I'll be starting up a MP game this weekend with some players that are fairly new to the Civ series, and I need to adjust the AI difficulty to something below Noble.

I started up a MP session to test system behavior, port forwarding, etc, and I noticed that I am unable to change the AI's difficulty level because the drop-down menu is disabled/ghosted. Is there another place I can change this at?

I've been wondering this myself. My buddy and I would like to increase the AI difficulty on our multiplayer games, but same thing- its "grey-ed" out. We can change the difficulty of our own civs.

Furthermore, it doesnt tell you which way to go. I assume (if I could) that changing the AI to a higher level of difficulty would make it harder for me. however, If i change mine to a lower level- does that not make it easier for me?

Hope somebody has the answer.

well, i don't think you can change the AI's difficulty level, instaed you change YOUR OWN difficulty level. i think this has the effect that you are looking for

Actually, I'm not sure it does. For example, If I'm looking to make the game more difficult, I could try to reduce my own level (go to easier setting). That would give me some advantage- for example maybe i get a worker or settler from a goodie hut. However this doesn't change the AI in terms of thier production bonus- so really it doesnt get me the effect.

Am I wrong?

I'm starting to wonder if you have to go through Single Player->Custom Game and leave slots open for human players. Now how other players would connect to that, I'm not sure...maybe the game will show up in the lobby or maybe you have to Direct IP to it. It doesn't make sense to put that in the Single Player category though...

As you increase the difficulty for yourself, techs get more expensive, support costs higher, happiness harder. The opposite happens for the AI.

So if you set your difficulty at Settler, the AI is playing at a much higher difficulty; if you set your difficulty at the highest, the AI is playing at Settler.

(see pages 166-167 in your manual)

As you increase the difficulty for yourself, techs get more expensive, support costs higher, happiness harder. The opposite happens for the AI.

So if you set your difficulty at Settler, the AI is playing at a much higher difficulty; if you set your difficulty at the highest, the AI is playing at Settler.

(see pages 166-167 in your manual)

But how does that work if you have two human players with different set difficulties? Does it default to the easiest or hardest setting?

Thanks Randle, I missed that...that should work.

But how does that work if you have two human players with different set difficulties? Does it default to the easiest or hardest setting?

The server host sets the difficulty. The client has no influence on that matter.