[.98] [Gameplay] Despairingly non-aggressive AI - game not worth playing

from Elemental Forums

Maybe I've been unlucky or missing something, or maybe it's not for beta version, but during most of my Elemental games I simply stop playing quite early out of boredom due to - so it seems to me - incredibly poor AI : my territory has never been attacked except by NPCs.

I think the following counts as a bug :

This is early game, hard level : I am at war with the guy, my capital is totally empty, he's standing just next to it and goes away. Reloaded many times and always same behavior.

Screenshot : http://www.screencast.com/users/Gavagai/folders/Jing/media/a652b18e-4a15-4443-99ea-fe69e12dd7a1

Savegame : http://rapidshare.com/files/410185113/POOR_AI_1b.EleSav

In previous Beta versions I was already so sad that Carrodus and its 46 attack would never ever declare war on me when we were neighbours ; but this here tops everything.

At this stage, I have 3 cities and he has 0 ; does that confuse him into evaluating I'm more powerful than him and he shouldn't attack ? But I've already declared war, he has no remaining city, so what has he to lose ?

3,285 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

yeah the AI still has a way to go, however it has gotten better. i had the AI rip into me, but it had built a huge powerbase up. i probably would have totally been destroyed had i not found that dragon to defend my other city.  i would say the AI is getting there, but will be improved quite a bit before release.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I agree that the AI still needs lots of work (both for tactical battles, strategy and diplomacy) but the main issue I'm seeing right now is the ridiculous cheating that the AI is doing when set to harder levels.

Giving every AI controlled city an instant +100 to gold income / prestige / etc just makes the game more tedious than fun.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

At this stage, I have 3 cities and he has 0 ; does that confuse him into evaluating I'm more powerful than him and he shouldn't attack ?
End of quote

Probably something to that effect. Personally I've had the AI declare war on me and start invading if I get a bad spot and they're able to box me in with a larger number of cities.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Right now I agree the ai is unable to do anything worhtwhile.

It needs to learn and be aggressive, needs to learn tactics too.

But give Brad some time to code it.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Agree on aggressive.  I tend to walk over the other kings in the first 50-100 turns.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

"But I am not afraid of the Stardock AI."

 

"You will be. You.Will.Be."

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Same things where said on Sins AI and now, it's one of the best AI I have played against. Definitly with all the additions that game has it all. I have no doubt this one will follow suite.