Hmmm, well this sucks

[chuckdelicious]

I've started 3 games with the new patch, just to see what's what. Playing prince, huge, marathon, 15 civs and continents. This keeps happening to me when I meet civs from the other continent. I'm even or so with the ai on my side of the ocean, but those guys on the other side are just destroying us. Previously, I'd always find the civs on the other continent WAY behind in techs, but now, just the opposite.

[chuckdelicious]

As another oddity, here's my starting position from the same game. Mehmed II also spawned about 8 squares to my right, but across a few ocean tiles. I'm on a peninsula.

[Jaybe]

It's all Blake's fault (particularly re post#1)!

I'm normally a Noble player, could have advanced to Prince. With the patch, I'll try one more game at Noble before I fall back to Warlord difficulty.

[Solver]

Yep, the more advanced techs are certainly Blake's fault. The AI is MUCH better at running its economy now, as a consequence, it's much more likely to outtech you. I've experienced the same.

[Harrier UK]

Originally posted by Solver
Yep, the more advanced techs are certainly Blake's fault. The AI is MUCH better at running its economy now, as a consequence, it's much more likely to outtech you. I've experienced the same.

I am experiencing similar problems.

If this appears to be a general trait - maybe Firaxis should consider reducing the AI bonuses, if a second patch is produced in a few months time. Particularly if they include anymore AI improvements from Blake. As I am sure he is still refining the current ones and considering others.

[Dactyl]

Given that the AI is now better at running its economy, and gets ahead on tech, what's a good strategy? I play on Monarch difficulty at Epic speed, and I have been able to hold my own in the past, but I'm getting overwhelmed early on, finding myself with four or five cities and way behind in techs by mid-game.

I tried an early rush, but they're now more difficulty. The AI seems more inclined now to build its cities on hills, and it seems like it's more difficult to take cities. This is just a subjective impression at this point, but I'm finding that I need more units to take a city.

[Nubclear]

Hmm. I suppose that explains why I'm finding Noble so difficult again

[chuckdelicious]

Well, I wouldn't be upset if some of the ai opponents on MY continent started to get ahead of me. It's the fact that ONLY the civs on the other continent are getting ahead that's weird.

[Solver]

The AI research bonuses aren't really noticeable too much until Monarch. Play on Noble if you don't want them, the AI will then not get the bonuses, but still be smart enough .

Chuck, really, it has its reasons. Most AIs are researching faster than you. The AIs on the other continent are in contact with one another and trading actively, which increases their relative tech lead. The AI on your continent can only trade with you, making it relatively weaker. Plus, of course, it's entirely possible that it has poor land or something.

[Anath]

So, what's the problem then? If you have to lower the difficulty to manage then do so and get used to the new AI and then try to kick it up a notch again.

Surely you cannot be upset 'cause you can't beat the AI the same way you've always done? Just calls for more creativity and new strats

[Diadem]

It entirely depends on the situation, but it can happen often enough that one continent is significantly more advanced then another.

If one continent has Monty and / or a few religious nutcracks that end up with different religions ... that continent will see a lot of war, which will slow growth. Meanwhile the other continent may see only one religion founded, and life happily while trading their techs.

Sometimes when I'm playing on a low level I do this on purpose, to give myself a challenge. I found all religions except one, and conquer my own continent. Then I can play me vs. the rest

[chuckdelicious]

Originally posted by Solver
The AI on your continent can only trade with you, making it relatively weaker.

Huh? The ai can't trade with each other after they've met the human player? That's odd and just, well, bad coding.

Anyways, it's possible that I'm just running with a bunch of godless, non-researching civs. I'll try a few more times before I get crazy.

[Thedrin]

Huh? The ai can't trade with each other after they've met the human player?

No. Assume there are two continents. The civs on both continents trade amongst each other and are hindered by 1) the slowest techer and 2) human trading.

1) It may be the case that without the AI bonuses you are researching slower than the civs on your continent which hinders the overall technological progression of your continent.
2) If you choose to trade technologies only half of the times that you could this would see the rate at which civs on your continent progressed further hindered.

The other continent doesn't suffer any of these problems.

[Senethro]

Originally posted by chuckdelicious


Huh? The ai can't trade with each other after they've met the human player? That's odd and just, well, bad coding.

Anyways, it's possible that I'm just running with a bunch of godless, non-researching civs. I'll try a few more times before I get crazy.

Thats odd and just, well, bad reading comprehension.

Theres no real way around this. The AI is just much better at the game now. You should probably build more cottages.

[Ennet]

Well how is the religions spread? If the AIs on your continents are on bad terms with eachother that will slow them down. So will poor land, or a specific Japanese Isolationist..