Oddities of Civ 3

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by bongo
When an enemy city flips over to your side, do the enemy get mad at you?

If you mean will they contact you and say something, no. I have not checked their status at the time, but I have not noticed any problems with flipping.

[Sovereign]

Ahh thanks for all your feedback, guys!


I have only one more question.


Is it possible for me to update my current saved games with new Editor rules?

Suppose I have a game at 500 AD with Americans, with my current Editor rules, then I want to change the rules again if I want to enhance the AI, or increase food to make mega-polises like the one in this screenshot.


Is updating or editing the current game rules possible at all?

[Theseus]

No can do. What graphics mod is that?

[WarpStorm]

Looks like SnOOPy's terrain with GenghisFarb's Urban Sprawl.

[Sovereign]

All right Thesus...


For a good challenge, what should I set the AI difficulty level at?


Suppose I want to play at Cheiftain level, then what should I set the AI Difficulty level at in the Editor to get the most ruthless AI?


Cheftain Game level.
AI Difficulty = Deity
AI = super tough


OR


Cheftain game level
AI difficulty = cheiftain
AI = super tough?


Refer to my earlier posts about this.

NotYouEither got me confused on this. I could use some clarification on this so I can re-make my games to be ideal, rather than restarting 5, 10, 20 times over.


Thanks again!

[muxec]

2. Surprised miltary advisor when you try to disband.
Surprised trade advisor when rival break the deal.

[Theseus]

First, it's my guess that you're not getting luxuries early enough. I find that when I have an empire of 8-12 cities, all <7 pop, I still want to have 3 lux hooked up.

In terms of difficulty, I would first say just try to play Regent and Monarch until you are firmly in control of gameplay mechanics and strategies. Once you've gotten that far, I find that typically Emporer is the most balanced challenge for an experienced player.

That being said, I very much agree with your efforts to improve the AI's performance. There's been LOTS of discussion re this topic, including having gotten some input from Soren.

There are 4 primary drivers:

1) AI difficulty: The AI gets the most benefits if set to Chieftain. The details are somewhere around here...

2) Starting environment: Create an unbalanced environment, and some of the AIs will benefit greatly (and others suffer). This creates a feedback loop, so the strong get stronger.

3) Build preferences: We've been experimenting with this in the AU Mod. Still trying to figure it out.

4) Gov't preferences: Still an open question what this actually does to AI performance.

5) Distance between civs: Soren indicated that AI civs perform better given a little time to develop their cities (but not so distant that they are isolated from tech trading).

Again, try moving up the difficulty levels... a ruthless AI played at Chieftain is probably still gonna be toothless.

[Level]

The AI difficulty level is what level the AI plays on so:

AI difficulty = cheiftain
Easy for the AI not you

AI Difficulty = Deity
Hard for the AI not you

[Sovereign]

Thanks so much guys!

Now I can go try fixing up the AI to make it better!


I think the AI is way better than Civ 1 and 2, hell even SMAC. I want to refine the AI to make it a worthwhile enemy, that actually makes it to Modern Ages, attack me with battleships and tanks, and maybe even nukes!


I have yet to see that from the AI, so hopefully making things easier for the AI may encourage him / her to grow fast like I do, and then have some "real" competition for a change!


I already have a couple of ideas how to make the AI stronger. Reduce the food consumption of citizens to 1, from 2. That way the AI can get cities quickly, and alleviate its constant size 1 - 3 city status from workers and whatnot.

Second, I modified the science rate to a maximum of 1 turn per discovery like in Civ 2 and SMAC. The AI can have good tech'ing and with plenty of settler diahhrea, city diahrrea, then just maybe he can at least have some semblance of tech research, rather than "discoveries every 30 turns".


Where can I find these AI threads so I can get some additional insight and ideas how to make a worthy adversary?


Again, you guys are a huge help! Thanks a million!

[Theseus]

Look in the Strategy forum.

Again, I wouldn't focus too much on making a great AI on the lower levels.

I suggest this thread:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58720

And this one (check "The keys to AI greatness):

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59216&highlight=must+read+threads+new+players

[Sovereign]

Thanks again Thesus! I appreciate all your help, and I'll let you know how I fare.

[Catt]

A further word on the "AI Difficulty Level" dropdown in the editor. This feature sets the "difficulty" level factors that apply to humans when they select their own difficulty level - it will not create a "smarter" or "dumber" AI.

What are the various "difficulty level factors"? Barbarian combat advantages, number of happy citizens born content, good luck / bad luck ratio when popping goody huts, probably a few more I can't remember off the top of my head -- the biggest factor seems to be the number of citizens born content. Set the level to "Deity" and the AI is challenged - many cities won't grow past size 3 (1 happy, 1 unhappy and 1 entertainer) because the AI is not always diligent about getting luxuries and all cities hooked into a trade network. Set the level on Chieftan, and watch out - the AI will grow quickly!

Catt

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by Sovereign

I read your strategies and step by step games, and oh boy! I feel like a 10th class newbie

Could you put a link to that thread, I like to read those as well, but they are buried all over the board. Thanks.

PS wow that is some grahpic mod, I may have to play one.

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by vmxa1
Could you put a link to that thread, I like to read those as well, but they are buried all over the board. Thanks.

http://www.zachriel.com/gotm.htm

[Theseus]

Awesomely done!!

You thinking of putting together a GL band?? I hear Jean-Paul Messier is available...