AI barely a threat

[meddiecap]

Hi,

I have been playing this awesome mod since version 20 or so. I've noticed the AI getting more passive in the last few versions such that it is barely taking any cities.

The AI does have many units, but they are not really using them. Their units seem to be running around in stacks of 1 to 3. Sometimes a big stack is walking around but not being used to attack stuff. I once trashed a cities defense to allow another warring civ to take the city but it didn't happen. They even had enough units to take it.

I've been playing a few auto games. I've noticed that the AI builds a lot of Town Watchmen, or Healers of some sort, only to have them disbanded a few turn later.

Sometimes they take a city but never manage to get enough culture to keep it or to make it somewhat successful.

The AI declares war against each other, but that's about it. Even with only Conquest victory on.
Are they locked in some kind of arms race?

Also barbarians no longer seem to use stacks to attack me. But maybe that is because I know how to defend against them. I used to start a game on an island and just litter it with barbarian cities and then try to stay alive. (It would result in massive amounts of slaves.)

I play on normal speed, Immortal, no terrain damage, no revolutions. I've tried turning on and off Aggr. AI and Ruthless AI. I play with Dev. Leaders, no negative traits, pure traits, start without positive traits.

Basicly i've tried a few variations to try to make the AI less defensive and more productive towards conquest.
What would you suggest are better ways to make the AI more conquest hungry?

I look forward to a reply.
And keep up the good work!

 

[Toffer90]

An AI overhaul project is planned, C2C has seen relatively little AI adjustments compared to the huge amount of new content and features that has been added, and an AI overhaul has never been performed for C2C afaik.
At the end of the day, the AI really struggles with all the new stuff.

Such an overhaul may still be a couple of C2C versions away.

 

[Dancing Hoskuld]

In my latest game the AI is running around in stacks of 6 or more and nuisance invading by sea and I have only just reached Sedentary Lifestyle.

 

[Toffer90]

@meddiecap: DH is playing the SVN version, if you aren't, I'd suggest to you to update to the last development build trough a SVN setup.

Link to instructions.

 

[Thunderbrd]

On the contrary to what Toffer said, I believe a lot of work has been done on the AI. However, it's a work in progress that is needing a lot more. I have plans for the AI and it's warfare strategies... big plans! And I'm getting closer to that being on the design front.

 

[JosEPh_II]

I have been playing this awesome mod since version 20 or so. I've noticed the AI getting more passive in the last few versions such that it is barely taking any cities.

Are you noticing this early game or are you seeing this thru the whole game?

I have a Normal speed Emperor game going where I've just hit the Classical age. I have been Dow'ed twice. I have stack limit set at 60 I never use Unlimited (-1) for Stacks anymore. And both times I've had stacks of 60 units attack my cities. I repulsed the 1st attacker because I had Obsidian and he did not.

The 2nd AI is the sometime tech leader but his armies of 60 are mixed with Horse Archers down to Atlatls. I've taken his closest city because I can muster 2 types of mounted units to his 1. And I had Copper before he did. Still he is bringing Arsonists and now early balista, scorpions, to the front. I have a couple of UUs from cultures and my Chariot Archers are well promoted. Will be a long fight.

 

[meddiecap]

Ok. Wow! Looks like an awesome game!

Are you noticing this early game or are you seeing this thru the whole game?

I usually see it throughout the whole game. The AI mostly is ahead of me until all land is settled, then I start to catch up.

Currently I am playing a game where the German civ seems pretty aggressive though.
What if I select aggressive leaders only?

And in this game I see some big barbarian stacks walking around, but they are not raiding / attacking cities. They seem to be walking towards forts all the time.
Also, I was defending a fort with 2-3 longbowmen and a stack of 30+ barbs just walked by.

I will start a game with the stack limit. Are you playing with any other settings I should know about? I play the SVN version btw.
Could you send me your save maybe?

 

[JosEPh_II]

What Map and Map size do you use? How many AI?

Could you send me your save maybe?

There is a current save in the Bug and Crash thread for SVN. It's for Thunderbrd to look at his new option Win For Losing. You can D/L it if you want. It's only on Emperor Difficulty though.

 

[meddiecap]

I play standard or large maps, usually with default amount of AI. Currently Large with 15.

 

[JosEPh_II]

Which Map do you use the most?

 

[meddiecap]

I always play PerfectMongoose, Sealevel High Prehistoric, PW2, Cylindrical, Start Everywhere, Rivers default, Resource Few.

Btw. I like the C2C_world map script. But i'm not getting any rivers.

 

[JosEPh_II]

I play standard or large maps, usually with default amount of AI. Currently Large with 15.

This "usually with default amount of AI. Currently Large with 15" from your statement means you are playing the Gigantic Map. Default AI for Large is only 9.

And why High sea level? You like less land and more ocean separation between any land masses and harder to find resources? Curious.

I've been playing a few auto games. I've noticed that the AI builds a lot of Town Watchmen, or Healers of some sort, only to have them disbanded a few turn later.

Lack of resources can do this.

Basicly i've tried a few variations to try to make the AI less defensive and more productive towards conquest.

If you make the AI do this too early you will have no real competition left after the 1st couple of Eras. You have to allow them time to build up and they will if you leave them alone basically thru the Preh Era. Other wise the way you play seems to suggest you need to play Deity or even Nightmare Deity.

 

[meddiecap]

Sometimes I add extra players instead of playing with the default amount. I'm not sure why, sometimes I like to play with lot's of opponents.
I never go above Large maps because the game will slow down too much for me...and the crashed of course.
I like large maps with lots of oceans because I like to explore and find far-away resources.

I do tend to play aggressive as soon as I get rams and early catapults.
I guess I'll try Deity for a bit and leave the AI alone a bit longer. Thanks for the advise!

 

[JosEPh_II]

The Default for Huge map is 11 and with normal sea levels or even low, you still get lots of ocean but also more landmass for everyone to expand and use.

Suggestion: Perhaps for your playstyle you should consider the Island Map and use the several extra continents option with low sea level. That will give you lots of things to "discover" for a longer period of time. It also gives the AI a small but needed buffer from early aggressors.

 

[Munakas]

Crime seems to be out of control in many AI cities in V37.

 

[JosEPh_II]

Welcome to C2C.

Unfortunately old subject. Update to at least the v37 Update/Patch thread version. Link in that thread for a Full Mod Patch. Or go to 1st post in SVN Change log thread and Install the the SVN to get current updates.