Does the AI ever beat their REF?

[Molybdeus]

I've played through about two dozen games, all on average difficulty, and the AI has always been slaughtered by their REF. (Although I usually help out by taking a couple of their choicest cities myself.) Essentially an AI colony will try to take all of the political founding fathers while I build my economy. Then the AI colony declares independence without an adequate economic base and gets slaughtered.

Is the AI ever an actual threat to beat you to independence?

 

[PawelS]

They seem to prepare for the War of Independence better after the latest patch. When I was playing on Marathon speed, Governor difficulty, George Washington declared independence around turn 600 and defeated the REF.

 

[player1 fanatic]

Also, at higher difficulties they get combat bonuses against REF, making it more likely for them to win the fight.

 

[candle]

well so that aspect is back at least, I remember that from Col, another empire declared independance first you better follow suit immeditly, or you just lost the game

 

[craigdh]

From what i've seen the comp almost never declares independence anyways... they wait until the bitter end, and yes usually get slaughtered. That said, I notice they fight significantly smaller REFs than the human player.