On which AI level does the computer 'cheat'???

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Author Topic:   On which AI level does the computer 'cheat'???

Cirvol posted 02-19-99 04:07 PM ET
Hi, I LOVE THIS GAME... btw, smac is a very
appropriate name for the addictiveness...<G>
Anyway, I want to play on the best computer
AI level, WHICH HAS NO UNFAIR ADVANTAGES???
IE they get what I get - only better AI.
Thanks,
Scrubby posted 02-19-99 04:41 PM ET
Not too sure but I believe JM said that Librarian level places all factions (human and AI) on an even level.. no bonuses or penalities for anyone. Therefore going higher in difficulty produces penalties for you and bonuses for the AI. Going to the easier levels means the opposite.
You're welcome!
Cirvol posted 02-20-99 03:28 AM ET
Thanks for the info... but can you be sure???
IE. Can anyone else confirm or deny this???
Thanks,
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 02-20-99 11:40 AM ET
Scrubby is absolutely correct.
jkm
firaxis games
Archer posted 02-20-99 03:18 PM ET
An answer from my previous post on this topic by Jazzman:
All this information is covered in the Strat guide for the game, to some extent.
Mil : The combat bonuses are reduced the hire the diff that you get. U actually receive an off and deff bonus at other lvls. As you raise the dif, this bonus is reduced.
As per the strat guide, there is no mil penalty at higher lvls.
Drone penalties go up for every lvl higher that you play at, as pertaining to population.
Mineral requirements increase 10%/20% at the two highest levels of play.
Aggressioin from other factioins is increased at higher lvls.
Tech is slower. Diff can change a 3000 point tech to 9000 point tech.
Again the actual algiritiums are briefly covered in the Strat guide. Although there is one or two that
Fraxis points out is rounded off, for simplication of instruction.
Note there simple formula is a little complex in and of itself.

Woulda been nice if this info was in the manual instead of an add on manual you have to go out and buy...oh wait...strategy guide.

Archer
Cirvol posted 02-21-99 05:22 PM ET
Thanks a million Archer,
Does anyone know about the actual AI??? at
different levels.
IE, if I'm playing at specialist level
(pretty easy, and some bonuses for me),
are the computer players also at specialist
level, hence getting the same bonuses???
or do they always play at 'librarian' level
and thus the game is easier for me at
specialist level?
Do you see what I mean?
What I basically want is the best AI challenge from purely AI. And everything
else to be absolutely fair. I wish to test
the computer AI at its best level with an
even playing field.
Thanks,
Cirvol
Cirvol posted 02-26-99 02:46 AM ET
Well, I didn't get a response to my last question, and the 5 day counter is almost up.
Sooo... I'm just reposting to get to the top
of the list! Sorry if this seems stupid, it
is...
Stop me by answering if you know???
Cirvol
Frank Weese posted 02-26-99 05:52 AM ET
As far as I know the librarian-level is a pure neutral level (I posted the question myself sometime ago and a Firaxis-Tech answered me).
This means: Bonuses for you and penalties for the AI at the lower levels (below librarian), penalties for you and bonuses for the AI at the higher levels (above librarian).
Frank
Cirvol posted 02-26-99 12:59 PM ET
Hmm... I know that already...
what i really want to know is pure AI.
IE, does the computer build smarter, more efficiently (IE childrens creche FIRST, etc)
I'm interested in AI's decisions...NOT bonuses or penalties. (thats considered the cheapest form of AI ever)
what I want it a better pure AI? Do any of the aggresiveness levels or other things there help?
Thanks,
Zoetrope posted 03-03-99 03:23 AM ET
Cirvol, not clear what you seek.
If you mean are the AI algorithms any different at different difficulty levels, then I don't know, but I doubt it. Why would anyone bother to design a different AI for each level?
If you want to know what decisions the AI is making, ie whether it does build Recycling then Creche or vice versa, and whether the siituation at each city influences its build decisions, then I suggest that you try the Cheat menu to take the AI's place once a turn.
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Author	Topic: On which AI level does the computer 'cheat'???
Cirvol	posted 02-19-99 04:07 PM ET Hi, I LOVE THIS GAME... btw, smac is a very appropriate name for the addictiveness...<G> Anyway, I want to play on the best computer AI level, WHICH HAS NO UNFAIR ADVANTAGES??? IE they get what I get - only better AI. Thanks,
Scrubby	posted 02-19-99 04:41 PM ET Not too sure but I believe JM said that Librarian level places all factions (human and AI) on an even level.. no bonuses or penalities for anyone. Therefore going higher in difficulty produces penalties for you and bonuses for the AI. Going to the easier levels means the opposite. You're welcome!
Cirvol	posted 02-20-99 03:28 AM ET Thanks for the info... but can you be sure??? IE. Can anyone else confirm or deny this??? Thanks,
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 02-20-99 11:40 AM ET Scrubby is absolutely correct. jkm firaxis games
Archer	posted 02-20-99 03:18 PM ET An answer from my previous post on this topic by Jazzman: All this information is covered in the Strat guide for the game, to some extent. Mil : The combat bonuses are reduced the hire the diff that you get. U actually receive an off and deff bonus at other lvls. As you raise the dif, this bonus is reduced. As per the strat guide, there is no mil penalty at higher lvls. Drone penalties go up for every lvl higher that you play at, as pertaining to population. Mineral requirements increase 10%/20% at the two highest levels of play. Aggressioin from other factioins is increased at higher lvls. Tech is slower. Diff can change a 3000 point tech to 9000 point tech. Again the actual algiritiums are briefly covered in the Strat guide. Although there is one or two that Fraxis points out is rounded off, for simplication of instruction. Note there simple formula is a little complex in and of itself. Woulda been nice if this info was in the manual instead of an add on manual you have to go out and buy...oh wait...strategy guide. Archer
Cirvol	posted 02-21-99 05:22 PM ET Thanks a million Archer, Does anyone know about the actual AI??? at different levels. IE, if I'm playing at specialist level (pretty easy, and some bonuses for me), are the computer players also at specialist level, hence getting the same bonuses??? or do they always play at 'librarian' level and thus the game is easier for me at specialist level? Do you see what I mean? What I basically want is the best AI challenge from purely AI. And everything else to be absolutely fair. I wish to test the computer AI at its best level with an even playing field. Thanks, Cirvol
Cirvol	posted 02-26-99 02:46 AM ET Well, I didn't get a response to my last question, and the 5 day counter is almost up. Sooo... I'm just reposting to get to the top of the list! Sorry if this seems stupid, it is... Stop me by answering if you know??? Cirvol
Frank Weese	posted 02-26-99 05:52 AM ET As far as I know the librarian-level is a pure neutral level (I posted the question myself sometime ago and a Firaxis-Tech answered me). This means: Bonuses for you and penalties for the AI at the lower levels (below librarian), penalties for you and bonuses for the AI at the higher levels (above librarian). Frank
Cirvol	posted 02-26-99 12:59 PM ET Hmm... I know that already... what i really want to know is pure AI. IE, does the computer build smarter, more efficiently (IE childrens creche FIRST, etc) I'm interested in AI's decisions...NOT bonuses or penalties. (thats considered the cheapest form of AI ever) what I want it a better pure AI? Do any of the aggresiveness levels or other things there help? Thanks,
Zoetrope	posted 03-03-99 03:23 AM ET Cirvol, not clear what you seek. If you mean are the AI algorithms any different at different difficulty levels, then I don't know, but I doubt it. Why would anyone bother to design a different AI for each level? If you want to know what decisions the AI is making, ie whether it does build Recycling then Creche or vice versa, and whether the siituation at each city influences its build decisions, then I suggest that you try the Cheat menu to take the AI's place once a turn.