SE IV Gold AI

[Black Cat]

What`s the honest opinion on the AI in IV Gold ?

As a long time SE III player ( which had a fine AI Game IMO ) I bought the game when it first came out way back, and as others, was not impressed with the human VS AI game, which is all I play.

Having lost the CD in a move I was thinking of buying it again since I love the concepts of the MM Games.

Not trolling, just hoping for some helful insights.

Thanks

[Gandalf Parker]

I play 99% solo. I love SEIV as a game but I quickly figured out ways easily trick the AI. However, it is so extensivly moddable that there are half a dozen different mods designed to make the AI much harder. I havent actually tried those yet.

[Fyron]

The Gold Version, and the patches since then, have improved the AI, via hard-code fixes and improvements. The stock AI files are largely unchanged, however. You would need to get the TDM Modpack (http://home.t-Online.de/home/320045362204-0001/) to get better AI. The AIs in the TDM Modpack are definitely a lot stronger than the stock game AIs, and will give you a run for your money. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


Gandalf Parker said:
I play 99% solo. I love SEIV as a game but I quickly figured out ways easily trick the AI. However, it is so extensivly moddable that there are half a dozen different mods designed to make the AI much harder. I havent actually tried those yet.

Actually there is only one mod that is specifically designed to make the AI harder, and that is TDM. Other mods, such as Devnull, AIC, etc. definitely improve the AI, but they also make major changes to many aspects of gameplay (Devnull's are fairly light compared to AIC). If all you want is harder AI, stick with TDM. If you want a whole new game, go with Devnull for a moderate change or AIC for a radical change (it is based off of Proportions, which slows down and drastically alters nearly all aspects of the game to make it more realistic).

[Master Belisarius]

Gandalf Parker said:
I play 99% solo. I love SEIV as a game but I quickly figured out ways easily trick the AI. However, it is so extensivly moddable that there are half a dozen different mods designed to make the AI much harder. I havent actually tried those yet.


If you still have not tried the TDM and you play mostly SP, then, you MUST install it!
hehehe, I should be embarrassed because I did some of the AI scripts for the TDM, hehehe. But really, it's a fact that this MOD improve a lot the AI performance.
Playing into small galaxies and with at least small bonuses, the AI will give you a challenge.

[Black Cat]

Thanks guys, just placed an order and will get the Mods.

Do you know when the Newbie FAQ threads will be back ?

[Fyron]

No, but you can read a slightly outdated Version of it at:

http://newbiefaq.spaceempires.net/

[Atrocities]

I think that the AI when set to best is good especially in TDM and STM mods.