So, any way to increase difficulty?

[Strategist83]

After just a week or so with the game, having gotten used to the game mechanisms and interface I find there is no challenge at all to be had, not even at Transcend difficulty. I'm out-expanding the AI by such a large margin that I'm ranked 1st in every category within the first 100 turns.

In this way SMAC/SMAX is no different from Civ 5 at all - great game, but the AI is so poor there's just no challenge.

Is there any way to increase difficulty, preferably by making the AI better? Some mod, perhaps?

 

[Herfelt]

An easy way is to simply make the other races have better bonuses. Changing Morgan's economy bonus to +2 or +3 instead of just +1 makes him a bit tougher, or increasing Believers attack-bonus to 50%.

 

[Petek]

Here are three ways to increase the difficulty:

1. One City Challenge. You are allowed to build only one base. Must win by transcendence.

2. Switching Sides Challenge. Begin the game with any faction. After rising to the top of the power graph, use the scenario editor to trade places with the weakest AI. Now try to bring this AI to the top, then again switch sides with the new weakest faction, and so on. You'll be playing against the factions that you built up. I don't think that anyone has won such a game after switching to all factions, but I could be wrong. Variation: Instead of waiting until each faction rises to the top of the power graph, play each faction for a fixed number of turns (for example, 50), then switch.

3. Multiplayer (MP). Playing against human opponents removes the AI from the picture. CFC doesn't have a MP community, but you can find an active one on WePlayCiv.

Also, lots of scenarios have been created over the years. They are scattered all over the place. When I get some energy, I'll try to compile a list, with links.

You might also want to consider taking a look at Kilkakon's Lost Eden Mod. I don't know right off hand whether he does anything to improve the AI, but it certainly plays different.

 

[Strategist83]

Thank you.

 

[Darsnan]

Also, lots of scenarios have been created over the years. They are scattered all over the place. When I get some energy, I'll try to compile a list, with links.

Let me know if you decide to do this, and I can help (for instance I can do the legwork for the scenarios at WPC if you like).

@ Strategist83: if your looking for some scenarios now, here are some key words you can google:

Darsnan SMAX SMAC scenario

Chaos Theory Solstice AI

SMAX on the horns Googlie Alpha Centauri June

Chaos Theory did some awesome scenarios, always releasing them on the Solstices. Googlie's "On the Horns of a Delima" is still one of my favorites. I've got a slew of scenarios scattered around the various SMAC websites - here are a few which I recommend:

King of the Hill (SMAX version)
Adaptation 101
A City called Armagedon
Monkey in the Middle
UNWanted
Von Neuman's World

HTH,

D