What is more difficult?

[-Jrabbit]

I'm probably in the averae/casual gamer category. Heavy Civ2 player, ignored 3. Started playing IV in late 2008 and mostly play in the Ming/rah group (Friday edition).

I just got my own copy and started playing SP regularly a few months ago. so I'm probably in the "average player" group -- a lot of interest and a little gaming ability, but not as experienced or obsessive as some of you big dogs.

My SP experience: Started at Noble, kicked butt pretty consistently. Went to Agg AI, still Noble, and it was closer to my MP experience -- just more emphasis on being competitive in military. I lost more often, but adjusted. Not a big problem.

So then I went to Prince, Agg AI. Started getting my butt kicked regularly. I started doing better, but this setting is still a challenge to me.

Here's the key thing: After reading this thread, I decided to try a couple games at Prince with NO Agg AI. Both games, I'm totally kicking butt, even with Civs I don't especially care for.

So in my (very limited) little world, the Agg AI does increase difficulty. FWIW.

All games: no tech trading/no brokering/no vassal states.

[rah]

There is lots of debate on the impact of no tech trading so while I agree with your assessment and have stated so many times here, I don't think we're going to convince some of those that think otherwise.

[-Jrabbit]

Just my own limited experience -- Agg AI does make it tougher for me personally. You guys are arguing about playing levels I haven't tried yet...

[One_more_turn]

Aggressive AI on large continent maps is easier as the AI overexpands and falls back technologically.

[Ming]

I guess it depends on what AI's are in the game. If you have one or two tech AI's in the game, they will outpace the rest and be killer later on. I just played a game where William was limited to 6 cities, and he was out teching everybody and holding his own against me.

[Theben]

On non-agg AI if you out-tech the AIs there's nothing stopping you from staying there, unless you've totally ignored your military. Granted that may not be easy at Immortal or higher, but it's definitely possible Emperor or less.

[Theben]

I just played a game where William was limited to 6 cities, and he was out teching everybody and holding his own against me.

William can be a real pain. In our current MP game he's outteching everyone and beating us to the late game wonders.

It helps that everyone else around him is fighting each other, and that he has the most widespread shrine in the game.

[Ming]

Yeah... in the game I was talking about, everybody was at war with somebody, except him. And everybody but me was Friendly with him. I still don't get that... with everybody at war with each other, how can he not be getting requests from everybody to stop trading or go to war with somebody... I'm getting a request every other turn.

[rah]

I'm wondering if they take a diplo hit when they refuse. Considering all the dogpiles I've seen, I have to assume that they ask each other.

[Garth Vader]

They probably know when their target will refuse and not ask if they will. It's like when the options is not available for you to ask the AI for something.

[rah]

Yeah, that would make sense.

[Ming]

They probably know when their target will refuse and not ask if they will. It's like when the options is not available for you to ask the AI for something.

That never stops some civ from asking me to attack or stop trading with somebody I'm pleased or friendly with

[rah]

Hmm, i think the goal of the system is to screw with the humans and not the AI.

[Ming]

It sure seems that way... My last game, the four remaining Civs were all different religions, I was in Free Religion, and they were all friendly with each other, and causious or pissed with me

You gotta love it...

[rah]

I think playing aggressive AI adds to that a bit, since there are probably more opportunities for the AIs to ask you to join in wars and such.