AI Cheat - finds isolated islands easily w/o map.

[GeezerGamer]

The continents were getting crowded so I set off to explore. I found two groups of unpopulated isolated island (in the extreme north and extreme south-large map)

I put a settler, military unit and a worker in a boat and set off for one of the island groups.

I never traded a map with any one, and no spy had infiltrated my cities.

Just as I was approaching the island another civ founded a city before I got there. Went south, and it happened again. What are the odds of other civs finding the same group of islands at the same time I did (and settle on the exact island within the group) that I had a trajectory for?

I know it knows everything, but it needs to pretend that it doesn't, until it acquires the appropriate info (as a human player would need to)

Just a rant...

 

[Joshua368]

Pretty high once they have Optics because they'll send caravels exploring everywhere.

Really you have until they discover Astronomy to settle islands because they'll populate them like maggots.

 

[GeezerGamer]

That the think though. Most of them had the necessary techs for a long time, yet no one bothered to settle the islands until set out to do so.

The timing was just too much of a coincidence.

 

[Matthew5117]

Really you have until they discover Astronomy to settle islands because they'll populate them like maggots.

Thanks for the disgusting picture Joshua368! :suicide:

The AI also knows where your units are...

 

[PieceOfMind]

Would you notice if there was no coincidence? It's expected that every now and then you'll observe a coincidence, and it's not because of anything other than your (human's) natural ability to find patterns.

But on this topic of settling islands, keep in mind the AI has algorithms for evaluating the value of city sites. I bet if you went for the low value spots first you'd beat the AI. I do know what you mean though - I've been beaten to so many spots by less than 1 or 2 turns before, it can seem crazy. Keep in mind if there are several AIs they are probably all doing the same thing to each other - they keep beating each other to spots as well, but you don't see them talking about it!

 

[r_rolo1]

AI is coded to have always a transport ship with a settler team ready to populate a new land ( blake said it a while ago ).

 

[Fei Kelei]

On the plus side, it's not like new AI cities on remote islands are ever well defended.

 

[Justy]

I've brought this up before but I was told that it was all in my imagination. I am much better now, Doctor. I understand that the state is always right.

Even though I've traded for AI maps and they always nail islands while seemingly ignoring empty ocean. I understand that all those maps were coincidences.

I'll take my meds now. It's almost time for arts and crafts. I'm making a basket.

 

[r_rolo1]

Can you show me "all those maps"?

Or were you just imaginating it ?

 

[Willem]

I really don't see why this is so surprising. The AI spams Caravels like crazy and sends them out all over the place. They do far more ocean exploration than I ever will. So they're bound to find all these little nooks and crannies before the human does. I'm not even sure why this is so important, those locations are worthless anyway. I've seen the AI settle on islands that were only a single tile with absolutely no potential. If it's lucky, it will spend the rest of the game building a Courthouse to reduce it's maintenance costs.

 

[Xellos-_^]

in my current game, i am not even going to bother trying compete with the AI for new colony spots. i plan to built up my current cities (11) and built a large military and invade my neightbor ragnor. he is currently busy fighting churchill down south.

just out of curiosity, anyone ever built a city on one of these 1 tile island?

how does it usually work out?

 

[Al Capwn]

in my current game, i am not even going to bother trying compete with the AI for new colony spots. i plan to built up my current cities (11) and built a large military and invade my neightbor ragnor. he is currently busy fighting churchill down south.

just out of curiosity, anyone ever built a city on one of these 1 tile island?

how does it usually work out?

The only time it's worth it (the city will actually become a productive, useful city rather than a money-hole) is if you can build the Moai Statues there. This will take a VERY long time unless you rush the wonder with a Great Engineer though, and most of the time you can find much better uses for a Great Engineer than rushing a National Wonder.

The only time I think it's worthwhile is if the 1-tile island has multiple seafood resources (at least 3) or if it has 2 Whales (or a combo of Whales and seafood). I rushed Moai on a 1-tile island that had 2 crabs and a fish very early in one game and that city turned out to be very productive. If you can get the Colossus the city is even more powerful still with all the added commerce.

The downside is that you have to keep a respectable navy in order to prevent the city from being blockaded and starved into the stoneage. Even barbarian galleys will make you garrison a decent navy force in the area.

 

[Sian]

one tite islands is reasonablely useful when in lack of intercontinantal trade routes due to either lack of friends or Mercantism

 

[GeezerGamer]

Hi guys,

The islands I was referring to in my OP were medium to large with a bunch of resources, and room for at least 3 cities with plenty of elbow room.

 

[Xellos-_^]

Hi guys,

The islands I was referring to in my OP were medium to large with a bunch of resources, and room for at least 3 cities with plenty of elbow room.

as one of the other poster said. if the islands are lightly defended....

 

[thadian]

Pretty high once they have Optics because they'll send caravels exploring everywhere.

Really you have until they discover Astronomy to settle islands because they'll populate them like maggots.

sometimes the AI loads their exploring caravels with settlers - especially portugal who likes to settlexplore with his unique boats.

 

[brandon1965]

sometimes the AI loads their exploring caravels with settlers - especially portugal who likes to settlexplore with his unique boats.

Uh, Portugal is the only Civ that can do this. Your sentence makes no sense.

 

[PieceOfMind]

1 tile islands are fine if you can whip an AP-religion's monastary and temple in them first (giving the city a total of 5), and then build all the usual buildings. If Spiritual, the temple can be built reasonably quickly.

As a Financial leader especially, it's probably worth settling just about every coastal city site possible.

Also, if you put a corporation in the city like Sid's Sushi or Mining Inc. you can start it producing those buildings really quickly, but that is later in the game.

 

[thadian]

if im right, a settler can be loaded to a caravel. therefore, why wouldn't the AI load a settler before sending off a mission? especially if its one of the first to get optics, it isnt likely they will have a lot to worry about.

 

[Kazbar]

Caravel's can only transport Scouts, Explorers, GPs and (I think) spies. No Settlers.