Am I killing the AI somehow ?

Hey guys.

Was suggested I bring this to the Customization Forum

I'm having a little issue with the custom games I make.

Seems that when I play a normal single player game, the computer always has at least 2-3 civilizations that make me work my butt off to catch up to them at the Monarch level.

However, every time I play a Hot Seat game with one of my friends in a custom game, the AIs just seem to behave weirdly. They will develop aggressively and develop technologies REALLY fast until they hit the Industrial Age. At that point, they just consistently fail to develop almost anything at all past the first 3-4 techs. At that point I usually completely outpace them and the game becomes really boring. I've had this happen at Regent, Monarch and Emperor levels.

The way it goes is that there will always be one slacker that drops off the chart at the Medieval, and then everyone will drop off at the Industrial. I can go for over 30 turns without them discovering a single freaking tech, which usually means they become really easy to outdo.

I have noticed that when I set custom starting situations like what kind of units exactly you start with, no matter what the AI level I set for the computers, when you get into the game the message says Regent level. Is this normal ?

I tend to play large maps, with about 200x200 size. Not sure how this would translate to such a situation, but maybe you guys know more than I do.

So far I have tried customizing player data or not, and it has not changed the result, I do end up with dumb AI enemies once Industrial age kicks in. In my games, so far I've added a couple bonus resources, a few extra buildings including a Small Wonder and some units from the other scenarios. Nothing overly complicated.

So, how do you guys actually make the AI more difficult to play against all the way into the late game in multiplayer ? Seems single player is usually not too problematic, but it does happen sometimes.

Thanks for suggesting anything. I'm open to any ideas to make C3C a challenge still.

Arreghas.

I've never worked on a Hot Seat scenario myself, and have never experienced this issue. If you are using a custom map, make sure the terrain and resources are laid out so that the other civs can keep their income growing and expand, as that may be the issue. Also if they are at war with each other they will focus money on units and the war more than techs. If you have preplaced cities with improvements in them you might want to make sure that is balanced.

Sorry, that's all I've got here.

Hmm, I can't say I know what's causing it, but in the editor, try:

1. Give all AI Civs the "Scientific" Bonus
2. Under, "Build Often," check "Science."

Just be careful under the "Build Often/Never" lists not to check more than 3 (or MAYBE 4) items as this seems to overwhelm the AI.

Happy Gaming,

Oz

Thanks Ozymandias.

About what you're saying, is it possible that the AIs tend to get slowers on larger maps ? If the "Build often" contain a number of checked boxes without science - as I've seen some by default have 6 - and the map is large giving big empires, can this be a factor ?

Thanks.

Arreghas said:

Thanks Ozymandias.

About what you're saying, is it possible that the AIs tend to get slowers on larger maps ? If the "Build often" contain a number of checked boxes without science - as I've seen some by default have 6 - and the map is large giving big empires, can this be a factor ?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

To the best of my knowledge, map size shouldn't be an issue in this (whereas it's a HUGE issue in the AI calculating trade routes!) About those 6 boxes or so checked - in the limited testing I've done around this, it seems that, with more than 3 or maybe 4, the AI simply ignores your preferences.

I'm also convinced that there's something weird hardcoded in at least the first 3 slots (Rome, Egypt, Greece) making the AI, REGARDLESS OF FLAGS CHECKED, tend to build more Offensive Units, Wonders, and Defensive units respectively -- but this observation results from sideshow testing of what units the AI will build, so may need to be taken with a grain of salty AI.

Best,

Oz