Poll #2. [Try out the demo, and vote after that!]

[Daynarr]

I usually play with independent strength of 9, but its not exactly a good idea for demo since games wont be nearly finished by the time you each 40 turns. Also playing in RICH medium and small maps helps AI's too and normal richness for large maps. In my games AI’s takes all mercs and I have to fight for them. Also, playing against 3-4 AI's and against 16 is quite different too. I warmly recommend playing with 9 independent strength, normal richness, all AI's and very slow research on largest maps (once you get full game). You will notice how some AI's will have bad development due to bad luck or wars, while others will grow rapidly and wipe out weak ones. Usually, after 100 turns, there are 2-3 strong AI's left to fight with you and none of them will be easy pickings by then.
Sometimes you will be having bad luck and tag-teamed by AI’s or get bad event at the start that will really hurt you. I’ve had games sometimes that I had to restart early because of tag-team wars.

[Dekent]

I personally like to crank that indie up alllllll the way heh

[MStavros]

Damn, I didnt wanted to cause any trouble.
The AI is really weak, I never lost a single game in the demo so far, and I played a lot.
I didn't finish these games, 40 turns are not enough, but when we reach turn 40, I control most of the provinces, I have lot bigger power, my research is lot better etc. The AI didnt recruited a decent army ever. It always had some small blitz armies. I never ever met with a bigger army.

I think the main problem is, that the AI cannot make a good striking force. It is trying to operate with small armies, and it wont work.

[RadiantFleet]

I have to say that I've noticed the AI is seriously weak in the demo. I typically play with all nations, impossible (or whatever the highest setting is). In dom I I usually could count on some serious mobs attacking me, especially on larger maps, but this behaviour was visable on smaller ones too. In the demo, the AI seems to have real trouble gathering effective armies. I think part of the problem is poor diety design. I notice that my dominion tends to seriously over power theirs. Is their any way that we can specify the diety that the computer player uses?

[MStavros]

Aye, I noticed the same thing as I said.
((No effective AI armies))

However I dont understand your sentence about poor deity design? What is the connection between the deity design and the AI armies?

[Mortifer]

WOW! What is this flamewar?
The AI isnt a genius, true. Still, try to be polite please.

Update #.2

What should IW improve in Dominions II.?

GFX 3% (1)
Music & SFX 3% (1)
AI 67% (26)
Game balance 13% (5)
UI (User Interface) 31% (12)


What new content would you like to see in Dominions II.?

More Spells 13% (5)
More Items & Special sites 15% (6)
More Units & Creatures 10% (4)
Diplomacy 62% (24)
Weapon / Armor system 18% (7)
Other (Make a comment) 10% (4)


Do you play single or multi?

I only play SP 56% (22)
I prefer SP, but rarely I play MP 18% (7)
I play SP and MP as well 5% (2)
I prefer MP, but rarely I play SP 21% (8)
I only play MP 0% (0)


What do you think about the Dominions II. AI?

Excellent 8% (3)
Good 23% (9)
Average 31% (12)
Below average 23% (9)
Poor 15% (6)

[Gandalf Parker]

Try testing the AI with an indep setting of 7. I understand that a number of people are playing with indeps at 2 which gives a human player a huge advantage over the AI

[Kristoffer O]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
Try testing the AI with an indep setting of 7. I understand that a number of people are playing with indeps at 2 which gives a human player a huge advantage over the AI

I would'n say huge, not at 2. 0 on the other hand would have some strange effects on the game with scouts conquering provinces on their own.

[MStavros]

Kristoffer, I had a game now, and I had the indies on 7. I almost killed an AI, but 40 turns was not enough. I didn't lost a single battle against it, once again the AI had more small armies, so I rolled it easily.

[LordArioch]

I'm just baffled by all the commentary against the AI...are you people playing the same game I am? The first game I played Mictlan had summoned a bunch of fiends of darkness and assembled them with a lot of troops to attack me.

What AI are you playing against? Because mine's among the best Ive seen.

And don't nobody try and claim the AoW:Shadow magic AI was better or I'll have to start making long speeches.

The one thing lacking is a battle replay speed adjuster. I need that.

[ October 28, 2003, 23:21: Message edited by: LordArioch ]