Black Hole! Panic stations!

[Suicide Junkie]

The safe way to explore new warppoints is to give an order to "warp" through, and then "move" back to the known side of the warppoint. And give that order when you have at least 2 MP and are standing on the safe side of the WP.

Unless there are mines, an enemy defense force, or it is a damaging warppoint, you will peek in, gaining the system map, and return before anything bad can happen.

[Baron Munchausen]

Now if only the AI were smart enough to mark black hole systems as 'no transit' once it had explored them...

[Alpha Kodiak]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
Now if only the AI were smart enough to mark black hole systems as 'no transit' once it had explored them...

Trouble is, a situation would come along where the only way out of its limited area would be a black hole, and it would voluntarily lock itself in for the rest of the game.

You just can't win when you try to help out the AI.

[Arkcon]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
Now if only the AI were smart enough to mark black hole systems as 'no transit' once it had explored them...

Hmm... Looks like if the AI did that, that system would be a free system for a human player in the mood for some micromanagement. And what if you closed all warp points except black hole system points. Now you can travel and the AI can't. At least, if the AI is there, there's a chance to lay down some hurt if an ememy is there.

Looks to me like this is the AI's "plan" -- if anything it does can be called a plan. Build lots of stuff and throw it at the enemy, anywhere and anyway it can.

For example, "Ooo... I lost 3/4 of my fleet to mines" A human player might run away to regroup, the AI instaed just tries the best it can with what's left. Which of the two is the best plan -- the one that works in the end. With the bonus we give the AI, it's method works pretty good.

Like many people I would like to see a more intelligent AI. As it stands now it makes some good decisions, something like ...

IF (enemy ships are N light cruisers) then send (N+2 destroyers) else wait (more ships built)

and

If (ships blow up due to mines) then research (minesweepers),build them, send them to minefield.

If only the AI were capable of ...

If (damageing warp point) then research (Armor and repair), build them, include with fleets exploring warp point.

or

If (two nebulas systems in a row) then build (extra supply storage) else (put weapon instead)

Right now, there is only some limited planning, and only against certain enemy threats not against demands of the galactic environment.

[Gryphin]

Arn't Un Explored warp ponts why we have Escorts? Use SJs method with expendable ships, (run by master computers of course to reduce loss of life).