Has combat AI and balance been improved?

[Sartre311]

Looking to start a new game of civilization. I am one of those who believes that civ4 is the best civ. I play it with K-mod (ai combat mod) on monarch which is like emperor on the regular game and simply love it.

I was looking forward to this release but upon reading the initial reviews about how terrible the AI is I stayed away.

It's been a year now, so my question is, has the AI especially for combat purposes been improved? Or at the very least is there a mod that makes the game challenging in terms of war and overall balance, going for domination victory as I am a big warmonger?

Thanks in advance

 

[rschissler]

I've played Civ4 a zillion hours, so I think I know it well, though I've never used mods. I would always play conquest in Civ4, which doesn't exist as a victory condition for Civ6, but I play Civ6 like it is. Yes, I think Civ4 it is the best civ game. Based on what you said, you probably will be disappointed with Civ6. Civ6 has some great features that I really like, but the AI is weak. I think the biggest problem with the AI is that in the later game, they seem to have very few units, and don't upgrade the units they do have. So, taking cities can be quite boring. I thought the naval game in Civ4 was great, where in Civ6 there are very few ships to worry about. Supposedly, they have improved it with the last patch, but I'm not so sure. Embarkation ruins a lot of it, regardless of what some people say. I do use a few mods with Civ6, Rocketboots for faster movement, MulitpleUnitsPerTile (only 2 units per tile, since the AI can't take advantage of it), and a mod that reduces war weariness(can't remember the name right now).

 

[Zuizgond]

Still not. Wait for 4 or 5 patches.

 

[trev1972]

I played loads of civ iv and loved it too- ive only played 3 games on civ vi so far (bought it a few days ago)

I think you might be better waiting for an expansion if a huge fan of civ iv - the diplomacy is nowhere near as good in civ vi, and in my (admittedly limited) experience so far on civ vi is the ai is hopeless.

As mentioned they dont seem to upgrade units, so you can be in the information era fighting ai swordsmen and crossbows... with maybe the odd modern unit there.

I know CTP was flawed in many ways, but i do think they had a good system of forming armies, no idea why it hasnt been repeated to be honest.

 

[Leyrann]

In my opinion, Civ IV is the best civ in terms of complexity and difficulty, while Civ VI is the best civ in terms of game mechanisms.

Or, in other words, Civ IV is better, but Civ VI has more stuff I enjoy. I would personally rank them very close to equal. Civ VI just above Civ IV.

(Civ V honestly doesn't even come into the equation for me)

 

[V. Soma]

I play civ6 with the AI+ mod and the AI has lots of units... really a lot...

Using them is another matter...

but with Quo's Combined Tweaks mod (which gives more moves) and
Combat and Stacking Overhaul mod (ranged and non-ranged units make 2 units per tile)

it is perhaps better...

 

[Tech Osen]

Improving the tactical prowes of the AI is beyond my expertise, no idea how hard that is.
But not upgrading units should be fixable. Whether the issue is gold or strategic resources it shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Art Morte]

Combat AI remains bad in VI. It's still at a point where the AI doesn't always use a ranged attack, makes unnecessary moves (often in a stupid direction), doesn't function well with multiple units etc. Also, doesn't build enough units or replace them quickly enough. The game would rise to a different level with a half-competent combat AI.

 

[Archon_Wing]

Yes, the ai is better at focusing weak units now. I wouldn't call it good though. Doubt it will be until an expansion.

Balance is nonexistent and sone civs flat out make others redundant. Scythia, Sumeria, and Aztec stand way above the rest and that is not even including dlc nonsense.

So no go there. They have buffed weak civs well rexently sich as France but they also kneecapped niche civs like Kongo for no good reason.

Stick with civ 4 for now. There are reasons to play 6 but I do not believe it will give you what you want atm. It does not mean 6 is bad, but rather competing with one of the best mods of the best game in the series isn't really fair with only 1 year of development . I mean k-mod puts unmodded civ 4 BTS to shame.

 

[Sartre311]

Thanks for all the input guys. From what I've read most of you seem to think I should hold off until at least an expansion comes out whenever that maybe. Although I've heard other valid points on the forms stating that if they haven't gotten the one unit per tile mechanics down seven years in they probably never will so alas...

It sounds like Civ VI has plenty of awesome features on the level of immersiveness that no other iteration in the series has come close to thus far. So at the very least maybe now or when an expansion comes out it will definitely be worth playing it for that factor alone. However in terms of replayability that will be the question.

Do you guys believe that any combination of mods, such is AI+ mod or Quo's combined tweaks mod as V. Soma has mentioned will improve the experience in terms of challenge and balance in the game? Are there any other mods at this point that can be combined to improve overall gaming experience especially the challenge of the AI in terms of combat?

 

[Morningcalm]

For balance, some civs like Greece are really weak, whereas others like Macedonia can charitably be described as disgustingly OP. So I would wait. Many of the DLC civs are incredibly powerful, and I expect they will be nerfed somewhat in the future, or weaker civs like Greece given more bonuses.

 

[Archon_Wing]

Greece weak? That is a bit of a new one. Macedon is definitely op and an example of breaking balance to sell more.

 

[Sartre311]

Any update on my original question about whether the combat AI has been improved and the game is now fun and challenging?

Keep in mind I think civ4 with k-mod was the best one, thanks in advance.

 

[Browd]

Moderator Action: Please do not necro old threads. There are several current threads discussing the AI. Thread closed.