[MAYBE A BUG][.221] Do happiness rules apply to the AI ?

[chrin67]

Bonjour,
although I play Britania it's Darius who seeks to rule the world!
but I don't understand how it is possible to conquer 2 civs within 100 turns, each of them capitulating and giving 3 or 4 cities in the peace treaty!
Darius has now 9 cities and 13 puppets, after Rom's defeat.
Does Darius know about unhappiness?
I tried to evaluate it and I find for him between -30 and -40. (see saved game below)
I conquered only 4 puppets and I've already -11 ! (although almost all my own cities have a theater). I must mostly refuse when an ennemy gives me some cities because I cannot manage the unhappiness.

Does the AI cheat?
Or is it possible to play with unhappiness -30, -40,... ?
Should the totally surrender of the ennemy (giving all cities, etc.) not be definitely removed from the game because it is unbalancing it too much?
Or is there something I simply did not catch regarding unhappiness?



View attachment E74_0273 - 1806 ap. J.-C..Civ5Save

 

[The_J]

On which difficulty level are you playing? Because on higher levels the AI gets different bonuses, which might be the explanation here.

 

[chrin67]

I play at level King, not Deity!
I tried to attack because I hoped his units are very weakened due to the massive unhappiness in his empire.
But Darius defended well, produced planes very quickly and then continued to conquer seemingly without any penalties at combat nor in production.
For me it's simply unbalanced and not playable at all!
(or there is a key game feature I did not catch)
To my opinion his empire should be unable to produce anything and the military units should be very weak during at least 50 turns before the puppets can build all the theaters for ex., if they do!

 

[MouseyPounds]

AI civs always get the Chieftain happiness modifiers (base +12, extra 1 happy per luxury, and 60% modifier.) I don't know if there's ever been a statement as to whether that is intended or not. In your save Darius has +25 happiness (184 - 159 )

 

[chrin67]

merci for your answer, MouseyPounds.
I go back to the "Prince" level, I don't like "cheaters"

I'm surprised that the first level above "Prince" has such bonuses for happiness.
The problem is tmo the 60% modifier on the unhappiness count (if I understand well)
I evaluated Darius' unhappiness to 262 and you find 159 (262 x 0,6 = 157,2 it's ok, I forgot 3 citizen somewhere)
I evaluated his happiness to 224, but with only 184 points (and the "bonuses") it seems that Darius does not need any theater, yet, although he conquered 2 Civs very quickly!
No worry with such rules!

With such an empire, applying the normal rules, Darius would have 184-262 = -78, not +25.
(but with normal rules, Darius would have invaded only Japan and have had soon some troubles in his empire )

 

[swmaniac]

Also yes, the game is perfectly playable (especially if th e AI is also cheating with production/growth) even when unhappy. The game becomes much harder but is still playable.