I got the AIC Blues... ::singing::

Yimboli · #1 April 26th, 2004, 10:00 PM

I'm having a problem with the AIC mod. My maintenance costs are so ridiculously high, I can't afford to do anything. I have a fleet of about 10 destroyers, and i have one of about 10 frigates, and I have about 6 starliners roaming along with about 6 bases with temporal base space yard I's. I can barely use my construction queues cuz anything I try to do puts me at a defecit!

To top it off, the cue cappa stroll in with an enormous fleet of 44 ships (luckily, they are allied with me against the cryslonite) to resupply at my planet, and I have NO IDEA how I am supposed to combat that kind of firepower! They have over 100 ships, and I can barely support 40. What am I doing wrong??

extra info: I have the third highest number of planets of all, the highest population, and the 5th most resources. I've teched up about 3 levels into the resource extraction facilities (i.e. mining colonies, etc.)

Is there something wrong with my copyof the mod? I'm at a stagnant point, and this is nearly unplayable and very frustrating

-Tim

[ April 26, 2004, 21:02: Message edited by: Yimboli ]

narf poit chez BOOM · #2 April 26th, 2004, 10:05 PM

What did you set your maintenance rate as? I forget to improve it in my koth game and MB is beating me with a big stick.

PsychoTechFreak · #3 April 26th, 2004, 10:41 PM

IMHO, AIC has just gone too far regarding AI bonus (in almost every aspect). High AI bonus in stock game is ridiculous compared with it. Overdone...

Yef · #4 April 27th, 2004, 12:37 PM

What is this AIC mod?
Is it there a link?
How it difers from other mods?

Thanks.

Alneyan · #5 April 27th, 2004, 02:34 PM

It can be downloaded here . It is based on Proportions (whose hallmarks are a slower pace of development, a stronger emphasis on the homeworlds, and numerous other changes), and tweaks the AI by giving it bonuses in order to give the player a challenge.

[ April 27, 2004, 13:59: Message edited by: Alneyan ]

oleg · #6 April 28th, 2004, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yimboli:
Is there something wrong with my copyof the mod? I'm at a stagnant point, and this is nearly unplayable and very frustrating

-Tim

How thin is your population spread ? It may be more beneficial to have one good planet with 100M than ten mediocre with 10M each. Do you build adavnced facilities like cities on your best planets ? HW has two redundant slots - spaceport and resupply. Scrap them and build robotoid factory and central computer complex. You chose temporal trait. It makes resource management very tricky - temporal centers and cities produce less minerals. Try to trade or convert your radioactives. Finally, use fighters - no maintenace

Yimboli · #7 April 30th, 2004, 05:21 AM

no, the population spread isn't that bad. I can't afford to transport my people because the starliners cost 1k minerals maintenance, so the 6 i have is already stretching it. as for the cities on my best planets, they take so damn long to build that i only have a few on each one.

How do i lower the maintenance cost? (other than the racial traits) that would even it out a LOT.

-Tim

oleg · #8 April 30th, 2004, 02:39 PM

Use Engeneering Section on all your ships. IIRC ship construction 5 + advanced design gives a better module. Did you build Industrial complex III on home world and System complex in the system ? I hope you don't build cities from scratch. Always build colony settlement and then upgrade to city. That saves ~50% of the cost !

Yimboli · #9 May 1st, 2004, 01:41 AM

Hey - thanks for the advice. I built the industrial complex on my homeworld - that helped alot, but i'm still having serious issues.

I've always used the engineering thing, but my ships are still incredibly high maintenance. What does IIRC mean?! you said ship construction5 + adv. des. eng. gives me a better engineering module? I already have an engineering section 1 and I have level 6 ship constr. with level 3 adv. des. engineering... do i need to research something more?! the next level of adv. des. eng. takes 400k! lol

Thanks for the help!

JLS · #10 May 1st, 2004, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yimboli:
no, the population spread isn't that bad. I can't afford to transport my people because the starliners cost 1k minerals maintenance, so the 6 i have is already stretching it. as for the cities on my best planets, they take so damn long to build that i only have a few on each one.

How do i lower the maintenance cost? (other than the racial traits) that would even it out a LOT.

Build resource facilities on Planets that generate near 88% or better resource, and then trade for any other needed resources thru your Empires Trade Center (Food for Rads etc. it is also very beneficial to encourage Trade with another Player, AI or Human.

Also note that Communities do take several months to build and Cities may take a few years to expand with an adequate population base that will consume much in food and other resources when expantion is ongoing; Moreover, target Urban Developed Growth to planets that are NOT high in resource reserves as Cities do not require resource extraction to produce.

With pre-racial start settings, you may set your maintenance characteristics for a modest benefit. Players may also consider Crystalline maintenance advantages as well.

If you are new to AIC plaese set AI bonus to LOW, the AI will be overwelming at higher settings.

JLS

[ May 01, 2004, 01:23: Message edited by: JLS ]