The Deity Challenge

[Steve Clark]

From Soren's interview

Deity Challenge: "Right now, no one at Firaxis can beat the AI at Deity level, though we certainly expect players to find ways to do so within a few months of the game being released."

Reminds me of the anecdote when Civ2 was first released. Brian, either in the manual or in an interview, said he really believes that no one can Civ2 at Deity, at least on a regular basis. This was from Brian! Not have hundreds (if not thousands) of civers beat Civ2 at deity, but even with just building one city (or in the case of a few, one very small city)!

I wondered if Firaxis has become so enamored with the art work that they lost focus on building a better AI?

[Sarxis]

I don't think so for CivIII- I think the artwork took second place to AI this time. I just have a feeling...

But could this be too good to be true?

[connorkimbro]

or in the case of a few, one very small city

Or diety, raging hords, small map, 7 civs, a single size 1 city located on the polar ice cap. I'm a mediocre player at best, and even I managed that. ya just gotta know how the game works. .

yes, we will beat deity pretty quick. i'd say, WAY sooner than a few months, no matter how good the AI is.

[Father Beast]

Re: The Deity Challenge

Originally posted by Steve Clark



Reminds me of the anecdote when Civ2 was first released. Brian, either in the manual or in an interview, said he really believes that no one can Civ2 at Deity, at least on a regular basis. This was from Brian! Not have hundreds (if not thousands) of civers beat Civ2 at deity, but even with just building one city (or in the case of a few, one very small city)!

I don't know about an interview, but the civ1 manual casually predicted that emperor level could be beaten, but not consistently. in the civ2 manual, they recanted that and just described deity as beng for those who "Like their civ REALLY mean".

[Shadowstrike]

All right, who's up for a few rounds of Civ3 OCC? Actually, I probably won't be able to do that.... I'm still one of those Prince/King players.

[Crouchback]

If they've truly beaten the ICS flaw then I don't know, cause that's the only way I ever won in Civ 2 at Deity. It sounds like they are taking less time over the eye candy and cool features from this interview, and putting real time into the AI. So that's a whole leap forward from CTP2 right there. Beat that AI on my third game at "Impossible".

David

[SteveJH]

Nothing wrong with playing at King. I've never been able to beat Diety without imploying some cheap strategy like ICS.

[Pembleton]

Originally posted by SteveJH
I've never been able to beat Diety without imploying some cheap strategy like ICS.

You know what could be funny? If no-one was able to beat Deity.

Then would the complaints about easy AI go away?

No, they would just complain that the AI has such a huge advantage that it is just mathematically impossible.

For example, you can't beat a competent opponent in chess if you have nothing but pawns and your king vs. them having all of their pieces. So basically, no-one will stop complaining about the AI. It's a no-win situation until the far future when AI technology comes closer to emulating human-like decision making.

[Jason Beaudoin]

I think that was a "drop the gloves" type of chalange.

YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?!!!

[Provost Harrison]

I will work my way up to that level, but for starting, I will just try with a mediocre level, Prince or King. I want to get to grips with the game and it's mechanics first before I start having to work hard and use my skill and knowledge of the game to be able to win...without the latter two, I will be buggered, plain and simple

[Steve Clark]

Why don't you tell the truth, PH? You're just buying time until we come up with some good strategies in the Civ3-Strategy Forum. And then after copying other civer's successes, you will brag that you will have figured how to beat the AI at deity.

[Mars]

i'm going to start on price and then move up to emperor and then deity. And i might play a game at cheiftain just to see how stupid the AI is that low, it always amuses me

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Steve Clark
Why don't you tell the truth, PH? You're just buying time until we come up with some good strategies in the Civ3-Strategy Forum. And then after copying other civer's successes, you will brag that you will have figured how to beat the AI at deity.

Well I managed to thrash civ and civ2 long before Apolyton existed and I had web access, so I will do just fine with civ3 thanks

Seriously though, I want my first game to be relaxing. I will be trying to figure out what I am doing with culture and resources in the first game and getting the balance just right without having to deal with impetuous AI players...

[Steve Clark]

You know I'm teasing. That'll be my approach too. Except that I won't be using the gimmicky unique units/golden ages stuff. I'll just start on a normal map with 7 civs because just learning about the resources/colonies, diplomacy and culture will be more than enough for the first game.

Which reminds me, there WILL be an in-depth tutorial, right????

[Provost Harrison]

Yeah, I would expect tutorials in there, but usually I get so eager that I just end up skipping the tutorials and diving straight in. I will definitely play with all the bells and whistles turned on though, unique units and civ attributes and the like...