The AI knows where all troops are - proof!

[sumthinelse]

Originally posted by Sirp

It is clear that the AI does not get affected by Fog of War. However, it seems that it does get affected by the Shroud.

That's what I was trying to say. "Shroud." Got my terms mixed up, I guess.

 

[Maple]

Originally posted by Qitai


There is a way, just try offering 10 gold for their world map. And if they agree, you know nothing new is discovered.

Nothing important is discovered. If there is another civ, or something else equally huge than they will not trade their map for 10 gp.

 

[Qitai]

They would. At least, in all my games, it works that way. I observe the tiles whenever I pay and the number of new tiles added to my map is always proportional to the amount I pay. If no new tiles are discovered by AI, they would sell me map for 1 gold. No exceptions for me so far.

 

[Higher Game]

The AI is weak, but it isn't really high on everyone's wish list. Most people like better graphics, wonder movies, and easier gameplay and interface. That is exactly what Civ 2 was over Civ 1. Don't believe me? Look at how many people are saying Civ 2 is better than Civ 3. Then they caravan rush their wonders, pump science to 90%, avoid war until they get howitzers and stealth fighters, and then crush an AI that doesn't see it coming. If you want a better AI then you are in the minority. It's hard to accept this at times.

 

[Sirp]

Higher Game: too true. I agree, most people do not want a better AI. To start with, they want a game they can beat.

A better AI is top of my priority list; but I am clearly in the minority. Sad, but true.

 

[Ripley]

Originally posted by docceh
yeh but still, does the AI even use investigate city, etc? I've never seen and evidence that the AI uses spies and diplomats but maybe that's just me!

Absolutely they do. Two games stick in my mind where Persia and the Zulu were caught trying to plant spies in my cities. My advisors told me this.

In each case, an invasion by the said parties came very shortly after.

 

[Dark Sheer]

Unfortunately, its a better AI that keep you coming back for more.

Take Ultima Online for example, we have a patch almost every month for the past 4 years. While some of it is to improve interface and also counter some exploit, most of it is to make the AI better. The monsters used to stay behind a wall when you turn a corner at the begining. Now it can track you up a few floors by opening doors and climbing stairs.

 

[Higher Game]

People still play Ultima Online? I thought Lord British retired from programming and is working at Taco Bell now.

 

[Palcho]

Originally posted by Sirp
Higher Game: too true. I agree, most people do not want a better AI. To start with, they want a game they can beat.

A better AI is top of my priority list; but I am clearly in the minority. Sad, but true.

Hey... I want a better AI too. I would like to see the AI counter my military buildup anywhere with its own. which it hardly ever does.

Another thing i would really love to see is Submarines that work like Subs (or should that be surface ships that work like their supposed to). I hate seeing an Ironclad or Frigate attack a Sub. How exactly do they manage this? I never knew Frigates had anti-sub weapons.

Another thing with subs is how on earth does an ironclad realise theres a sub in the next square when it tries to enter it? But i guess theres no real solution to this without altering the combat system quite drastically (i.e. different civs units in the same square).

My solution to all of this. Add an option: Can't attack these units (drop down box goes here). and add another option: combat bonus against these units (drop down box goes here). Then i can finally make some AT Guns, Mobile SAMs etc.

 

[Palcho]

Originally posted by Dark Sheer
Unfortunately, its a better AI that keep you coming back for more.

Totally agree. One game where there AI does think (sort of) is Empire Earth. The AI realises you have battleships for example and sends galleys to attack them (Galleys have an advantage when attacking battleships). Then if you build Frigates to take out the Galleys, it builds Battleships to take out your frigates. And around, around it goes.

 

[Mullet Crusader]

Maybe the AI used their embassy to spy on yer city and found there was no defense. Thats possible but who am i kidding, the AI probably DID know.

 

[Lab Monkey]

Here's another one. I've noticed a couple of AI Galleys hovering around the edge of my coast, just running around in circles. It looks as though they're trying to go south, but can't cross the sea. Now the only thing southwards is the only as-yet undiscovered portion of the map, where I assume the last civ is to be found.

Is the AI waiting to discover astronomy so that they can cross safely? If so, then they must know that there is another civ down there waiting for them!

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

Lab Monkey: seen that, too. Build a few Galleys, load them with settlers and defenders and follow the AI ones Or, go suicide - you just might luck out! If possible, rush a Temple whenever you put a Galley at risk. I do not know why, but it lowers the risk of loosing the Galley .

I did some reloading tests on this, and I found I practically never loose a Galley if I rush 2 Temples and trade maps with someone, losse them in 20% on ocean when rushing 1 Temple and loose them around 50% (as should be) when doing nothing.

Rushing only leads to a sinking that wiouldn't have happened wihtout rushing in around 5%!

 

[Higher Game]

Now you are just getting delusional. If you are trying strats like rushing temples before sending galleys into the ocean, no wonder you are losing and you hate Civ 3!

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

Higher Game: 120 tries is statistically significant!
Others have found this, too! Obviously, the seed is changed by rushing and diplomacy, and somehow is is usually changed favourable. So befoe you call me delusional, how about you give it a try?

 

[AndyS]

I think the AI definately knows all military unit's positions. I was playing in either a recent GOTM or tournament game where I had an undefended caravel. The AI had an ironclad in my territory but my caravel never got less tham 3 tiles to the ironclad. The minute the caravel left my city, the ironclad went straight for it and sunk it. This was all deep within my territory with no other ai units around. How else could it know?

AndyS

 

[Flavor Dave]

I once razed a city, which had incense in its borders. I sent one of my slave workers to colonize it. The AI, of course, soon plopped down a settler right there and negated the colony. So I reloaded and put units there. (I am not a reloading slut, just to get rid of stupid stuff like this.) Anyway, the transport moved away. Just for the helluvit, I moved the unit back to the colony. So the transport (oh yeah, *AND* its battleship escort) went back. So I moved the unit back to the open square. And on and on and on, effectively taking an AI settler, transport, infantry, and battleship out of the game. Man, those units must have thought their leaders were daft.

It was fun and funny.

 

[Bamspeedy]

Was the transport within 'visual range' of your units, to actually see them?

If not, than it is examples like that that prove that they can see your units anywhere on the map. Although, whether they see my units or not, it is pretty funny to get the AI in a repetitious back and forth motion. The AI is programmed, obviously, to take the shortest route to a future city site. If you can get two units (I use scouts for this) positioned just right, you can make their settler move back and forth, back and forth for about 15 turns before they give up and head somewhere else.

 

[The Last Conformist]

What about subs? From my experience it seems that they're not invisible to the AI (in my last game, my four nuclear subs surrounding America were all sunk by Battlships the turn they declared an unprovoked war against me, and I certainly didn't see any American subs or AEGIS Cruisers), but does anybody know?

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

Originally posted by The Last Conformist
What about subs? From my experience it seems that they're not invisible to the AI (in my last game, my four nuclear subs surrounding America were all sunk by Battlships the turn they declared an unprovoked war against me, and I certainly didn't see any American subs or AEGIS Cruisers), but does anybody know?

experience from DS3 - we use Shadow Warriors - invisibly excet for Shadow Warriors - the AI sees them! They bring workers into citirtes for protection even if they don't have a SW around when I approach.