Difficulty levels and the AI

[Jawa Jocky]

Have the difficulty levels changed?

I tried to play a normal random C3C game but I couldn't get into it. I was starting to think I had wasted $, but I decided I needed to play a Conquest before I started lamenting my purchase. My 1st Conquest was such a great experience that my interest in CIV has returned. In fact, I don't ever remember being happier with CIV3.

I decide on the Mesopotamia conquest because 'it was the first on the list'. This is a great "builders" scenario I played on Monarch and achieved a Wonder Victory after about 5 hours. My only complaint was that it was too easy.

This experience has raised a few questions that I was hoping others might have answers for.


With the additional difficultly levels added to the game, were the old levels tweaked or changed?

Do the scenarios have traits that make them easier/harder compared to the standard game?

Has anyone experimented with the AI aggressiveness yet?

[nuther]

I dont think the difficulty has changed, but i think the priorities have changed as far as ancient age techs go. I think you might need a more balanced approach as far as the ancient age goes. I tried all weekend to get a good REX goin on Emporer level. Every time I tried to expand quickly, I ended up getting attacked. This was all with "normal" aggression.

Last night I dropped down to monarch, but I increased ai aggression to max. This time I got my civ off the ground after paying closer attention to the tech tree. I acquired the seven basic techs through research and trade before advancing. Trade seems different, you dont often get multiple techs per trade and the ai does not give up a monoploy or certain techs too easily.

I got attacked a bit late, but I had more troops on hand to deal with it.

Archers are important now. Warriors dont cut it, and I think the upgrade sword rush is gone. You need a few spears and archers now. Catapults dont hurt either. I think the ai goes for math more quickly now.

[Brundlefly]

It would be nice to at least see something from Firaxis about the specifics of the AI bonus on new levels, Demigod & Sid. Maybe we'll have to pay $15 for c3c strategy guide to see that info?

I haven't noticed any difference in Emperor level, which is the lowest level I play now.

If you are finishing Monarch games so quickly, why not just play a higher difficulty level? I like to play as builder, too. I know that you have to be more of a warmonger the higher in difficulty you play, but it is still enjoyable.

[nuther]

I'm going easy just to get a complete game in. I want to test a few new things, and I dont want the "hassle" of an actually challenge to impede my experiments.

[alexman]

Originally posted by Feephi
Maybe we'll have to pay $15 for c3c strategy guide to see that info?

A better (and more reliable) way would be to check for yourself using the editor...

[MrWhereItsAt]

Or to read the strat guide that is on the free bonus CD< if you have it...

[Kaos XIII]

In the different Conquests, the scenarios definately seem easier. Monarch was challenging to me pre-C3C, but it was way too easy in the Conquests.

I haven't played the Epic game enough to compare.

[WarpStorm]

Sid:

[WarpStorm]

Demigod: