Racial points when starting a new game

[neomax]

Probably this has been asked before, but I don't see it in the faq. Well, when I start a new game with racial points set other than default (2000), and let the game generate random computer players, will the game adjust the racial points associated with the existing empire (default 2000)? And if I play a modded game, will it choose an existing empire with correct racial points? Thanks.

[Ed Kolis]

Yes, the AI empires will use the appropriate number of race points, assuming their AI_General file is set up to use them (and AFAIK they all are)

[Master Belisarius]

Yes, the random generator will use all the available points.
BUT you need to select the setting "Computer Player Difficulty: HIGH". If not the random generator will use less points.
This is valid for the mods too.

[Suicide Junkie]

Yes, the random generator will use all the available points.
BUT you need to select the setting "Computer Player Difficulty: HIGH". If not the random generator will use less points.
This is valid for the mods too.

Again, no.. The racial trait and characteristics picked DO NOT depend on the difficulty setting. They are taken DIRECTLY from the race_AI_general.txt

Lower difficulty means that the AI does not use all of its ministers.

Edit:
Well, maybe not.
In any case, just don't choose a difficulty lower than Hard, and you won't have any problems.

[ March 14, 2003, 22:55: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[Master Belisarius]

No SJ. I Can bet that I'm right.
When was testing the general.txt for my AIs, discovered this "feature".
To be 100% sure that the random generator create the same empire that I have created manually and saved as *.emp, I started games with random generation until see the Pryochette and Aquilaeian included into the players...
Well, after it, inside the game I saved the Empire, and then, started a new game and checked how was generated the empire by the random generator... And surprise! When started the game with Computer Difficulty = Low or Medium, discovered that the generator doesn't used all the available points.... Only with the "High" option used all the available points.
If you don't believeme, just try it.

[Suicide Junkie]

If true, that could lead to random races having more points used than the game settings allow. Certainly not good, and messes up AI creation.

[oleg]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
If true, that could lead to random races having more points used than the game settings allow. Certainly not good, and messes up AI creation.

How ? It can only lead to emp. files with less points than game setup, right ?

[Suicide Junkie]

Well, not in the unmodded game, at least.
In a mod, it is entirely possible to have zero-cost or negative cost traits.
If one of those were left out you'd have a problem.

I can see trait-dropping really wreaking havok with mods that have special AI or required racial traits.
In any case, I really reccommend keeping the "AI difficulty" at High.

[ March 14, 2003, 21:49: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
In any case, I really reccommend keeping the "AI difficulty" at High.

Sure.

Even without this "feature", how can somebody would like to play against an AI that had only some things working?
Even for a newbie should be boring.
All the games MUST be playd with AI Difficulty at High. Give them bonus or not, is other history.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
And surprise! When started the game with Computer Difficulty = Low or Medium, discovered that the generator doesn't used all the available points.... Only with the "High" option used all the available points.
If you don't believeme, just try it.

MB, I tried it and I can't confirm what you are seeing. Low medium or high difficulty didn't matter. The random races used all the racial points they were supposed to use. I confirmed this with the stock Urkatal and with your Aquilean empire that is included in TDM 3.30.

Geoschmo