I would agree that the AI is extremely "stupid" in terms of what a strategically sound choice by a human player would be.
Yes, the AI is much improved over vanilla: they expand more effectively, and when attacked can very often mount some limited form of defensive counter-attack, fielding one or two dragoons. That is something they never did before. Never. I've even seen an enemy dragoon darting out in the early game, when I attack a nearby competitor on or shortly after turn 21.
The AI also seems far more aggressive with scouts, who will often attack my scouts if they're at war - something I don't ever recall seeing before. I've also seen roving dragoons out killing my scouts, though rarely more than 4-5 squares from an enemy city.
However, amongst the stupid things the AI will do are:
- resettle in exactly the same place a few turns after their cities have been razed.
- keep moving defenceless pioneers and missionaries into harm's way, even though we are already at war and my military units *must* be within their visibility range.
- refrain from counterattacking with a garrisoned infantry unit when my lone dragoon has been seriously wounded and is sitting there totally vulnerable next to the city.
The AI still has no idea how to concentrate forces to make an effective defence, and even less idea how to project power and actually attack my cities. Colonization 1 often saw enemy units on my doorstep, threatening my cities, or even conquering them. Why this never happens *now* is really beyond me.
Sadly, I have no concrete suggestions to offer, and no idea how to modify the AI. I appreciate the few things that Dale has been able to tweak, but I hope that in future builds of the mod the AI nations can somehow be strengthened, to make them more dangerous adversaries.
Cheers, --- Wheldrake