Proportions....

[PvK]

Well, the automatic colony population setting in settings.txt does work. I just don't use it because it creates population from nothing, and I'm trying to make population a valuable resource which is difficult to build up.

I'm confused though why you'd have problems increasing the capacity of colony modules. As you can see in Proportions, it works fine.

PvK

[PsychoTechFreak]

I guess this is not a proportions issue, but I have captured an abbidon med. transporter with 7 engines, although just 6 are allowed?

[PvK]

It is sort of a Proportions issue. It is probably because the Abbidon haven't researched ECM fast enough to get an ECM device which gives a better bonus than their best engines. So when the SE4 AI makes a design that calls for a defensive device, it thinks the best one is an engine, and adds that, even though it won't add any defense because it already has engines of the same type, so the effect won't stack. I would rate this as a very minor advantage to the AI, which doesn't compensate for the AI's lack of ability to optimize engine type mixes the way micromanaging perfectionist humans can. Not a big deal.

A side issue for perfectionist AI modders: When making AI files, it's often not worthwhile to put ECM on transports.

PvK

[oleg]

Well, at least with my AIs this is not a problem. I always use the assigned phony ability for ECM scanners in Design.txt file. Otheres should do the same

[PvK]

In general, yes. I think all mine do. John Sullivan did (a generally excellent job on) the Proportions Abbidon AI. I like having a mix of AI authors (oleg, PvK, John Sullivan, so far) as it adds more variety.

PvK

[JLS]

Originally posted by PvK:
In general, yes. I think all mine do. John Sullivan did (a generally excellent job on) the Proportions Abbidon AI. I like having a mix of AI authors (oleg, PvK, John Sullivan, so far) as it adds more variety.

PvK

Ahh, are we talking about my Abbidon Support Ship...

I also used PvKs Call tags for ECM and Sensors... Some how I got an extra engine Actually, I think my Support ship is very creative. Take a look…

Support Ship:
AI has 5+ Launches of 5 fighters per turn with a capacity of 26 small Fighters.
Has a Repair Component that repairs with the entire fleet.
Has been seen carrying troops and Assaulting when the Capture Planet fleet ordered.
Has one shield.
Equips with a Psychic Sensor.
Will equip armor until it Loads the Sensor.
Moves 6 with contra Engines.
Has the modified maintenance benefit of being a Medium Transport.
In addition, best of all the AI fleets her so she can repair and defend the fleet; which is her (The Support Ships) primary duty assignment.
Alas, I should have made room for Self – Destruct.
Patent is pending on this design.

I wanted some of the AIs to use Peters New (at that time) traits.
The challenge was to make My Abbi AI do well with the Slow Builders, from general file “ The fact that they can build and maintain starships has left many a scholar puzzled”.
While another choice could have been unlucky as per its race description “However, a devastating asteroid strike changed their minds. With half of their home world’s population decimated”. However, we were not sure MM had that fixed it at that time.

There description also has Abbidon is latently psychic, and that is why I started them off with Phased - Polaron Beam which actually works very well with there Racial Weapons.

If you noticed in the research file they will go into Rock Colonizer, Computers etc. Early if they are not in AI; Attack or Defend Long Term STATES…

Have trust, that I put a lot of thought into this race and tested this AI extensively… Never the less, it can be better.

The Abbidon can hold its own, especially when it gets ROCK Colonization….

John L. Sullivan

[ February 08, 2003, 11:13: Message edited by: JLS ]

[Aloofi]

One question, how can i make the small DUC to target CSM?
By the way, I love the Proportions mod.