AI CAMPAIGN ; Released

[JLS]

Originally posted by Grand Lord Vito:
What do you mean by AI Strategic State is in?

Oleg is correct.
Also to elaborate on what I was posting:

AI State: Prepare to Attack (A nearby system is ripe for takeover. Prepare a fleet and get ready to attack that system)
Systems conquered -> Infrastructure State
Build Up system not valid -> Infrastructure State
Enemy in Territory -> Defend Short Term State
Target System cannot be conquered -> Infrastructure State
Not enough ships to attack -> Infrastructure State
Target system not good anymore -> Infrastructure State
Forces ready to attack -> Attack State
Too long preparing -> Infrastructure State

If the AI in the above example goes back into the Infrastructure state at a late point in attack ship construction and does not actually make its attack then it may have put itself in a deficit until it starts taking ship loses or starts/upgrades a new resource colonies!

In that post I mentioned Resource degradation: What I meant by this, was to try to answer the players question on when the AI cant compete. At some Point in SE4 where the AI is really stuck: the best example would have been when the AI gets 20 to 30 kt maintenance per turn Dreadnoughts and Base ships, where there are no more facility upgrades to support such a large fleet.

Now with AI Campaign I can give a (no maintenance cost) to ALL AI ships and with this the AI can build practically unlimited amounts of ships. but this gets real tricky with play balance. Example: Lets say a ROCK AI starts building Cruisers and this would be based on (Planet Per Item Entry), as it is now; his Last limiting factor is maintenance. At many points in a game the AI will go into and out of a Resource deficit similar to a Human player.
(Actually the very Last overall limiting factor is total game ship count from setup)

AI Campaign can and will address the LATE game wows of Resource deficit with more play testing and Player input… I can have the AI make 100 Baseships at no cost but that would do little for play balance. I feel I helped the AI in Finite resources, at least well enough were he can now compete, but I did not address Combat Ship maintenance to a large degree yet.

In AI Campaign I wanted to address some AI issues in regards to better handling mine fields, point to point re-supply, faster ship training, sector scanning, Stellar manipulations, combating Plagues and Planetary weapons. To help make the AI challenging but not where it cant loose. This in its self gets tricky, I kept it a little challenging this way most can enjoy it, when the experienced players wants more of a challenge beyond (Computer player bonus), they know how to tweak the AIC files to there tastes.

[ February 28, 2003, 19:43: Message edited by: JLS ]

[Grand Lord Vito]

I noticed you droped the output of the Resource Domes, owww, that cost me a chunk of money...

No biggie, I just set up Level 3 Mining OutPosts, and I am in the money now

[Grand Lord Vito]

I like what you done to the AI, they waisted there first fleet to my mines field with a group of escorts, Scouts and a few firgates in an attack on a warp point leading into one of my systems, they lost there intire fleet but I lost more than half my mines. They came in again about a dozen turns later with over 20 destroyers and took out the rest of the mines {no more stupid kamikazi AI ships attacking and loosing ship after ship trying to pass thru a mine field} , but it did not report they took any loses, I have regained the warp point but I don't think I can get the mines up to 100 again before they return.
WOW, they have almost {60 THOUSAND units}, and 227 ships, is this right, I thought you could only have 20000 units in this game?

Well today I go back to work. I took off 2 days Last week and yesturday with the Flu just to play your mod. Nice job JLS. Real nice. I can't wait until I get home to play more

[ March 04, 2003, 11:57: Message edited by: Grand Lord Vito ]

[JLS]

Thanks,
You might want to change your strategy though, in AIC, as the AI gets closer to Light Cruisers, its ability to deal with mines are getting better and better. You might try going with a comparable fleet with a mix of 30 ships and a good mix of satellites Missile and Beam weapons. However the AI will soon be attacking with Fighters on Carriers which will deal with the satellites quite well so make some Point-Defense Sats to at least shoot some of the fighters down not to mention a few CVs of your own. Get a SYS built (SPACE YARD SHIP) and send it to the warp point and make a Defense Base (with Thrusters) if possible, but this takes a lot (LOT) of time in AIC so think ahead and defend that SYS ship as it is building the warp Defense base.

Can you Email me the turn and how the game is going? Is this your Home System? Are you playing Solo or Multiplayer? How is the rest of the AI doing?

Thanks.
You better get pack to work and I am glad this game helped during your convalescence

[ March 04, 2003, 16:35: Message edited by: JLS ]

[Grand Lord Vito]

Originally posted by JLS:
Thanks,
You might want to change your strategy though, in AIC, as the AI gets closer to Light Cruisers, its ability to deal with mines are getting better and better. You might try going with a comparable fleet with a mix of 30 ships and a good mix of satellites Missile and Beam weapons. However the AI will soon be attacking with Fighters on Carriers which will deal with the satellites quite well so make some Point-Defense Sats to at least shoot some of the fighters down not to mention a few CVs of your own. Get a SYS built (SPACE YARD SHIP) and send it to the warp point and make a Defense Base (with Thrusters) if possible, but this takes a lot (LOT) of time in AIC so think ahead and defend that SYS ship as it is building the warp Defense base.

Can you Email me the turn and how the game is going? Is this your Home System? Are you playing Solo or Multiplayer? How is the rest of the AI doing?

Thanks.
You better get pack to work and I am glad this game helped during your convalescence

TURN 2454.6
Three systems from my homeworld
Playing solo
2nd place AI player has 84 planets in 14 systems with 71.918 units NOW? and 251 ships

I am in 3rd Place 53 planets in 24 systems about 3000 units and 182 ships

4rh place has 22 planets in 6 systems near 65.000 units and 236 ships

Last place AI has 12 planets un 6 systems 20.298 units and 115 ships

Game started with 6 Computer players and 4 independent computer players. But has grown to 9 more independent players?

I also had 3 warps close in my map?

I hope this helps.

[oleg]

Originally posted by Grand Lord Vito:
WOW, they have almost {60 THOUSAND units}, and 227 ships, is this right, I thought you could only have 20000 units in this game?

Limit is only for units in space, like minefields and satelite Groups. 95% of AI units in AIC mod is infantry (lowest level troops).

[JLS]

Response to new SE4 player Email

This is true other people mark (Empire) them as 2,3,5k and is still needed in AIC so you may choose AI opponents directly as opposed to just random as it is in AIC currant stage…. But some other people do not have a Easy level choice thru hard on traits menu and/or have completed there Mod some time ago. So this still has to be worked out in AI Campaign.

Yes, you can play this in a 2,3,5000 Point game just give the yourself the appropriate points, however if you choose a 3000 or 5000 point game the AI also gets the increase of 3000 to 5000 points; allowing them to be much more powerful; at jump, as well. I hope this helps.

I wanted to release AI Campaign early to get input on ideas to complete the (window dressing, TAC Fighter mod and General Play balance), so some aspects may not be clear to a new SE4 player at this juncture.

I set up 2 Empires as a choice for beginners and as an example to experienced players on how AIC utilizes the Traits menu.
Phong is there for the people, right off the SEIV tutorial. With a Beginners level and Moderate level.
Terrans are a non-specific race and there is a Beginning level and a moderate level for them as well.

Yes! feel free to create your own race and play any style game you prefer, AI Campaign will/should adapt automatically to your startup selections.

I think I am going to post my reply (only), this is a good question and there may be some confusion on this.

Thank you very much for your input and I look forward to your comments, please continue your Emails


John.

[ March 05, 2003, 14:20: Message edited by: JLS ]