh yes, the Small Map is far more interesting against the AI. I play it on Small, with Max Number of AI players. I dont add in the Neutrals on Small anymore as I found that it tended to stifle the AI players expansion too much.

They would end up with too few planets colonized and this led to unbalanced Econs that hampered their ship production. I think the Neutrals work out better on the Medium+ maps.

And yes, the AI can be pretty bloodthirsty in the opening stages of the game. I think there is a negative modifier to its treaty acceptance logic for the first 50 turns or so. On a small map, that can seem like forever when you are engaged in an Escort and Frigate war from about turn 5.

Also, if you give it the 'Low Bonus' it can definately outproduce you in the early stages and everything else being equal, numbers will tell. Its not entirely fair to a HUMAN player in these early stages, but it sure does make it tense. Also, there is a pretty large feeling of accomplishment when you finally DO beat it down and stomp their Homeworld. Of course just about that time, another AI race come waltzing in with Tech that is MILES ahead of your cuz all its been doing is expanding while you've been fighting for your life!

But overall, I think this makes for a far better game than the typical 'build until I'm ready to come out and play' that tends to happen on the larger maps.

Talenn

[Psitticine]

I also enjoy the small map games. Aside from all the excellent points y'all have made, I also find it makes each and every planet worth something. Even those tiny domed worlds can be important refuelling points.

It also adds spice to the stellar manipulation and planet utilization fields. When there aren't so dozens and dozens of systems to choose from, you need to pay more attention towards improving what you've got!

[Talenn]

Heh, yes, I've even gone one better than simply playing on small map...I've actually reduced the number of facilities that each planet can hold. I am currently at 4,8,12,15,18 and it seems to be working out pretty well. The Domed Colony amounts are unchanged.

My primary motivation for doing this was to flatten the luck a bit in early colonization. Some of our early games were easily decided by one or two players getting a fantastic starting system with a Huge planet or two of their atmosphere type. This lead to blow out games that werent interesting for all parties to continue playing.

Since reducing the number of facilities a planet can hold, we have mitigated this a bit. Its also made expansion more important. This in turn leads to competition for more limited resources and hence, more conflicts.

Of course I had to modify the AI a bit so that it made more efficient use of the planets etc, but I've been very pleased with the results so far. I think I have the AI tweaked nicely enough to provide a good challenge when given a 'Low Bonus'.

Talenn

[Jubala]

I'm playing a game now in small quadrant with max AI's and neutrals on max difficulty and bonus and It's a walkover for me. 3 starting planets per player. Then again, the first thing I built was 2 bases with space yards per planet and proceeded to kick the *** of the first AI I met. Took some time and they actually killed quite a few ships for me and I had to glass 2 of their homeworlds before they surrendered, but now it feels like a walkover with me firmly in first place allied to almost every other AI. Sailed into a Neutrals system with a scouting fleet of 7 destroyers and one light cruisers, kicked it's fleets *** and demanded their surrender. They did. First time I met them. Getting ready to repeat the process to another neutral. Think I'll try this setup again but without neutrals.

[This message has been edited by Jubala (edited 28 November 2000).]

[Taqwus]

On balancing starts -- wouldn't it be possible to edit the SystemTypes.txt file (IIRC) so that every system that has planets, has an identical or nearly-so setup? It'd be a bit more... dull, but if you really want to make the map more egalitarian, that plus ensuring a decent map geometry (there's a Grid option IIRC). Could be termed a Tournament map, basically.

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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

[Psitticine]

Jubala, if you want to boost the challenge, try starting with only 1 planet per side. The AI seems to handle starts like that a bit better, from what I've seen.