Dominions 2. AI. Suggestions, that how to fix it.

[Gandalf Parker]

I find the AIs doing better on games where the indeps are set to about 7. On 2 I can use my human flexibility to get to them too quickly and make maximum use of the situation.

I think the AI for an indep 2 game would have to operate very differently. Such as investing in a much more defensive position much earlier in the game.

[LordArioch]

I've found the ai rather good so far...more or less like the dom1 but with some human exploits like patrolling removed. I don't see the normal AI beating me but it at least offers a threat...and the impossible one is probably quite tricky.

Sure beats the Age of Wonders AI
Or that of a number of games i could list.

[licker]

How does the AI respond to the intricacies of the strategic map? Do they recognize choke points and make early attempts to gain them? Do they account for fronts and important provinces (ones that leed to many other provinces)?

Once the AI controls a strategic point do they prioritize its defense? Do they look at the list of controled provinces and have a defenseive ranking?

Just questions while I think on this issue...

[MStavros]

Hm yeah I understand the problem with the empty AI provinces. You cannot defend everything.

Yeah indy str 7+ and you cannot conquer that fast.

Once again I think the biggest problem is that the AI won't make bigger armies. I never seen one at least so far. Maybe I am crushing the AIs too fast? I dont know.
More, small armies are very ineffective, this is the problem IMHO.
+ The AI cant be bothered if you kill his little armies one by one. I never seen more small armies in the same province, also I never seen an invading, bigger attacking force so far.

[ October 28, 2003, 18:46: Message edited by: MStavros ]

[Saber Cherry]

Originally posted by MStavros:
[QB] Once again I think the biggest problem is that the AI won't make bigger armies.

Maybe they finally understand supply rules?

I have yet to encounter an AI, so I don't know=)

[-Storm-]

Yup, I had the same experience. Well 40 turns is nothing, but still I didn't met with any "bigger" armies controlled by the AI.

[Mortifer]

I didn't played too many games, but mostly Ive seen small enemy (AI) armies. I met with a mediocre army 1 time, when I attacked a home province.
Sadly the AI isnt that good as I expected.

The battle AI + spellcasting AI is excellent. I am not sure, that why, but the strategical AI is lot worse.

[Pocus]

The AI is too contrived most of the time. On bigger maps (speaking of doms I here), an AI would emerge (Ermor often) and roll over the opposition. Then you would face it.

[ywl]

I saw army big enough for early game (at least 50 to 60 units) many times. Overall, the strategic AI behaves quite similar to Dom 1.

I have several observations:

1) AI tends to have a large number of crappy units, whereas human will go for quality (knights, emerald guards) whenever practical.

2) When you're seiging the AI capital, they'll keep trying to retake it. It's a sensible thing to do but being so predictable will make it easy to exploit. It doesn't hurt to add a degree of randomness to it.

3) Even without the tax-n-patrol trick, I can still expand faster than the AI. Do you guys have similar experience? Is there any way to improve the situation? We all know that if you lost the open-game, it's very hard to catch up.

4) Are there any nasty tricks hard-coded for the AI? Any experienced human players would have a wide arsenal of them, the AI need some to be competitive.

[MStavros]

Indy strength on 7 won't help at all. I had a game right now. 40 turns was not enough to kill the AI, but I almost did it.....It had like 2-3 provinces left, when the 40 turn limit ended my game.
I didnt met with a decent AI army, I only fought against some small forces...

Mortifer is right. This is very frustrating. The spellcasting AI is so cool, I wonder why is the strategic AI so weak?