Small Galaxy or Big Galaxy?

Master Belisarius · #1 July 17th, 2004, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PeterD:
Keeping up with tech isn't a problem, what can be
is watching the AI pass over my colonies without
attacking.

I've checked out AI's after 150 turns and they
all develop decent empires and build lots of good
tech ships, what they don't do is attack well.

Its my one hope that in SE5 the AI is more
agressive.

If you want aggresive games, then, for sure you should play small galaxies against around 3 TDM AIs , High difficulty and High bonus.
If you want more aggressivity, then, select AI vs Humans. Sure, this kind of games could be boring after play many of them... but in the other hand, think is the best way to get a challenge.

One of the worst problems with the AI (think), is that has problems to follow an strategy and select the right planets (systems) to defend and the right planets (systems) to attack (we, the modders, can't help so much here).
Playing into small galaxies, this kind of problems are not so important (does exist less choices!).

PeterD · #2 July 17th, 2004, 06:24 PM

I'll give a smaller galaxy a try with a few
good TDM's.

Whats odd is that sometimes the AI can be a real
pain and play pretty good. Then again it can play
exactly the opposite the next game.

I remember Warlords 2 and 3 were a bit like that.
I could tell in 20 turns what sort of game it was
going to be.

QBrigid · #3 July 18th, 2004, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Master Belisarius:
If you want aggresive games, then, for sure you should play small galaxies against around 3 TDM AIs , High difficulty and High bonus.
If you want more aggressivity, then, select AI vs Humans. Sure, this kind of games could be boring after play many of them... but in the other hand, think is the best way to get a challenge.

I also like small stock maps against a few se4 or TDM AI.

I think most maps look wierd when they have over 200 systems and I always build 1000s of planets and 1000s of ships. To many to things to do and this is not fun to me. I have tried TDM in big maps they can't keep up with me and after having to manage tens of 1000s of things a turn the game was boring and stupid

and I have never played with 200+ systems again.

[ July 18, 2004, 14:24: Message edited by: QBrigid ]

Master Belisarius · #4 July 18th, 2004, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by QBrigid:
I have tried TDM in big maps they can't keep up with me and after having to manage tens of 1000s of things a turn the game was boring and stupid and I have never played with 200+ systems again.

Yes, agree the things start to be boring when you need to manage lots of planets, and you know the AI can't do anything to stop you... Maybe AI vs Humans into a Big map would be challenging too, but anyway would be a problem micromanage so many systems (at least to me!).
Think this is the main reason (big galaxies) because some people said never finished a SEIV game!

Raging Deadstar · #5 July 18th, 2004, 04:25 PM

Personally I like FQM Deluxe, especially the Spaghetti Maps. A small/medium spaghetti map with dense planets and a handful of the best TDM AI's means they can defend pretty well and makes it a tough challenge

QBrigid · #6 July 18th, 2004, 07:31 PM

I also like FQM but astro mining and create planets in FQM will crush the AI

[ July 18, 2004, 18:44: Message edited by: QBrigid ]

PeterD · #7 July 21st, 2004, 07:14 AM

Master Balisarius suggested I try a game in a
small galaxy against 3 or 4 good (TDM) AI's.

All of them against me, something I hadn't tried
before. I can report its pretty good.

I used to play with 10 AI's in a large (250)
galaxy and I've found the AI stumbles around a
bit. It also takes a lot of time to manage an
empire that size and its possible to get worn out
before the end game.

Giving it less systems to worry about seems to
make it more of a challenge.

Perhaps smaller is better!