Computer Opponent difficulty is always easier than set on Multiplayer maps

Always when we set up the world map in the editor and put the difficulty either on "Sid" or "half-god" the computer opponent plays always like the difficulty would be “Prince”. Slow research and slow expansion. Does someone know how you can set the computer player so that he plays really hard on a map with 2 or more human players? When I play the same map alone the computer opponent plays really good when I set it on "half-god" unfortunately when I play with a friend on LAN the difficulty is a joke.
If setting the difficulty doesn't work is there some way to make the computer opponent stronger, like giving him 3 settlers? Where can I do that?
That was really strange for me. In the difficulty menu it says the computer opponent will start with 2 settlers and many units. When I play the world map alone that works fine but with 2 or more human players the pc player has always just one.

Thank you very much for your response

I'm havin exactly the same problem, when i play hotseat the difficult is always easy, and is borin play with so stupid machina, pliz someone who knows how to increase the IA for best play.
Thankz :confused:

I've been wondering about this myself. The computer is a total joke in Multiplayer games, never attempting a strong expansion, never fortifying his cities, its ridiculous

me and my friend actually tried to play a game on MAXIMUM level of hardness. Well, computer disbanded his settler on move 2. we dont know why.

@Shadow Phoenix: It probably started on a bunch of mountains or something. The AIs disband when they can't build their first city soon.

I actually found the difficulty just about normal, though.

If you are starting games on the editor, the difficulty resets to chieftan. My friend knows what to do to fix this and I will post within a week how to.