The AI on Earth 18 Civs

[ajsciri4]

EDIT: Noble difficulty


The AI is something I can't understand, but when it comes to Earth 18 civs, it brings it to a whole new level... While playing as France on Earth 18 Civs (trying to recreate Napoleon's empire, but better!) I've been trading with Gandhi. I asked for a world map for the first time in quite a while, as I didn't think of that while in a bloody war with Rome's Praetorians. Well, he wanted Liberalism for it, so I thought that he must have a LOT of information if he wants such a tech. So, I conducted the trade, and...

Doesn't Alex know that, when his capital is in Athens, that settling a one-desert-tile island off of the west coast of Africa cannot help him in any possible way?

Doesn't Gandhi understand that a region in the middle of the desert in Africa can only hurt his wallet?

You'd think America would understand that Portland does not belong on an island farther south than South America!

Now, when I was trying to conquer Germany, I took their final city in Germany proper and was so confused when they didn't die. I sent a unit up to Scandinavia, but only the Russians were up there. I figured it was either some weird bug or Germany had a colony somewhere, but never did I think he set up his colony in the middle of Siberia... Well, it's a bit too south for Siberia, but it's still east of Moscow...

Also, Greece also has Argos north of said German government-in-exile. Honestly, what the hell?

And may I add that Saladin settled a one-desert-tile island north of Greece's one-desert-tile island! Well, great minds think alike, right? Wait...

Mansa has a south-African colony, which isn't too bad.

Also, you can't see it from the picture, but the Mongols have a region in the center of China. Literally, China has cities like, surrounding that Mongolian region.

Gotta love the AI!

 

[Akbarthegreat]

Wow, I don't see that stuff usually on E-18 maps. But those cities sure are crazy. And Roosevelt being imperalistic for a change is nice.
The worst is Karachi:half a world away, and that too in a desert. Also, remember to send GMs to Delhi.

 

[Archon_Wing]

Earth18 is a peculiar map that plays very differently then more "standard" maps. So the AI wasn't designed for Earth18 and thus it doesn't know the specific strats to it.

However, it can be argued the AI wasn't designed for "standard" maps either (or any map for that matter), and thus this is what you get.

The best is of course Spain who fails to settle on the coast and ...

 

[strijder20]

The most peculiar thing on that map is 1380 AD and Roosevelt at the same time. Usually it's one or the other with the Aztecs around.
By the way, most of those 'crappy' one tile islands you mentioned have and give overseas trade routes and aren't as bad as you would think.
Egypt also seriously underexpanded.
Would be nice to know the difficulty level too (I think it's noble or below, seeing the underexpansion and pacifism of the AI).

 

[elohssa]

Portland is actually a solid city. It provides overseas trade routes and the distance maintenance is pretty small for an emperor+ AI (which difficulty is this?).

 

[ajsciri4]

The difficulty is noble, because I suck at Civ XD

Also, who would Portland trade with? Barbarians?
And why is it that Cyrus settled India proper before Gandhi did?
P.S. I'm just gonna say that since it's 1380 AD and it worked out nicely:
1. The Aztecs are no longer the Aztecs, but they're the Mexican Empire now.
2. The Incans are no longer the Incans, but they're the Chilean Empire now.

 

[elohssa]

The difficulty is noble, because I suck at Civ XD

Also, who would Portland trade with? Barbarians?
And why is it that Cyrus settled India proper before Gandhi did?
P.S. I'm just gonna say that since it's 1380 AD and it worked out nicely:
1. The Aztecs are no longer the Aztecs, but they're the Mexican Empire now.
2. The Incans are no longer the Incans, but they're the Chilean Empire now.

They can trade with American cities. Distance is irrelevant as long as there is an un-blockaded trade route. But yea for a noble-AI such a city would be hurtful.

 

[ajsciri4]

Interesting. So the higher an AI's difficulty level, the more the AI gets from trade routes?

 

[Abegweit]

No. The level does not affect trade routes. In any case, the AI always plays Noble (well, not exactly, but it's closest) so nothing changes for it no matter what level the human plays.

 

[elohssa]

No. The level does not affect trade routes. In any case, the AI always plays Noble (well, not exactly, but it's closest) so nothing changes for it no matter what level the human plays.

Yea that's true. I was probably confusing him. What I meant was that for the AI distance to palace maintenance is somewhat negligeble thus making cities like Portland useful.

 

[Abegweit]

Portland is a piece of crud. It's a bleak wasteland with no resources. Do two 1 routes really pay for this city? I don't think so. Not even on Noble - and it looks like the the trade route is blocked anyway. Anyway, If you're going to settle area, at least put the city in the Falklands for overseas commerce. Of course, something in the Caribbean would be every bit as good for that and cheaper too.

 

[ajsciri4]

I think you may be misunderstanding, Abegweit, I didn't settle there, the AI did XD

 

[Abegweit]

No. You are having the misunderstanding. I'm quite aware of that. I was disputing elohssa's claim that it is a good location for an AI. So, IOW, you and I agree.

Read my post again.

 

[elohssa]

No. You are having the misunderstanding. I'm quite aware of that. I was disputing elohssa's claim that it is a good location for an AI. So, IOW, you and I agree.

Read my post again.

Portland gives +1 trade commerce to all American cities, so for an AI it's not a bad location. Of course there are better islands to settle but it pays for itself.

 

[Abegweit]

Portland gives +1 trade commerce to all American cities.

This is simply wrong. Any American city can replace Portland. What's more, if the replacement city was powerful enough to provide +2 commerce (which Portland never will) it would be far better.

Edit: see earlier comment about the Falklands.

 

[elohssa]

This is simply wrong. Any American city can replace Portland. What's more, if the replacement city was powerful enough to provide +2 commerce (which Portland never will) it would be far better.

Edit: see earlier comment about the Falklands.

Note I said "Of course there are better islands to settle".

 

[ajsciri4]

Wait, I have a question. I'm playing a small Terra map with ten civs (more fun!) as Rome, and the start is in Renaissance. Well, I've played through to mid-Industrial, and I've settled most of the new world (highest score I've ever had!) but their maintenance costs are SO HIGH!! I was running +2 GPT at 0% research. Yes, zero.

So, is it plausible to colonize? I basically spent the hammers over there on workers and infrastructure, mainly libraries and banks. The only thing I really gained was:
1. A few calendar resources
2. Some pride on claiming the entire continent before the AIs did (besides some tundra that Bismarck got)

P.S. I play warlords, will that affect anything?

 

[Abegweit]

Note I said "Of course there are better islands to settle".

The subject was Portland, which you claimed to be valuable for all American cities. That is simply wrong. It is useless. Worse than useless.

 

[strijder20]

Portland is a piece of crud. It's a bleak wasteland with no resources. Do two 1 routes really pay for this city? I don't think so. Not even on Noble - and it looks like the the trade route is blocked anyway. Anyway, If you're going to settle area, at least put the city in the Falklands for overseas commerce. Of course, something in the Caribbean would be every bit as good for that and cheaper too.

-It gives 2 2 routes, as all trade is overseas. I don't get your comment about putting it in the Falklands, as it seems already there. With a lighthouse, it'll eventually pay it's cost, and IIRC, it has a whale resource too.