You can always find the latest version on the Better AI Sourceforge Downloads Page (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=178407)

Better AI is contained entirely in the CvGameCoreDLL.dll file, it is the only file you need. (See below for adding the optional Handicaps file). (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=5026610&postcount=2)

You can put this file in one of two different places, depending on how you want to use BetterAI. (Putting it in both places does not make sense, although it will not hurt).

To use Better AI for all your games place the DLL in your CustomAssets folder:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/InstallDLL.jpg

To use Better AI as a mod, place the DLL in a \Mods\Better AI\Assets folder:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/modinstall.jpg

You can tell if you have it installed correctly if you see "=== Better AI ===" in the score breakdown
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/betterai.jpg

You see the score breakdown by holding down alt while mousing over your player name in the 'scoreboard'.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/scoreboard.jpg

Better AI Handicaps

This is an optional additional modification. What it does is reduce some of the bonuses that AI players get compared to human players. This will make all game settings easier.

Without these new handicaps, some players were finding Noble or Prince level still too easy with BetterAI, but Monarch too hard (because of all the extra bonuses the AI gets).

With the new handicap file, the distance between Prince and Monarch is less (among other things), so Monarch and Emperor games should be more playable. You can find more information about what handicaps were changed in the BetterAI Handicaps Release Notes (http://sourceforge.net/project/shownotes.php?release_id=478230&group_id=178407).

To Install BetterAI Handicaps:

You want to place the "xml" folder that is inside the BetterAI-Handicaps file in the same place, at the same level as you put the CvGameCoreDLL.dll file.

If you are placing it in the CustomAssets folder, there may already be an xml folder, that is fine, but it should not replace any files inside it (unless you want to replace a previously created custom handicaps file).

If you are placing it in a mod folder, then it will look something like this:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/betteraihandicaps.jpg

Using Better AI

Alright, now that you have BetterAI installed, what should you do to get the most out of using it? The most important benefits, that the AI should play smarter, you will get automatically. However, there are some things you can do to improve your own play using BetterAI:

(1) Turn on "Citizen Automation" (also known as the city governor). The decision on which tiles to use has been greatly improved in BetterAI, so you should be able to trust the choices it makes. It knows about slavery and your happy/health caps, so will slow down growth when you will only gain unhappy citizens (although it will allow some under slavery).
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/citizenautomation.jpg

(2) Do not use the emphasize buttons unless you really mean it. Prior to BetterAI, it often was best to click emphasize food, production and commerce to get the best behavior (ie to not stagnate growth by working specialists). You should not do this any longer. If you click emphasize food, that will turn off all the logic which stops working food tiles when you will grow into unhappy. Trust the governor, only click emphasize food if you want to continue to grow past the happy cap. In practice, you should almost never have to click emphasize food, but you might use emphasize production, commerce, research, or great people points based on the speciality you have chosen for that city.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/emphasizefood.jpg

(3) Turn on "Production Automation" (also known as the city build governor). While this feature is nearly useless without BetterAI, it now works quite well. It should not build a unit unless there is absolutely nothing else to build, including wealth, research, culture. If you are using slavery, it will whip units and buildings at the best time. You can change the queue it generates, and it will still whip when appropriate. (So if you do not like the choice it makes for what to build next, you can change it, and it will still whip for you).
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/95686/productionautomation.jpg

(4) Automate explorers. The automated exploration routines should be much smarter. In addition, if there is nothing left to explore, units will fogbust the area on your cultural borders. This works for land, sea, and air units (which can now explore as well).

(5) Use Chipotle Cheat Mode to learn more about the game. You will not want to do this all the time, but you can learn a lot about how the AI thinks by turning on cheat mode. You will be able to see things like the odds for declaring war, and which civs the AI sees as the best targets. You can see how the AIs group their units, and what tasks they are trying to accomplish. Read more about doing this here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=204063).

You might want to add install instructions for the optional 'new handicaps'. It's not that difficult to install them, but people who have never installed a civ mod don't know where to put this file.

Good job on this new subforum. It looks very neat and organized. :goodjob:

The handicap file goes into the same directory as the CvGameCoreDLL.dll

\My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets

Right?

The handicap file goes into the same directory as the CvGameCoreDLL.dll

\My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets

Right?

No.

The file CIV4HandicapInfo.xml should be placed in \My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets\xml\GameInfo

(Note that if you dowload it and unzip it, then the file CIV4HandicapInfo.xml is already placed in xml\GameInfo, so you could also copy the directory xml to \My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets )

The handicap-file goes to:
[...]\My Documents\My Games\Warlords\CustomAssets\xml\gameinfo\CIV4Handi capInfo.xml

Ah, thanks! Than i played all the time with a more overpowerd AI than necessary. *g*

Can't I store the Handicap.xml in the Mods/BetterAI direction? I don't want it if I don't use the betterAI mod.

Can't I store the Handicap.xml in the Mods/BetterAI direction? I don't want it if I don't use the betterAI mod.

Did this ever get answered?
I too would only like to play with the "new" handicaps when playing "Better AI" only?
In other words, when Better AI is loaded as a MOD, then the new handicaps are also picked up. Otherwise I'll play regular game handicaps?

Yes, you can put the new Handicaps file in the mod folder.

Mods/Better AI/Assets/XML/Gameinfo

Can't I store the Handicap.xml in the Mods/BetterAI direction? I don't want it if I don't use the betterAI mod.

if you want to do this all you have to do is:
create a directory called "xml" in the Mods\BetterAI\Assets directory, create a directory called "GameInfo" in there and put the handicap file into this directory so that the whole path looks like:

Mods\BetterAI\Assets\xml\GameInfo\CIV4HandicapInfo .xml

Thank you.
I have another question. I play the German version of cIV, and You can tell if you have it installed correctly if you see "=== Better AI ===" in the score breakdown

does not work, but I can see the mod name in the top right corner of the game menu. Is everything working fine and the "=== Better AI ===" just not implemented in all languages, or have I failed to install the mod correctly?

You have to hold Alt down BEFORE mousing over your score in order to see the ===BetterAI=== indicator.

Ah, just didn't notice this :blush: Thank you - it works.

Yes, you can put the new Handicaps file in the mod folder.

Mods/Better AI/Assets/XML/Gameinfo

Thanks you. I appreciate the info!

what is betterAi handicap?

what is betterAi handicap?

Read the FAQ (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=204053) :)

Do I need to start a new game after I update AI to a new version?

Do I need to start a new game after I update AI to a new version?

No, you do not need to start a new game. BetterAI is 100% save file compatible.

If you previously reported a bug, then its possible that the bug created something in your save file which will not be fixed by the new version. Go ahead and report the bug again in this case, unless you were told not to report it.

Of course, if you want to test the changes in how, say, AIs build settlers and expand in the early game, then it might make sense to start a fresh game.

-Iustus

Not too obvious how you download the file on sourceforge.net.;)

Click on the big DOWNLOAD green button.

Select the green, highlighted, Latest file.

Hmm, that didn't work. What if you click on the link under it with the same name?

Ah that works.

(this gives you the ASSERT version. You have to click slightly differently to get the non-ASSERT version, or to get other obsolete versions.)

I have installed the dll file and the handicap file in the Mod subdirectory so that it will only run as a mod. I have two questions:

1. I cannot see "Better AI" when I mouse over my score. I know I have to hold Alt down before I mouse over, but I still do not see the magic words. I have loaded the mod because it appears in the upper right hand corner of the main screen. Also, the blue circles change on the initial screen based on what a scout reveals before the city is founded. Is there another way to confirm that the mod is actually operating?

2. Is it possible to run Better AI and the HOF Mod 2.08.003 at the same time. I saw your comment on running other mods in the FAQ but I cannot find the HOF mod in the mod subdirectory, or any other subdirectory, so I don't know if it runs with its own dll. I would appreciate it if you could be specific on how to run these two mods together, if that is possible.

No. Two DLL mods require merging of the C++ codebases, and the HOF mod does not release the source code.

What is the full path to your BetterAI DLL?

The full path is: Warlords\MODS\BetterAI_Warlords_Asserts_07-02-12\BetterAI\Assets\CvGameCoreDLL.dll

The full path is: Warlords\MODS\BetterAI_Warlords_Asserts_07-02-12\BetterAI\Assets\CvGameCoreDLL.dll

Get rid of that BetterAI_Warlords_Asserts_07-02-12

It should be

Warlords\Mods\BetterAI\Assets\CvGameCoreDLL.dll

Good luck. :thumbsup:

Is it possible to use this with the airforce mod? When I hadn't opened the mod, it worked but when I opened the mod it didn't :(

Is it possible to use this with the airforce mod? When I hadn't opened the mod, it worked but when I opened the mod it didn't :(

See here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=204053) for details.

Thanks, Roland. That did the trick.

Thanks, Roland. That did the trick.

You're welcome. Good to hear that it worked. :)

Does the score breakdown still show === Better AI === ? I've copied the DLL into my custom assets directory for BTS and I don't see the aforementioned label.

yes, but still 0.35. they did not update the label to 0.36.

Hrm. OK, I must be doing something wrong. Here's my full path to the .dll:

C:\Documents and Settings\ds\My Documents\My Games\Beyond the Sword\CustomAssets\CvGameCoreDLL.dll

The first page example has "Warlords" instead of "Beyond the Sword"... I made an edumicated guess on that. The .dll is correct, methinks:

ds@plate ~(8597)$ strings CvGameCoreDLL.dll | grep -i better
CBetter BTS AI v0.37

It's just not picking it up for some reason.

@doktorstick: I don't believe DLLs work in CustomAssets anymore. You either need to replace (after backing-up) the DLL in the game's main Assets folder or Install it as a MOD. If you install to the game's Assets folder it'll be in effect for all new games but certain mods/saves (most notably the HoF mod used at CFC for xGOTM games) will detect that change as a possible cheating attempt and won't work.

CBetter BTS AI v0.37

0.37? where did you get it? :D

0.37? where did you get it? :D

$ svn update
$ make

:)

cannot find any 0.37 for bts...


civ4betterai - Revision 385: /trunk/Better BTS AI:

Better BTS AI sources for 0.36.zip

Sigh.

Still no alt-mouseover score information. I've copied the .dll into C:\Games\Civilization 4\Beyond the Sword\Assets\ as well as the XML and Python assets (from trunk\Better BTS AI\Assets\). I'm not running it as a mod and I have debug mode enabled.

I still don't see the === Better AI === banner. I am pretty sure it is reading the right dll because when I copied it over *before* upgrading to 3.17, the game would crash. After I upgraded to 3.17, it loaded just fine.

Any suggestions on how I can really make sure it is the right dll?
What mechanism (where in code) allows the alt-mouseover to display more information?
Where does it pull the banner text from?

Thanks!

Howdy. Just a quick follow-up. The alt-mouseover isn't working (for me). I tested that it was picking up the correct mod by adding a log message line to CvCityAI() and launched the game. Sure 'nuff, my message was logged.

Hopefully one of the current devs will weigh in on this, but I don't believe the version message is in the score anymore; instead it's in the mouseover text you get when you point the mouse at your flag. Pretty much all mousover text comes from one of two places: CvDLLWidgetData.cpp and CvGameTextMgr.cpp. Browsing the current sources, I don't see anything new in CvGameTextMgr::setScoreHelp or CvDLLWidgetData::parseScoreHelp but there is a Better AI version string in CvDLLWidgetData::parseFlagHelp so that's where I'd look in-game.

It is the flag. I didn't have to hold alt, either. BTS AI 0.37.

Between stable releases you can get the latest by checking out the source code from sourceforge ... recommended mainly for testing/developing as there may be new ideas that haven't been fully vetted yet.

How do you get this to work? I have followed the installation instruction but it still doesn't work. I put the CvGameCoreDLL.dll in the CustomAssets folder, but I see no BetterAI text when I hover over my points in the scoreboard (I assume this should be visible already on the first turn?) no matter if I hold down ALT or not.

I also tried putting the handicaps file there (in .../xml/gameinfo/), but this wouldn't even start the game anymore. All I got were these messages when starting the game:

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/Mortac/betterAI_error1.gif
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/Mortac/betterAI_error2.gif


So what could possibly be the problem? I am running v3.17 atm. Is BetterAIHandicaps supposed to work with BtS?

betteraihandicaps is old and not for bts.

edit:

when I hover over my points in the scoreboard

not the scoreboard... the flag left of the scoreboard in the interface.

Oh, what a pity on better handicaps. Is there any chance that this would be updated for BTS? I was really looking forward to using it.

The installation instructions for BetterAI are incorrect, for me anyway. If I put the CvGameCoreDLL.dll where it says in the instructions, it won't do anything. If I put it in the Assets folder directly in the BtS installation directory, however, then it works just fine.

If I put it in the Assets folder directly in the BtS installation directory, however, then it works just fine

did you overwrite the original file? :cry:


I recommend to play better bts AI as an own mod.

Is there any chance that this would be updated for BTS?

They are already in BTS.

I made a copy of the file before overwriting it. Putting it there was the only way for me to get it working. I didn't try the mod way because I don't intend to remove BetterAI unless I need to patch. Apparently the installation instructions in the readme file are correct, but the online instructions that I used were not.

Lone Wolf: Are you saying then that Firaxis changed the handicaps for the AI in BtS, or do you mean that BetterAI includes the handicap changes? I haven't seen any such changenotes anywhere, but perhaps I'm just blind.

you can simply modify the handicaps by editing CIV4HandicapInfo.xml

Great, thanks! I'll check it out. If anyone knows of any handicap changes available for download, please let me know! Some of those numbers are a little confusing to set.

Lone Wolf: Are you saying then that Firaxis changed the handicaps for the AI in BtS, or do you mean that BetterAI includes the handicap changes? I haven't seen any such changenotes anywhere, but perhaps I'm just blind.

Yes, Firaxis lowered the AI bonuses for BTS along similar lines as the changes thought of for the former BetterAI project. Better BTS AI didn't make any further changes.

So what are the installation instructions for the latest version and BtS? I read the first post and this last page and have tried various things, but when I load a custom game, hold down <alt> and move my cursor over the score, I dont see text that indicates this is running.

The version indicator is no longer part of the score; it is now on the hover text for the flag to the left of the minimap. It'd be nice if we could get some of these stickies updated but I expect we'd need massive moderating help since Iustus isn't currently active.

The version indicator is no longer part of the score; it is now on the hover text for the flag to the left of the minimap. It'd be nice if we could get some of these stickies updated but I expect we'd need massive moderating help since Iustus isn't currently active.

pm one of the mods - e.g. woodelf - and ask him to unstick all the old threads and make a few new ones stickied - that way whoever creates those new threads can update them as needed. It should not take more than a few minutes for that to happen :)

It is working as it should, thanks for the info Dresden.

I just have to say, between this and the BUG mod and I am loving BtS all over again.

I really hope Firaxis actually does their homework for Civ5 and realizes for once how valuable a good interface and AI are.