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Author Topic:   Impediments that aren't

Earwicker posted 04-28-99 09:04 AM ET
In trying out a bunch of different ways to play, I have noticed that the AI doesn't seem to adjust its style of play according to the settings at the beginning of the game. Take, for example, Tech Stagnation. I figured this would make a more balanced game -- I always start with a development style but switch to military footing when it is clear that the AI's won't leave me the heck alone (like, EVERY game). In the process, I get wayyy ahead in tech and there's no stopping the conquest.
One would think the AI factions would:
1) trade techs. Yes, I hate getting ganged up on as much as the next SMAC-er, but when they're all at war with me and they all have different techs, it doesn't make sense. Doesn't the AI realize it could press this to its advantage?
2) build a friggin' network node. Just one. Please. Give yourself a chance. I have infiltrated all factions' datalinks and only UoP has any NN's.
2a) cash in those artifacts. This is where the huge advantage for the human player comes in. The AI doesn't seem to have the vaguest idea what these are for.
3) probe more often. Yang would send a transport full of plasma sentinels to party outside Gaia's Landing, but wouldn't put a probe on board?! (Let's not even go into why there's no attack unit.) I didn't see a probe come my way until I had begun the base-taking rampage. Too little, too late.
That said, this has been one of my more interesting and challenging games -- actually having plenty of missile units running around, rather than thinking: Hold Out a Few Turns for Chaos. I'm winding down the game to see that I can Transcend before 2400 (ought to -- still getting 2 turns/ tech).
Not that it wasn't fun, and not that I don't enjoy winning, but really! Suggestions on how to balance the technology without rewriting the factions?
[Next: Mindworms 'r' Us, -or- Why the Gaians Should Get -25% for Abundant Life]
trippin daily posted 04-29-99 02:02 AM ET
Play Thinker.. If you want a real treat, play Transcend. You will see how to really use probe teams.
Trippin Daily
-hi there-
Earwicker posted 04-29-99 09:05 AM ET
Oh yeah, forgot to indicate: the game is on Transcend level. I had been working my way up, and got real excited about the James Bond teams the AI would use. I took a conservative, CYA approach with the expectation that I'd be giving away tech. The most annoying thing the AI ever did with Probe teams was buy back a couple of bases that I really shouldn't have taken at the time anyway. During wartime I destroyed roads connecting captured bases to enemy bases and moved around on the fungus (X-Dome rocks). Morgan, Yang, and Santiago all sent loads of Probes (Yang eliminated Miriam) but they generally got stuck out in the open. My infiltration of datalinks let me figure out when the Probes were coming.
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Author	Topic: Impediments that aren't
Earwicker	posted 04-28-99 09:04 AM ET In trying out a bunch of different ways to play, I have noticed that the AI doesn't seem to adjust its style of play according to the settings at the beginning of the game. Take, for example, Tech Stagnation. I figured this would make a more balanced game -- I always start with a development style but switch to military footing when it is clear that the AI's won't leave me the heck alone (like, EVERY game). In the process, I get wayyy ahead in tech and there's no stopping the conquest. One would think the AI factions would: 1) trade techs. Yes, I hate getting ganged up on as much as the next SMAC-er, but when they're all at war with me and they all have different techs, it doesn't make sense. Doesn't the AI realize it could press this to its advantage? 2) build a friggin' network node. Just one. Please. Give yourself a chance. I have infiltrated all factions' datalinks and only UoP has any NN's. 2a) cash in those artifacts. This is where the huge advantage for the human player comes in. The AI doesn't seem to have the vaguest idea what these are for. 3) probe more often. Yang would send a transport full of plasma sentinels to party outside Gaia's Landing, but wouldn't put a probe on board?! (Let's not even go into why there's no attack unit.) I didn't see a probe come my way until I had begun the base-taking rampage. Too little, too late. That said, this has been one of my more interesting and challenging games -- actually having plenty of missile units running around, rather than thinking: Hold Out a Few Turns for Chaos. I'm winding down the game to see that I can Transcend before 2400 (ought to -- still getting 2 turns/ tech). Not that it wasn't fun, and not that I don't enjoy winning, but really! Suggestions on how to balance the technology without rewriting the factions? [Next: Mindworms 'r' Us, -or- Why the Gaians Should Get -25% for Abundant Life]
trippin daily	posted 04-29-99 02:02 AM ET Play Thinker.. If you want a real treat, play Transcend. You will see how to really use probe teams. Trippin Daily -hi there-
Earwicker	posted 04-29-99 09:05 AM ET Oh yeah, forgot to indicate: the game is on Transcend level. I had been working my way up, and got real excited about the James Bond teams the AI would use. I took a conservative, CYA approach with the expectation that I'd be giving away tech. The most annoying thing the AI ever did with Probe teams was buy back a couple of bases that I really shouldn't have taken at the time anyway. During wartime I destroyed roads connecting captured bases to enemy bases and moved around on the fungus (X-Dome rocks). Morgan, Yang, and Santiago all sent loads of Probes (Yang eliminated Miriam) but they generally got stuck out in the open. My infiltration of datalinks let me figure out when the Probes were coming.