SE4 Stock Balance Mod

[Krsqk]

Originally posted by Pax:
The Talisman
Making this a mount would be the best fix, however I doubt it could be done w/o screwing existing AIs. So, how about this: instead of "always hits", why not let it give a +100-ish to hit? That's still VERY significant, without being brokenly powerful IMO.

Actually, making it the lowest mount (at least for ships) would work more seamlessly with existing AI. If you change the existing ability to Combat Offense To Hit Plus, the AIs will exclusively use that instead of Combat Sensors. If it were a mount, they would always use it for DF weapons. Either way, ship designs will be built nearly the same (maybe a few extra armor) if no component with that ability exists (unless it is listed as a required ability).

[edit] Adding levels works fine for humans, but the AI won't research them until after finishing their entire research.txt. Someone further back suggested making the range go 3,4,5,6,7,8 instead of 3,4,5,5,6,6; then it has the same number of tech levels.

[ July 23, 2003, 21:24: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

[spoon]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
Giving them a couple more levels is an elegantly simple solution that had not occured to me at all. I like it.

Wouldn't that make them ai unfriendly, since all ai will stop researching at level 6? Getting them to range 8 with their existing six tech levels is very doable. If you're concerned about the research cheapness, maybe just up Level 1 research cost to 10k or 15k.

Keeping them valid in the late-game seems important, but if the PPB isn't nerfed more than a little, they Meson BLasters remain not-so-good for the mid game, either.

Range 8 Meson BLasters would be the alternative to the late game APB (for those using Max Range), which is also a good thing.

[geoschmo]

Yeah, I forgot the AI research files have levels in there. Good point.

[Rollo]

just want to point out that any changes to the Talisman is likely to screw up religious AI.

I assume a lot of designs use the 'always hit' ability (I know the UF does). If such a component is not available it will cripple the AI.

For the PPB discussion: I still believe that PPB V is a well balanced weapon. The lower levels (esp. PPB II) could need some toning down though.

Rollo

[Rollo]

[quote]Originally posted by geoschmo:

...I agree that Meson BLasters are very good early mid game weapon... Giving them a couple more levels is an elegantly simple solution that had not occured to me at all. I like it.

LOL, that has not occured to you?
remember we did this in DNM .

Rollo

[Rollo]

here is a suggestion: add bogus tech level requirements to Armor III. This way the AI will not use the unwanted scatter armor.

[geoschmo]

Sheesh, see how hard it is to make even simple changes? LOL

Anyone out there still want to complain about the lack of balance now?