How effectively do AI players interact with each other ?

[moors]

For example do they exchange technology often or do they strategically use diplomatic status ?

 

[Darsnan]

For example do they exchange technology often

Not from my experience in regards to trading per se: its more of a defeated AI giving a superior AI its tech in exchange for peace.
I've also seen mid-game where AIs haven't researched Ecology yet (i.e. no Formers even at mid-game), so I think this bears out my above statement that they don't typically exchange technology.

or do they strategically use diplomatic status ?

Not completely sure on this, but I think that its like the above in that a conquered AI will join its conqueror in declaring war on you, but I don't think I've seen where an AI has bribed or coerced another AI to join in a war against a human. And in regards to social engineering, I've seen where AIs who's social agenda is in significant contrast to my social agenda will join another AI in declaring war on me, but I don't really consider that a use of diplomatic status (i.e. there really isn't any thought on the part of an AI of coercing another AI into war on another foe by consciously pursuing a specific social agenda).

So generally speaking, I'd say AIs generally interact with each other by declaring war upon one another, and the winner of the war then garners the diplomatic (i.e. declaring war on desired foe) and technology (i.e. "yes I'll let you live if you give me all your techs") benefits.

And to summarize, is this effective interaction? In a sledgehammer/ bludgeoning sort of way, yes. But I've not seen any true finesse/ diplomatic slight of hand in regards to their interactions.

HTH,

D

 

[moors]

Thanks

 

[JH24]

Yes, the AI does trade with each other. (Technology and Maps at least) They at least do it on first contact (depends on their initial "mood"), and I think they trade with each other during the game as well. I remember AI's getting tech they weren't researching at all and suddenly they were building new prototypes or Hybrid Forests the next turn.

Probably a coincidence, but I noticed the AI seems more active trading with each other if the human player, (or another AI) is becoming far more powerful than the rest.

When I'm low on the power scale, I usually only get extorted. When I'm in the middle power-wise, more AI's seem willing to trade or propose Pacts. When I'm the strongest, they seem hesitant to trade or negotiate with me at all.

Yes, they do make use of their diplomatic status. But mostly, as pointed out by the poster above, in a way to gang up on other players. Especially if their target has a different social engineering choice. If an AI already hates your guts, and you make a choice that is their aversion, they often make a Pact with other factions to attack you, even if the other factions have contrasting engineering choices as well.

 

[Arent11]

Probably a coincidence, but I noticed the AI seems more active trading with each other if the human player, (or another AI) is becoming far more powerful than the rest.

When I'm low on the power scale, I usually only get extorted. When I'm in the middle power-wise, more AI's seem willing to trade or propose Pacts. When I'm the strongest, they seem hesitant to trade or negotiate with me at all.

I also got this feeling. I like that mechanism & I would like to see it in civ 6. It keeps you on your toes the whole game: In fact, the endgame becomes a kind of all out war, instead of the snoozefest of civ 6. & if you are careful, you can throw the AIs some techs & play peaceful. (They demand that you "cut them in for a share").

 

[JH24]

I also got this feeling. I like that mechanism & I would like to see it in civ 6. It keeps you on your toes the whole game: In fact, the endgame becomes a kind of all out war, instead of the snoozefest of civ 6. & if you are careful, you can throw the AIs some techs & play peaceful. (They demand that you "cut them in for a share").

I entirely agree. That's one thing I like about Alpha Centauri. The mid-to- endgame often does become an all-out war, and usually around the time when you have a lot of new weapons and abilities to try out, which makes it even more fun.

True, it's possible but I never managed to keep the peace an entire game. At some point the AI starts making such heavy demands (all my energy, Fusion Power, etc) that I just can't accept anymore. They suddenly launch a surprise attack or team up with my neighbor. In the early-to-midgame the aggressive factions like Miriam, Yang, Santiago or H'Minee/Marr can be real nightmares (and in case of H'Minee/Marr, it can even mean a game over) But if some of the more peaceful factions survived then the games transitions mid-game into them becoming powerhouses (Usually Deirdre/Zakharov or Lal) and they suddenly become a big threat as they turn on me. (Especially Deirdre/Lal. Pacifist? UN Peacekeeper? Yeah, right)

Even after all those years I'm still in love with the diplomacy system. It feels so alive, so engaging. It just oozes personality. There are still times I actually feel hurt when someone I thought was a close friend backstabs me, cancels a Pact or starts threatening me. Or when I'm going out of my way to save a Pact Brother from annihilation from another faction. (Like Marr having launched 5 Planet Busters already against Lal who I'm allies with) In the past 20 turns I've spend all my credits and built up a massive invasion force to try and take out Marr's Planet Buster producing core cities in a last-ditch attempt to save Lal. And I'm not even sure I can succeed. Marr already has over 70 conventional missiles, and is still producing more) It's a feeling of desperation I sometimes really miss in the recent Civ games. He's also keeps trying to establish seabases close to my core cities, I keep taking them out because I know I'll be his next target)

But like I said, this game still surprises me. In another game Zakharov did something I never saw before. We were Pact Brothers, but he was easily 10 techs ahead. I wanted to pay for a tech, but then he proceeds to gift me all of his techs. (As part of my grand planetary vision, I'll grant you all of my technology. Guard this knowledge carefully, and do not forget my generosity) Even though I know it's an AI, I actually felt indebted to him.

 

[HEF]

I entirely agree. That's one thing I like about Alpha Centauri. The mid-to- endgame often does become an all-out war, and usually around the time when you have a lot of new weapons and abilities to try out, which makes it even more fun.

True, it's possible but I never managed to keep the peace an entire game.

If it is peace that the player really desires, all of the other faction leaders must swear a Pact (not a Blood Pact) to serve the player.

Once that happens, the next step is to become Planetary Governor where the player can achieved everlasting peace.