TDM AI's

[PeterD]

I posted earlier about some ship size problems
around turn 80 of a game using 11 of the TDM
AI's.

I think I may have caused some problems with
an alteration to ship tonnage in that game.

Not sure why increasing tonnage's would cause
this but along with disabling fighters and mines
it seemed to.

I've run 3 further games using standard Data
files and so far nearly all the AI's have
performed well.

Especially good were:

CueCappa
Jraenar
Aquilaeian
Vikings
Earth Alliance
Klingon
Romulan and
Tessellate

The Tessellate I set up to have no treaties
(Borg)and they still managed to build a good
sized empire and fight just about everyone they
came across.

Will try the rest soon. If anyone has played
against any of the others and found them
interesting opponents please post here.

[Raging Deadstar]

I think it has something to do with the designcreation AI file. The AI has set roles for ships and i'm sure they have a Maximum tonnage for that kind of ship, so i think if you increase ship sizes it might conflict with that file. Not sure though as i am no AI Modder

As for decent TDM AI's i'd suggest The Rage and Vaxin. The other challenging ones are the ones you've already played against. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[PeterD]

What about increasing planet sizes to allow more
facilities on them.

Do you think that would cause the AI any
problems?

[Atrocities]

Originally posted by PeterD:
What about increasing planet sizes to allow more
facilities on them.

Do you think that would cause the AI any
problems? <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">It might. The AI my not understand that it has more space for facilities that you would place, and would place more facilities that you would not place.

[PeterD]

Thanks for the quick reply.
I've noticed that some of the AI's don't build
much in the way of storage facilities.

Do you think it might cause a problem to increase
the starting storage capacity from 50k to a
higher figure?

[Raging Deadstar]

Planet sizes doesn't really effect the ammount of facilities built by the AI from what i've seen (agin i'm no AI Modder, just observations from game play). I've started playing Deathstalkers Gold D 2 Mod and i added a lot from Devnull just so it would be more fun, including the extra huge planet sizes, and the AI is making full use of them so far http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

As for storage Facilities try checking the RaceName_AI_Construction_Facilities.txt file, that sounds like it might do something for storage http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Could a Person who actually mods the AI come and verify any of this before my friendly assumptions send the guy in the wrong direction http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ May 31, 2004, 09:38: Message edited by: Raging Deadstar ]

[PeterD]

I've no problem heading in the wrong direction,
sometimes its more fun. I didn't think altering
planet sizes would affect much because I'd seen
the AI use them in my Last game.

I'd also seen it use the bigger hulls but for
some reason that did affect the game.

Thnaks for the help.

[Mephisto]

Editing planet size *should* not harm the AI as there is a "catch all" line in the build file (the Last line with 100 or 1000 buildings to build). If the Ai is lacking such a "catch all" line, it will affect the AI.

[Ragnarok-X]

Mephisto is right. Each planet size has a Last line with usually tells the AI to build like 100 research facilities once all other queues are done. So in fact in wont "harm" the AI, it may just not build with maximum effiency

(i.e. a planet with 150% value in all 3 ressources may get flooded with research facilities once x mining facilities are build)

[PeterD]

Does the AI look at the mineral\organic\radiation
value before decieding what to build first or
does it decide on its needs at the time?

[Mephisto]

The AI decides on the resources value of the planets, not on its actual needs - sadly. There is only one exception: When the Ai has a negative income it will make the next colony of the need resources - this time disregarding any resource values. Worst case in this scenario is that you get a 0% resource planet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif
This is one of the major points I'd like to see improved in SEV.

[PeterD]

I wondered why it built some mines on a 5% mineral
planet. Thanks for the help.

[Simeron]

One thing that bothers me about the TDM is I can't find the Romulan.txt name file and some others...anyone know where they got put?

I looked in the folders where they are supposed to be but nada (dsgname I think its name is).

[PeterD]

I checked my TDM download and all the files
seemed there. The only file that sounds like
the one you mention is Dsgnname.

Its names for the ships. Not sure it ever was.
I downloaded ship names for all the trek races
some months ago. But I don't think it was from
the TDM site.

I'll email you them all if you need them.

[Fyron]

If you are looking for ship names files, you want to get the Design Names Anthology (http://dna.spaceempires.net).

[Unknown_Enemy]

For the rage AI problems, it was definitely related to changing hull size in the data files.

The AI design file was asking for specific sizes which did not exist anymore.

Put back the correct size and your game will process smoothly.

[PeterD]

Thanks for that. I've run a 150 turn game since
I sent that save file and most of the races are
building the top ships and playing pretty well.

Some things like this (and perhaps the auto
colonisation numbers - in another thread) should
be left alone.