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The Problem:
While the AI’s research priorities are not terrible, there is some room for improvement, and they are certainly predictable. As an example of a better research choice, the AI could benefit from researching Scientific Method at a higher priority. But the real problem is that the human can bet on the fact that the AI is very likely to research certain technologies (e.g. Bronze Working) so that he can research other technologies left by the AI until late in the era (e.g. Polytheism), in order to get maximum trade value from his research.
The good news is that it’s possible to use the editor to make the AI emphasize different technologies than it already does. And now, in C3C, it’s possible to use flavors to influence different civilizations to research different technologies. This not only can encourage AI civilizations to take better advantage of their traits, it can also make the AI less predictable in its research.
Possible Solutions
The PTW version of the AU mod used technology properties of prerequisites in order to increase the AI value of Code of Laws, Literature, Republic, Electricity, Atomic Theory, Radio, Nuclear Power, Electricity, Polytheism, and Medicine.
For C3C, as a start, I suggest the use of prerequisite properties (e.g. giving military alliances to the Republic) and flavors to increase the value of these technologies:
Literature, Republic, Currency, Engineering, Medicine, Electricity, Scientific Method, Atomic Theory, Electronics, Sanitation, Fission, Ecology
Technologies that require a decrease in AI value might be:
Replaceable parts, Communism, Fascism, Espionage
In addition, we can use flavors to make the AI diversify its research, and take advantage of its traits:
Scientific flavor: All scientific civilizations. Beelining for Literature in Ancient age, and for Education in Medieval Age. Scientific flavor techs:
- Alphabet
- Writing
- Literature
- Monotheism
- Theology
- Education
- Computers
Religious Flavor: All Religious civilizations. Beeline for Monarchy in Ancient Age, since with Ceremonial Burial they need one fewer tech to reach it, and they can quickly switch out of it once they eventually obtain the Republic. Give the Oracle a Religious flavor so other civs don't go after it so eagerly. Beeline for Theology in Medieval Age. Religious flavor techs:
- Mysticism
- Polytheism
- Monarchy
- Monotheism
- Theology
Religious flavor building:
- The Oracle
Seafaring Flavor: All Seafaring civs. Aim for techs that allow new ships and coastal installations. Seafaring flavor techs:
- Writing
- Pottery
- Map Making
- Monotheism
- Theology
- Education
- Astronomy
- Navigation
- Magnetism
- Steam Power
- Ironclads
- Mass Production
- Computers
- Miniaturization
Militaristic Flavor: All militaristic civs. Emphasize Chivalry and beeline for Military Tradition. Flight for cheap airports. Map Making is already a high AI priority, and so are the techs that allow ancient units. Militaristic flavor techs:
- Feudalism
- Chivalry
- Engineering
- Invention
- Gunpowder
- Chemistry
- Metallurgy
- Mil. Tradition
- Flight
- Ecology
- Synthetic Fibers
Generic Flavor: Since we can't make techs and buildings more valuable, the thing to do would be to create a 'generic' flavor, which would be assigned to every civ that doesn't have any of the other flavors. This flavor would also be assigned to all techs, even those that already have an assigned flavor. The relationship of the generic flavor to all other flavors, including itself should be 50%. If all techs have 50% less value, they will all actually have the same chance of being researched as before, so that makes it possible to give non-generic flavor techs an extra value (anything above 50%) to non-generic flavor civs.
High Priority Flavor
Sometimes, the prerequisite property approach is not enough to make the AI emphasize a technology or branch enough. We can use this ‘high priority’ flavor, which will have a higher relationship than 50% to all other flavors, and will be used instead of the ‘generic’ flavor for technologies that we deem necessary for an AI value increase.
Low Priority Flavor
Similarly, we can use a ‘low priority’ flavor, which will have a lower relationship than 50% to all other flavors, and will be used instead of the ‘generic’ flavor for technologies that we deem necessary for an AI value reduction.
Please comment on the above, and provide your own ideas or areas where the AI research choices need improvement!
While the AI’s research priorities are not terrible, there is some room for improvement, and they are certainly predictable. As an example of a better research choice, the AI could benefit from researching Scientific Method at a higher priority. But the real problem is that the human can bet on the fact that the AI is very likely to research certain technologies (e.g. Bronze Working) so that he can research other technologies left by the AI until late in the era (e.g. Polytheism), in order to get maximum trade value from his research.
The good news is that it’s possible to use the editor to make the AI emphasize different technologies than it already does. And now, in C3C, it’s possible to use flavors to influence different civilizations to research different technologies. This not only can encourage AI civilizations to take better advantage of their traits, it can also make the AI less predictable in its research.
Possible Solutions
The PTW version of the AU mod used technology properties of prerequisites in order to increase the AI value of Code of Laws, Literature, Republic, Electricity, Atomic Theory, Radio, Nuclear Power, Electricity, Polytheism, and Medicine.
For C3C, as a start, I suggest the use of prerequisite properties (e.g. giving military alliances to the Republic) and flavors to increase the value of these technologies:
Literature, Republic, Currency, Engineering, Medicine, Electricity, Scientific Method, Atomic Theory, Electronics, Sanitation, Fission, Ecology
Technologies that require a decrease in AI value might be:
Replaceable parts, Communism, Fascism, Espionage
In addition, we can use flavors to make the AI diversify its research, and take advantage of its traits:
Scientific flavor: All scientific civilizations. Beelining for Literature in Ancient age, and for Education in Medieval Age. Scientific flavor techs:
- Alphabet
- Writing
- Literature
- Monotheism
- Theology
- Education
- Computers
Religious Flavor: All Religious civilizations. Beeline for Monarchy in Ancient Age, since with Ceremonial Burial they need one fewer tech to reach it, and they can quickly switch out of it once they eventually obtain the Republic. Give the Oracle a Religious flavor so other civs don't go after it so eagerly. Beeline for Theology in Medieval Age. Religious flavor techs:
- Mysticism
- Polytheism
- Monarchy
- Monotheism
- Theology
Religious flavor building:
- The Oracle
Seafaring Flavor: All Seafaring civs. Aim for techs that allow new ships and coastal installations. Seafaring flavor techs:
- Writing
- Pottery
- Map Making
- Monotheism
- Theology
- Education
- Astronomy
- Navigation
- Magnetism
- Steam Power
- Ironclads
- Mass Production
- Computers
- Miniaturization
Militaristic Flavor: All militaristic civs. Emphasize Chivalry and beeline for Military Tradition. Flight for cheap airports. Map Making is already a high AI priority, and so are the techs that allow ancient units. Militaristic flavor techs:
- Feudalism
- Chivalry
- Engineering
- Invention
- Gunpowder
- Chemistry
- Metallurgy
- Mil. Tradition
- Flight
- Ecology
- Synthetic Fibers
Generic Flavor: Since we can't make techs and buildings more valuable, the thing to do would be to create a 'generic' flavor, which would be assigned to every civ that doesn't have any of the other flavors. This flavor would also be assigned to all techs, even those that already have an assigned flavor. The relationship of the generic flavor to all other flavors, including itself should be 50%. If all techs have 50% less value, they will all actually have the same chance of being researched as before, so that makes it possible to give non-generic flavor techs an extra value (anything above 50%) to non-generic flavor civs.
High Priority Flavor
Sometimes, the prerequisite property approach is not enough to make the AI emphasize a technology or branch enough. We can use this ‘high priority’ flavor, which will have a higher relationship than 50% to all other flavors, and will be used instead of the ‘generic’ flavor for technologies that we deem necessary for an AI value increase.
Low Priority Flavor
Similarly, we can use a ‘low priority’ flavor, which will have a lower relationship than 50% to all other flavors, and will be used instead of the ‘generic’ flavor for technologies that we deem necessary for an AI value reduction.
Please comment on the above, and provide your own ideas or areas where the AI research choices need improvement!
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