How does the AI judge miltary strength

[Scyphax]

Can anyone tell me how the AI judges military strength.

In some games I do not want to go to war as I know I will lose.

How can I appear to the AI to be as strong as possible.

Normally I try to have at least one of the best units available to me and a large number of obsolete units.

If I have 1 tank and 9 spearmen does the AI think I am as strong as if I had 10 tanks?

Does the number of units lost or enemies destroyed count?

Does an army of 3 horsemen cotribute more than a tank?

Do fortifications, artillery and planes count?

 

[Shabbaman]

From version 1.29 upwards (wishfull thinking), the AI counts the power of your units. But the AI can also see where your units are, so they might just as well take an undefended city even if you're strong.

 

[anarres]

Scyphax, why is power not important?

Power is an amalgam of many things, including # of cities. If you want to avoid war having more power is a good thing.

When I play ICS and have over 100 cities the AI (almost) never attacks or asks for tribute.

 

[DaveMcW]

Tribute is based on power, but sneak attacks are based on army size (in shields).

 

[Scyphax]

Anarres -
the appearence of power is important in some games.

Currently I am going for a diplomatic victory in a Diety game.
At Diety level the AI outstrips me at everying but techs which I can retain parity.
I have only 7 cities and I don't have a chance of winning a war.

So in addition to doing lots of boot licking I want to appear as powerful as possible to discourage attack.

The same applies to OCC games.

 

[anarres]

Hmm. Didn't know that DaveMcW.

So you are saying that the power rating has no affect on the AI declaring war on you, or is it just for sneak attacks that it has no affect?

 

[DaveMcW]

Sneak attacks seem to ignore power rating, but it's still valid for preventing diplomatic wars (no one will sign an alliance against you, no one demands tribute).

 

[anarres]

Thx, always good to learn something new