Increase AI flavor to create cities

[XelmatZe]

Hey guys,

I really need your help.

After the latest update I can play Civ 5 without any crashes but now I face a new problem.
I always play with the "Yet another Earth map pack" map on size gigantic. After the latest patch it seems that the AI refuses to build cities! I see Rome, Dschingis or Gandhi only having 3 cities after 500 turns. Same for almost all other Civs (haven´t seen them all yet ...)

That is not fun at all since there is so much space left but the AI never builts more cities.

How can I change this issue?

I already tried to change the early expansion as follows:

<GameData>
<Defines>
<Update>
<Set Value="40" />
<Where Name ="AI_STRATEGY_EARLY_EXPANSION_NUM_CITIES_LIMIT" />
</Update>
</Defines>
</GameData>

Did I make a mistake in this code? The original value is 8.

Or is there another option to change the AI's attitude to build cities? Do I have to change it in the leader specs? If so, where do I find the code to change?

I would really appreciate your help!

Xel

 

[joltis]

Hello,

Check out my Joltis AI tweaks mod. I tried to increase city spam. My version is pre-patch so there could be something that is not valid anymore. I have been playing new one to get feeling, how AI does.

The easiest way to increase city spam enourmously is to set FirstTurnExecuted of EXPAND_LIKE_CRACY in AIEconomicStrategies to zero. This is pre-patch.

AI_STRATEGY_EARLY_EXPANSION_NUM_CITIES_LIMIT affects in EARLY_EXPANSION in AIEconomicStrategies. It tells when to EARLY_EXPANSION stop expansion. Saddly I noted that EARLY_EXPANSION does activate correctly in whole game.

Sorry if all field names are not exatly correct. I am not home when I write this.

 

[XelmatZe]

Could it also be beneficial to reduce costs for settlers? If so, where can I find the costs for a settler? In which table?

I tried your mod and launched an autoplay game on marathon. After 200 turns Rome still has only its capital. Russia has 4 cities, but on the other hand Arabia has almost 10. Don´t get it to be honest ...

 

[joltis]

My mod does not have that aggressive settler spawning as i suggest with EXPAND_LIKE_CRAZY.

The problem is not the cost but AI which ends up in loop of bad decisions. Bad loops: wondering capital (only city capital and it mass produces wonders.) , OCC culture win AI and losing settlers and workers to bards etc.

The costs of units are in UNIT table.

 

[XelmatZe]

Is it possible to change the flavor of the AI to build settlers? I remember there were some problems with the AI focusing on anti aircraft units in the game before it has been patched. But again ... since I am not familiar with modding ... I cannot find these flavors

 

[joltis]

FLAVOR_EXPANSION is what you are seeking. Search XML directory with FLAVOR_EXPANSION so you see where it affects. For example the end effect of EXPAND_LIKE_CRAZY is increase of FLAVOR_EXPANSION.

 

[XelmatZe]

I continued modding on this issue and can give a few results.

Normally I play on gigantic TSL earth map. I downloaded the Australian Civ as well (of course, placed them on Australia) and I also placed the Iroquois Civ on South America.
Both have a lot of gold available and after not even 300 turns Iroquois for instance have more than 12 cities and several tile improvements.

Therefore I conclude and assume that maintenance of settlers and workers have important influence. I´ve seen Catherine having a negative gold per turn and they stopped creating cities after her fourth. Same goes for Ashika.

Is there any variable defining the maintenance for both settlers and workers?

I only found one in GlobalDefines but its of global effect and thats what I do not want...

 

[joltis]

12 cities seems ok.

Questions in my mind:
Has AI negative money?
Has AI big army? (A money sink)
Has AI negative happiness? (If it is it would totally stop expansion)

Unit maintance is in Unit table/XML. settler maintance is not the problem.