The AI recommendations

[Yooka]

Hi all. I'm a pretty terrible Civ 4 player, and even though I feel like I understand everything in the civilopedia, and everything in that beginners guide pdf that is floating around, I'm still quite horrible. I'm reading things here, and preparing to post save game files, but before I get to that, I have a question. I searched a little for it, but I can't remember what exactly they are called, so it wasn't very helpful.

When in doubt, I tend to follow the advice of the blue circles and text. I micromanage somethings when I'm trying to accomplish something specific (specialists in a city, or focusing on GP production, for example), but for alot of other things, I build or research things because the AI recommends it, which usually means if I have a lead, and do it first, I maintain my tech lead, for example.

Anyway, what I'm basically asking is that for someone who's played at least 30 games since Civ came out, and reads things here every so often, is the AI likely leading me to oblivion?

Would you say that the AI recommendations are

- Always wrong except for no brainers?
- Usually wrong?
- About 50/50?
- Pretty useful in many cases?

Thanks.

 

[Cashew]

I dunno. Usually wrong probably? I haven't paid attention to that crap in ages. I trust my own judgment over the game's. Even if it makes you play worse at first you need to be able to think for yourself or you'll never get better at the game.

 

[ummd]

I have noticed, in terms of the blue city placement circle, the AI tends to "know" where the iron/copper/horse will pop up. I usually only disregard it if I have a good reason not to. If it's a marginal difference of one square, I'll move. Call it "listening to my advisors."

 

[Sian]

i'd say somewhere between always wrong, short of no-brainers and usually wrong ...

 

[Ghpstage]

i'd say somewhere between always wrong, short of no-brainers and usually wrong ...

I agree worse than usually, but it does get some right occasionally.
It often picks some really strange city spots such as 1 tile off the coast and spots that will waste resources, I think it prioritizes avoiding city overlap way too much too.

Auto workers though are absolutely awful, you'd need a further option to describe them (if you haven't limited them in game options) empire destroying

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I have noticed, in terms of the blue city placement circle, the AI tends to "know" where the iron/copper/horse will pop up. I usually only disregard it if I have a good reason not to. If it's a marginal difference of one square, I'll move. Call it "listening to my advisors."

This is false, lots of tests have been done for this.

Sometimes if I see a blue circle 1 square away from where I was about to settle I will have a closer look at the suggested site, I may have overlooked some small detail.

There was a succession game where the players always followed the computer's advice, they lost quite spectacularly

 

[Yooka]

I agree worse than usually, but it does get some right occasionally.
It often picks some really strange city spots such as 1 tile off the coast and spots that will waste resources, I think it prioritizes avoiding city overlap way too much too.

Auto workers though are absolutely awful, you'd need a further option to describe them (if you haven't limited them in game options) empire destroying

So I've read. I stopped doing that about 5 games ago, and I'm still getting destroyed in my mid game. Kinda surprised that wasn't where the problem was. Anyway, when I ahve time from screeners and save files, I'll open a thread for that. I am starting to think that the real problem is recommendations for tech and city placement.

 

[Eco-Friendly]

.

There was a succession game where the players always followed the computer's advice, they lost quite spectacularly

Could you link me to that? Sounds like a funny read.


The AI CAN get it right. Just not often. Well.. yeah, they hardly get it right. As someone said, NEVER automate workers.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Here's the game...

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=172931

 

[Jamuka]

I find the ai does a good job with city placement, if you are looking for a good balanced city, with growth potential, decent production and decent commerce. I never am: i like quick size 4 production cities that can generate 10 hpt for the rest of the game, and commerce cities that can fit 10+ cottages.

 

[Ai Shizuka]

Terrible most of the times, but they got it right here and there. In the current NC game I was quite shocked to see the blue circles right where I dot-mapped my first 2 cities.

 

[Ghpstage]

So I've read. I stopped doing that about 5 games ago, and I'm still getting destroyed in my mid game. Kinda surprised that wasn't where the problem was. Anyway, when I have time from screeners and save files, I'll open a thread for that. I am starting to think that the real problem is recommendations for tech and city placement.

City placement and tech choices are also generally bizarre and awful but I personally find workers workshopping (with only +1 workshops no less) or farming over 2/3rds of my hamlets/villages is a much bigger problem which is why I stopped usign it while I was at noble level. At least for researching and city placing you always have to confirm the action by clicking

Here's the game...

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=172931

Thanks for that it was indeed very entertaining

 

[Eco-Friendly]

Here's the game...

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=172931

During a rather slow read and some breaks to play Civ, I read it. Funniest game I've read.


Anyone else wonder why AI recommends settling on ice?

 

[Ghpstage]

During a rather slow read and some breaks to play Civ, I read it. Funniest game I've read.


Anyone else wonder why AI recommends settling on ice?

Some ice and tundra cities can actually become quite productive with a little work, and settling on an ice or desert tile is useful because the city tile will always generate 2 1 and 1

 

[Crusher1]

Disable those circles. The Computer is crazy.

 

[troytheface]

"If you see a blue circle suggesting a better spot ignore it."

from "Attacko's Strategy Guide"

the programmers try to trick the player with bad advice unconsciously. human nature to win, and those entrusted to program the advice may even have a more personal dislike for mankind.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Programmer's don't have a personal dislike for mankind, although I have met many with an irrational fear of womankind.

 

[henrebotha]

I often find the blue circles agreeing with my choice in city location, but it's because I always try to fit as many resources as possible into the BFC. If the blue circle disagrees with me by like 1 tile, I consider it and sometimes move my Settler to the recommended spot.

I find the AI tech recommendations to be poor choices because they (seem to) prioritise a balanced empire rather than a specialised one; yet most people here agree that specialisation, as a general strategy, is stronger than a jack-of-all-trades approach.

Programmer's don't have a personal dislike for mankind, although I have met many with an irrational fear of womankind.

No no, it's the other way around, see.

 

[semirami]

AI reccomendations are incredibly stupid!!! In my current game I am in the last stage of space race competition, just researched Fusion. Right now the AI recommends:

Research Archery(recommended military)
Research Divine right(recommended religion)

No comment!!!

 

[Deckhand]

Research Archery(recommended military)
Research Divine right(recommended religion)

BUILD CITY WALLS!!!!!!!!! (civ II advisor)