AI is incompetent or programmed to not win?

[Noble Zarkon]

Then why even have victory conditions, in the first place?

Victory conditions are for human players, we need that target.

 

[Gedemon]

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Civ was designed so that the player can simcity and still have a chance to win, at any difficulty level. I personally don’t mind this, as I am the simcity sort. In fact, i think one of the new game modes should be a mode where the AI tries to win, as strange as it sounds, so there are options for both types of players.

That doesn't sound strange at all, the difference between RP players and competitive players shows in each of the AI threads.

The middle ground AI we have now can't please anyone, as a RP player I found it bad, mostly because of diplomatic rules made to (try to) prevent any kind of exploits for MP, and competitive players found it bad because it doesn't try to win as fast as possible.

Remember the "Agressive AI" option setting in civ4 setup screen ?

They need to bring back something similar for competitive players and do a diplomacy overhaul game mode for RP players.

 

[PonderThis]

The AI should not be aware there is something called a win condition at all, that is really immersion breaking.

They should have however an agenda that's more of a purpose - like cultural agenda means they build lots of Theatre Squares, religious agenda means they will try hard to spread their religion etc.

Which is pretty much what we have now, and I like it that way, it suits the way I play. However,

Remember the "Agressive AI" option setting in civ4 setup screen ?

They need to bring back something similar for competitive players and do a diplomacy overhaul game mode for RP players.

I think this is a good idea. Have a switch or "AI play mode" that would not only make it more aggressive, but also give it better paths to victory for those that want it.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Remember the "Agressive AI" option setting in civ4 setup screen ?

They need to bring back something similar for competitive players and do a diplomacy overhaul game mode for RP players.

Great ideas!

 

[Askia Muhammad]

Then why even have victory conditions, in the first place? Why does the game series simply assume that human history will end circa 2050 CE, with one civ standing as the lone victor? Doesn't that mindset kind of reek of cold war mentality?

Lets be honest, the entire concept of historical 4X games is based on outdated historical models and misconceptions that are much older than just the cold war. The idea that we progress linearly through cultural and technological development in itself is an antiquated and no longer accepted idea by any serious historian.

Which is pretty much what we have now, and I like it that way, it suits the way I play. However,

I think this is a good idea. Have a switch or "AI play mode" that would not only make it more aggressive, but also give it better paths to victory for those that want it.

I feel like I must be somewhere in the middle. I'd consider myself more of an "RP" person but I find I can't RP because the AI never does anything meaningful for me to generate a story around. At times it feels they are just actors in my play and they never had any chance or agency to begin with which makes any attempt at "RP" boring.

I much prefer what Humankind is doing with a unified victory condition - because it is much more immersion friendly but the AI needs to be able to actually pose a threat to me and others.

I mean right now my head canon goes "The fierce armies of Genghis Khan approached the walls of London poised to gobble up the last remaining city of the once glorious British Empire. Unfortunately, their leadership was incompetent and the once fierce armies wheeled around in circles before the walls around London allowing its inhabitants to pick off the vastly superior force for five years. The result was the mighty Genghis Khan suing for peace. A shame his general couldn't actually attack the city"

 

[Mahi]

I put this in another thread recently but I think this video suits better in this talk