[WhiteHojo]

Spyder - I believe you are thinking along the same lines as me. I was hoping to be able to build a race for the AI to run that would be rather annoying and fun to play against. like a cross b/t a neutral and the EA.

As the race is taking shape, w/o the ability to research and expand rapidly, I agree that they would not be able to win the game - at some point they would collapse in on themselves (no one readily availble to capture and plunder = no more growth). However, I believe they would be as viable a race even w/o the realistic ability to win the game as most of the other so called active AI empires. (always seems to be just 7 or so AI empires that always seem to be near the top in most games)

I like the idea of givin em some advanced techs early (kinda offsets the low research rate)... maybe both Resource Manipulation facilities (ulta-recycler & resource converter - max levels?)... maybe ship and fleet training techs... start out w/Light Cruiser hulls & repair tech???

my concern would be to in makin em too powerful right off the bat - but remember that it will be the AI using them, not a human - so not as much chance of takin advantage of the advances.

Also, if you did give em more advanced tech at start, the penalty to their research would have to be rather drastic (-50% is the max)

I am still concerned over the effect the higher maintanence cost would have on the races ability to field a respectable sized fleet... more argument is welcome.

taking all the ideas in so far, the latest Version of the Corsair's traits:

removed Hardy Industrialists - joining the capture more/build less ranks

-50% to Research
+10% to Intell
-9% to reproduction
+25% to Ship Attack
+20% to ship Def
-30% to trade
-15% to all resources
+20% to repair rate

all other traits stay at default 100%

Wanted to boost the ground combat up by 20% but then I remembered that I've never seen the AI try, let alone capture, a planet via ground combat...

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Character is best defined as that which you do when you believe nobody is watching.

[This message has been edited by WhiteHojo (edited 01 March 2001).]