The last few games I've played I've been noticing that the AI spits out archers really early on in the game. I've been playing on marathon at monarch difficulty, and the first civ I find always has an archer parked in the capitol as soon as i get there, regardless of how early it is. what's the deal?
AI Starting with Archery?
- Thread starter Plex
- Start date
Psyringe
Scout
Yep. It protects the AI from very early warrior rushes by the player.
AfterShafter
Deity
Like we'd do that...
Of course not... And it has nothing whatsoever to do with the incredible spike in the Incan's popularity by people who go up to Monarch and above
Supr49er
2011 Thunderfall Cup
Of course not... And it has nothing whatsoever to do with the incredible spike in the Incan's popularity by people who go up to Monarch and above
Quechas Are you sure about that? i've never had a problem with archers on 34 civ map on monarch.. is it with that aggressive ai mod?
Sorry, that's incorrect. Starting at Monarch, the AI gets Archery for free. At Emperor, it's Hunting and Archery for free. Immortal is Hunting, Archery and Agriculture for free. And finally, Deity is Hunting, Archery, Agriculture and The Wheel for free.
Bh
Soneji
Prince and Great Steward
Yes, they get the tech for free.
numbskulls
numbskulls
Supr49er
2011 Thunderfall Cup
I don't remember - do the AIs start with an Archer on Nobel level?
ripple01
Emperor
No...
Cheers,
ripple01
Cheers,
ripple01
Whoa that's definitely a pain right there. At least you can usually still pull off a stolen worker or three on Monarch. I figured it was Archery, and not just the unit because they were also pumping out archers very soon after the start as well.
I'm not sure how much I agree with this sort of logic though. Wouldn't it make more sense to just make the AI extra aggressive, or just never have a human player start with a warrior? The way it is now, you're building back from a disadvantage in tech on the first turn, which is compounded by the AIs careful tech trading policies. I suppose I just need to learn to edit the game settings, don't I? lol
I'm not sure how much I agree with this sort of logic though. Wouldn't it make more sense to just make the AI extra aggressive, or just never have a human player start with a warrior? The way it is now, you're building back from a disadvantage in tech on the first turn, which is compounded by the AIs careful tech trading policies. I suppose I just need to learn to edit the game settings, don't I? lol
Noble puts you on par with the AI.
Psyringe
Scout
Making the AI extra aggressive might help, but it would also force an aggressive playstyle on players. One lesson learned from Civ3 was that many players prefer a more "natural", less aggressive way of starting the game, so forcing them to play aggressively would mean less fun for those players.
Taking the starting warrior from the human wouldn't change that much because it doesn't take that long to build one.
You could also make the AI prioritize defense on game start, but that would limit exploration, expansion, and economy, all of which are important.
The way I see it, the free archer is the AI's counter against the restart cheat. That early in the game, many players leave their capital undefended, because the gains from exploration outweigh the risk of being attacked early. If they *do* get attacked early, they simply start a new game. The AI doesn't have the option to restart the game, so it gets some extra protection for the beginning of the game.
Gorrable
Chieftain
For some reason, I've always found AI bonuses on different difficulty levels fascinating - I think mostly because it makes it clear how hard the higher difficulties are and how good you have to be to beat them!
This is correct.
Unit-wise (IIRC) on Monarch, the AI starts with a Archer, a Scout/Warrior, and a Settler, on Emperor, they start with 2 Archers, 2 Scouts and a Settler, on Immortal, 3 Archers, 2 Scouts, a Worker and Settler, and on Deity, 4 Archers, 2 Scouts, a Worker and (wait for it) a TWO Settlers. The human, on every level apart from Settler, starts with a Scout/Warrior and a Settler.
This often makes me feel better when I'm getting my arse kicked on Emperor - I like to imagine what I could do with a free archer, a free scout, a couple of free techs and (I think) 85% build and research times. Deity, frankly, looks impossible even disregarding the other bonuses - AN EXTRA STARTING CITY.
This is correct.
Unit-wise (IIRC) on Monarch, the AI starts with a Archer, a Scout/Warrior, and a Settler, on Emperor, they start with 2 Archers, 2 Scouts and a Settler, on Immortal, 3 Archers, 2 Scouts, a Worker and Settler, and on Deity, 4 Archers, 2 Scouts, a Worker and (wait for it) a TWO Settlers. The human, on every level apart from Settler, starts with a Scout/Warrior and a Settler.
This often makes me feel better when I'm getting my arse kicked on Emperor - I like to imagine what I could do with a free archer, a free scout, a couple of free techs and (I think) 85% build and research times. Deity, frankly, looks impossible even disregarding the other bonuses - AN EXTRA STARTING CITY.
IronCrown
Black Foe of the World
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2007
- Messages
- 674
No, that's not true. The AI gets one free worker at Immortal, not before. And I think they get one free settler at Deity.
Telling from memory here, but just check the handicaps.xml... I'm at work so I can't do that atm.
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