AI DEATH MATCH 2

[Rexxx]

Hi MB
Did some testing with the Gron regarding the design switching we discussed some days ago. It has confirmed my guess that the design switching does not happen, when all of their kamikaze attack ships come with:
....
Majority Weapon Family Pick 1 := 34
Majority Weapon Family Pick 2 := 2
...
However, this approach means that immediately after the TKP I is discovered the AI will use it, rendering the designs weaker in comparison to the CSM V they also could have.
So, your idea of having two DN designs with different weaponry is much better. No design switching and the smaller ships still can use the best available weapon (or the weapon I would like them to use). Using your approach makes it possible that the first TKP-ships which appear are coming with a TKP V and the talisman. Great, just great.

Can you or anyone else confirm that this design switching for ships only occurs several turns after the DN class is discovered? There is no switching before, e.g. between a battleship and a cruiser?
I just want to be sure because regarding units it seems that the design switching happens much earlier and much more frequently. When I equip a small WP with CSMs and my medium WPs with TKPs the AI begins immediately and quite often (every second or third turn) switching back to the small WP, it does not wait until large WPs are researched.

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Rexxx:

It has confirmed my guess that the design switching does not happen, when all of their kamikaze attack ships come with:
....
Majority Weapon Family Pick 1 := 34
Majority Weapon Family Pick 2 := 2

Agree with you. The problem with the AI using smallest sizes, only occur when you're using different weapon and sizes in your designes.

Originally posted by Rexxx:

Can you or anyone else confirm that this design switching for ships only occurs several turns after the DN class is discovered? There is no switching before, e.g. between a battleship and a cruiser?
I just want to be sure because regarding units it seems that the design switching happens much earlier and much more frequently. When I equip a small WP with CSMs and my medium WPs with TKPs the AI begins immediately and quite often (every second or third turn) switching back to the small WP, it does not wait until large WPs are researched.

I'm not sure about what's the trigger...

My personal guess is that related with the Weapons.
My theory is that if you reach the max develop for a weapon, and also does exist other design with a different weapon, then, the AI will start to rotate the designes.

[ March 19, 2003, 14:13: Message edited by: Master Belisarius ]

[Master Belisarius]

Praetorian vs United Flora.

The UF had not problems to defeat the Praetorians, at the turn 153

Here the link: Praetorian_vs_UFlora_B4.zip

Orks vs Aquilaeian

The Aquilaeian defeated the Orks before the turn 193.

Here the link: Orks_vs_Aquilaeian_B4.zip

Then the standings in the group B4 are:

United Flora 3
Aquilaeian 2
Orks 1
Praetorian 0

[Master Belisarius]

Piundon vs Cue Cappa.

A very fast game... The Cue Cappa slaughtered the Piundon before the turn 150.

Here the link: Piundon_vs_CueCappa_B5.zip

Klingon vs Tessellate.

The Tessellate defeated the Klingons before the turn 250. During all the game they had the initiative, and the Klingon's with their problems to colonize (due the colony bug ) were unable to change their fate.

Here the link: Klingon_vs_Tessellate_B6.zip

The standings in the Group B5 are:

Tessellate 3
Cue Cappa 2
Piundon 1
Klingon 0

[ March 19, 2003, 16:59: Message edited by: Master Belisarius ]

[Rexxx]

Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
I'm not sure about what's the trigger...

My personal guess is that related with the Weapons.
My theory is that if you reach the max develop for a weapon, and also does exist other design with a different weapon, then, the AI will start to rotate the designes.

I did some more tests, this time with fighters. The switching occurs immediately after medium fighters were researched (exactly what happened using WPs). Still not sure about the trigger...
Anyway, thanks a lot for sharing your idea about the 2nd DN design, I never would have thought of that one.

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Rexxx:
I did some more tests, this time with fighters. The switching occurs immediately after medium fighters were researched (exactly what happened using WPs). Still not sure about the trigger...

A few questions: the small and medium fighters had the same weapon (I assume "no").
What weapons and level, had the medium and small fighters?

Originally posted by Rexxx:
Anyway, thanks a lot for sharing your idea about the 2nd DN design, I never would have thought of that one.

No problem Rexxx. Simply I dislike to see many good AIs building pathetic designes (alternated with the good ones) in the late game!!!

[Rexxx]

Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
A few questions: the small and medium fighters had the same weapon (I assume "no").

Yes (sorry, I couldn't resist). Different weapons.

Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
What weapons and level, had the medium and small fighters?

Small fighters DUC III, medium fighters TKP I. Switching happened immediately after medium fighters were researched. DUCs III were discovered before medium fighters.
WPs: Small WPs CSM V, Medium WPs TKP III, switching happened immediately after medium WPs were researched. CSMs V were discovered before medium WPs.
That would mean that your presumption is correct. If the highest level for a certain weapon is attained the AI will not "forget" this achievement. It will always switch back to the design using this "achievement" regardless of any other - more recently - discoveries. By the way, switching back still happened from a large fighter with small TKPs III to the small one with small DUCs III. (The AI obviously has quite a good memory )

Ships: CSM V was discovered before Cruiser class was researched, at this time TKP II was available.
TKP V was researched before battle cruiser tech. Switching occured only after DN class had been discovered (about 20 turns after that) and AI switched back to LCs not cruisers.
Ship Designs: Escort to cruiser with CSM, BC to DN with TKP.
That would also mean the AI switches back to the first design which had the highest level of the first weapon (again: never forgetting the "achievement", the LC was the first design coming with a CSM V.) Exactly what it did with units.
The only question that remains: why does it wait until DN tech is researched...

Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
No problem Rexxx. Simply I dislike to see many good AIs building pathetic designes (alternated with the good ones) in the late game!!!

Yeah, "pathetic" there were. But now only part of Gron history . Thanks again.