This is basically what you need to know about the changes to various handicaps and settings in BTS, along with some of the abilities of the AI which changes the way the game plays.
HEALTH AND HAPPY CAPS
Health and Happy caps are now much lower at easier difficulty levels and slightly higher at higher difficulties, now every difficulty level above Chieftain has the same health and happy cap, the same as old Monarch.
REDUCTIONS IN AI BONUSES
The AI no longer receives massive discounts on Unit Supply (units outside territory), Unit Upgrades, Inflation and War-Weariness.
Unit Supply: Used to range from 10% (Deity) to 50% (Settler), now 50% at every difficulty level.
Unit Upgrades: Used to range from 5% (Deity) to 45% (Settler), now 50% at every difficulty.
Inflation: Used to range from 20% (Deity) to 100% (Settler), now 80% at every difficulty above Chieftain.
War-Weariness: Used to range from 20% (Deity) to 100% (Settler), now 80% at every difficultly above Chieftain.
Barb Combat Bonus: Now only +25% vs barbs (was +40%) and +40% vs Animals (was +70%)
Free Units: All difficulty levels receive 1 less free worker (if they got any), Prince has had the free scout taken away.
MAJOR CHANGES IN HOW THE AI PLAYS
The AI can effectively utilize the economic aspects of technologies like Biology, Communism, Assembly Line and Railroad. It no longer suffers an "Industrial Collapse".
The AI can expand effectively on watery maps.
The AI can effectively utilize all of ground, naval and air power in warfare.
The AI will aggressively stockpile and use nuclear weapons.
BARBARIANS AND THE RAGING BARBARIANS SETTING:
Barbarians spawn more aggressively on watery maps, Raging Barbarians is less of a toothless setting on watery maps.
THE AGGRESSIVE AI SETTING:
The Aggressive AI no longer has a relationship penalty with Human players - at higher difficulties humans are still tempting targets due to lower power, but you can use the usual diplomacy tools.
The Aggressive AI takes military seriously, good luck catching it with it's pants down. It will launch attacks which will leave you needing new pants. A player probably wont survive a dogpile by two Aggressive AI's.
Aggressive AI is not a toothless setting on watery maps, it will launch more credible naval invasions.
In general it's easier to win using peaceful strategies against aggressive AI (vs non-Aggressive AI), IF you can stay safe through diplomacy.
HEALTH AND HAPPY CAPS
Health and Happy caps are now much lower at easier difficulty levels and slightly higher at higher difficulties, now every difficulty level above Chieftain has the same health and happy cap, the same as old Monarch.
REDUCTIONS IN AI BONUSES
The AI no longer receives massive discounts on Unit Supply (units outside territory), Unit Upgrades, Inflation and War-Weariness.
Unit Supply: Used to range from 10% (Deity) to 50% (Settler), now 50% at every difficulty level.
Unit Upgrades: Used to range from 5% (Deity) to 45% (Settler), now 50% at every difficulty.
Inflation: Used to range from 20% (Deity) to 100% (Settler), now 80% at every difficulty above Chieftain.
War-Weariness: Used to range from 20% (Deity) to 100% (Settler), now 80% at every difficultly above Chieftain.
Barb Combat Bonus: Now only +25% vs barbs (was +40%) and +40% vs Animals (was +70%)
Free Units: All difficulty levels receive 1 less free worker (if they got any), Prince has had the free scout taken away.
MAJOR CHANGES IN HOW THE AI PLAYS
The AI can effectively utilize the economic aspects of technologies like Biology, Communism, Assembly Line and Railroad. It no longer suffers an "Industrial Collapse".
The AI can expand effectively on watery maps.
The AI can effectively utilize all of ground, naval and air power in warfare.
The AI will aggressively stockpile and use nuclear weapons.
BARBARIANS AND THE RAGING BARBARIANS SETTING:
Barbarians spawn more aggressively on watery maps, Raging Barbarians is less of a toothless setting on watery maps.
THE AGGRESSIVE AI SETTING:
The Aggressive AI no longer has a relationship penalty with Human players - at higher difficulties humans are still tempting targets due to lower power, but you can use the usual diplomacy tools.
The Aggressive AI takes military seriously, good luck catching it with it's pants down. It will launch attacks which will leave you needing new pants. A player probably wont survive a dogpile by two Aggressive AI's.
Aggressive AI is not a toothless setting on watery maps, it will launch more credible naval invasions.
In general it's easier to win using peaceful strategies against aggressive AI (vs non-Aggressive AI), IF you can stay safe through diplomacy.
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