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Locarnus -> RE: Giving the AI some life (6/14/2011 6:48:57 PM)
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Since this is the first best thread about AI I found, I ll post here.
I got bored with my empire (because I already got all the 3 super rares, so I trade with everyone and make absurd sums of money, as well as having 4 times the systems of the next best empire).
So since the AI empires are at war (about 5 to 10 war relations at all times), I figured I could check how the AI wages war against the AI, just out of curiosity.
I deployed an explorer with long range scanners and collectors in every disputed system, so that I have nearly complete coverage of the fighting.
Some things I found, that would greatly increase the AI effectiveness at fighting:
1. Concentration of firepower
1a. Attack on worlds
The attacker jumps in with enough ships. But instead of focusing the firepower, often 10 of the 20 ships wander around attacking freighters when the other 10 are already fighting the starbases.
Concentration of fire decreases fire against you...
A group of ships fighting against an equal group wins, if it concetrates its fire and the other one doesnt.
1b. The same logic applies, when defending forces jump in.
Those forces arrive often in small numbers at a time.
It reminds you of this Wing Commander movie. When they jump in one at a time, they face the full armament of the invasion fleet, so they are destroyed having no effect at all for the defender...
Fleets have to be engaged with fleets, not single ships.
2. Strategic raids
Those need to be much more common. The AI should jump in with small detachments (eg 5 ships) and then attack mining stations. If too powerful defenders show up, just retreat instead of being smashed.
If the defence is too strong it should then select another system for the next hunting, or come back with more ships.
Also those raids should commence preferably at different ends of the defenders empire, to spread the forces.
The last point would also give a much needed nerf to far flung empires. If there are 2 empires, one having 10 systems, the other one having 2 close together, with the same econ and military power, the empire with 2 should be much safer than the 10 system empire. This simple logic is only implemented if raids are implemented in the way described above.
That would also hinder the massive expansion which is doable right now.
When this is in the game, far flung empires should be seen as militarily weaker as well, it should reflect in the miliary rating, provoking attacks like a paper tiger.
3. Military rating
Their need to be a better measurement of military rating. Firepower is bad for it.
Military tonnage is not applicable because of the immense tech differences.
As a simple way the military tonnage could be counted, differentiated between mobile and immoblie assets, multiplied with some tech level (based uppon the techs relevant for fighting).
Each design shows this military tech level, it could be a simple number.
So a starting tech frigate has the tech level 1(.)00 (shown as 100, means 1.00 - basic index) and military components adding up to 140 size.
It would thus add 140 to the military rating.
A later frigate has 140 worth of directly military relevant components, but an additional targeting computer (the + 10% thing). Its military tech level should then go up eg to 105 or something like that.
This frigate would add 147 to the military rating.
Better shields are handled in the same way, by increasing the military tech level (eg shield 100 to 120 - increase mil tech level from 105 to 115 or so, that would need some balancing but not too problematic if a number is somewhat off its an easy fix and doesnt cause too much imbalance).
A space port with size 300 military components and tech level 100 is immobile, it would eg only add 100 to the military rating.
Military components on freighters and other installations should also be discounted, depending on their relevance (gas mining stations are very relevant, a lonely shield on a freighter maybe isnt worth as much as another shield on one of those mining stations).
When an invasion fleet is on its way, the AI would calculate a score based on the above, assemble a fleet, then jump in and concentrate its firepower.
And the results would be much different from what its now.
Now I can jump in with 4 ships having 75 firepower each, total 300. And if the AI would answer that with 500 firepower, they would still lose, cause my ships have maybe 3 times their shield strength unaccounted for.
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