Installation Instructions

[Iustus]

You can always find the latest version on the Better AI Sourceforge Downloads Page

Better AI is contained entirely in the CvGameCoreDLL.dll file, it is the only file you need. (See below for adding the optional Handicaps file).

You can put this file in one of two different places, depending on how you want to use BetterAI. (Putting it in both places does not make sense, although it will not hurt).

To use Better AI for all your games place the DLL in your CustomAssets folder:

To use Better AI as a mod, place the DLL in a \Mods\Better AI\Assets folder:

You can tell if you have it installed correctly if you see "=== Better AI ===" in the score breakdown

You see the score breakdown by holding down alt while mousing over your player name in the 'scoreboard'.

 

[Iustus]

Better AI Handicaps

This is an optional additional modification. What it does is reduce some of the bonuses that AI players get compared to human players. This will make all game settings easier.

Without these new handicaps, some players were finding Noble or Prince level still too easy with BetterAI, but Monarch too hard (because of all the extra bonuses the AI gets).

With the new handicap file, the distance between Prince and Monarch is less (among other things), so Monarch and Emperor games should be more playable. You can find more information about what handicaps were changed in the BetterAI Handicaps Release Notes.

To Install BetterAI Handicaps:

You want to place the "xml" folder that is inside the BetterAI-Handicaps file in the same place, at the same level as you put the CvGameCoreDLL.dll file.

If you are placing it in the CustomAssets folder, there may already be an xml folder, that is fine, but it should not replace any files inside it (unless you want to replace a previously created custom handicaps file).

If you are placing it in a mod folder, then it will look something like this:

 

[Iustus]

Using Better AI

Alright, now that you have BetterAI installed, what should you do to get the most out of using it? The most important benefits, that the AI should play smarter, you will get automatically. However, there are some things you can do to improve your own play using BetterAI:

(1) Turn on "Citizen Automation" (also known as the city governor). The decision on which tiles to use has been greatly improved in BetterAI, so you should be able to trust the choices it makes. It knows about slavery and your happy/health caps, so will slow down growth when you will only gain unhappy citizens (although it will allow some under slavery).

(2) Do not use the emphasize buttons unless you really mean it. Prior to BetterAI, it often was best to click emphasize food, production and commerce to get the best behavior (ie to not stagnate growth by working specialists). You should not do this any longer. If you click emphasize food, that will turn off all the logic which stops working food tiles when you will grow into unhappy. Trust the governor, only click emphasize food if you want to continue to grow past the happy cap. In practice, you should almost never have to click emphasize food, but you might use emphasize production, commerce, research, or great people points based on the speciality you have chosen for that city.

(3) Turn on "Production Automation" (also known as the city build governor). While this feature is nearly useless without BetterAI, it now works quite well. It should not build a unit unless there is absolutely nothing else to build, including wealth, research, culture. If you are using slavery, it will whip units and buildings at the best time. You can change the queue it generates, and it will still whip when appropriate. (So if you do not like the choice it makes for what to build next, you can change it, and it will still whip for you).

(4) Automate explorers. The automated exploration routines should be much smarter. In addition, if there is nothing left to explore, units will fogbust the area on your cultural borders. This works for land, sea, and air units (which can now explore as well).

(5) Use Chipotle Cheat Mode to learn more about the game. You will not want to do this all the time, but you can learn a lot about how the AI thinks by turning on cheat mode. You will be able to see things like the odds for declaring war, and which civs the AI sees as the best targets. You can see how the AIs group their units, and what tasks they are trying to accomplish. Read more about doing this here.

 

[Roland Johansen]

You might want to add install instructions for the optional 'new handicaps'. It's not that difficult to install them, but people who have never installed a civ mod don't know where to put this file.

Good job on this new subforum. It looks very neat and organized.

 

[Ralgar]

The handicap file goes into the same directory as the CvGameCoreDLL.dll

\My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets

Right?

 

[Roland Johansen]

The handicap file goes into the same directory as the CvGameCoreDLL.dll

\My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets

Right?

No.

The file CIV4HandicapInfo.xml should be placed in \My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets\xml\GameInfo

(Note that if you dowload it and unzip it, then the file CIV4HandicapInfo.xml is already placed in xml\GameInfo, so you could also copy the directory xml to \My Documents\My Games\Civilization 4\CustomAssets )

 

[Elandal]

The handicap-file goes to:
[...]\My Documents\My Games\Warlords\CustomAssets\xml\gameinfo\CIV4HandicapInfo.xml

 

[Ralgar]

Ah, thanks! Than i played all the time with a more overpowerd AI than necessary. *g*

 

[Malv Roeller]

Can't I store the Handicap.xml in the Mods/BetterAI direction? I don't want it if I don't use the betterAI mod.

 

[Sarek]

Can't I store the Handicap.xml in the Mods/BetterAI direction? I don't want it if I don't use the betterAI mod.

Did this ever get answered?
I too would only like to play with the "new" handicaps when playing "Better AI" only?
In other words, when Better AI is loaded as a MOD, then the new handicaps are also picked up. Otherwise I'll play regular game handicaps?

 

[Uncle_Joe]

Yes, you can put the new Handicaps file in the mod folder.

Mods/Better AI/Assets/XML/Gameinfo

 

[ori]

Can't I store the Handicap.xml in the Mods/BetterAI direction? I don't want it if I don't use the betterAI mod.

if you want to do this all you have to do is:
create a directory called "xml" in the Mods\BetterAI\Assets directory, create a directory called "GameInfo" in there and put the handicap file into this directory so that the whole path looks like:

Mods\BetterAI\Assets\xml\GameInfo\CIV4HandicapInfo.xml

 

[Malv Roeller]

Thank you.
I have another question. I play the German version of cIV, and

You can tell if you have it installed correctly if you see "=== Better AI ===" in the score breakdown

does not work, but I can see the mod name in the top right corner of the game menu. Is everything working fine and the "=== Better AI ===" just not implemented in all languages, or have I failed to install the mod correctly?

 

[Uncle_Joe]

You have to hold Alt down BEFORE mousing over your score in order to see the ===BetterAI=== indicator.

 

[Malv Roeller]

Ah, just didn't notice this Thank you - it works.

 

[Sarek]

Yes, you can put the new Handicaps file in the mod folder.

Mods/Better AI/Assets/XML/Gameinfo

Thanks you. I appreciate the info!

 

[feldmarshall]

what is betterAi handicap?

 

[cymru_man]

what is betterAi handicap?

Read the FAQ

 

[Melhisedek]

Do I need to start a new game after I update AI to a new version?

 

[Iustus]

Do I need to start a new game after I update AI to a new version?

No, you do not need to start a new game. BetterAI is 100% save file compatible.

If you previously reported a bug, then its possible that the bug created something in your save file which will not be fixed by the new version. Go ahead and report the bug again in this case, unless you were told not to report it.

Of course, if you want to test the changes in how, say, AIs build settlers and expand in the early game, then it might make sense to start a fresh game.

-Iustus