The Differerence between the Levels

[Unconquered]

Besides the free units and maintenance bonuses, does the AI play any different stategically between levels. I play most of my games on Emperor, and except for the early game (which seems more difficult as the levels progress), I've noticed that the mid/end game is about the same difficulty. There seems to be no difference between Emperor AI and Regent AI as it pertains to strategy, unit placement, defense of territory and cities. Can anyone confirm this or present evidence to the contrary? As far as I can tell, the unit/maintanence and government transition time are the only bonuses the AI receives (including all the others on the page on the editor)... Is this true?

[WarpStorm]

I'm nearly positive that the AI uses the same strategies at all difficulties.

[Verto]

Yes, it seems that the AI doesn't gain any intelligence, just bonuses/advantages.

[player1]

On the other hand, that same intelligence, makes playing at Chieftain very difficult for novice players (although AI has 50% penalties).

P.S.
That's same for Civ1, Civ2, SMAC.

But there is a difference in CTP series.
In those games on two lowest difficultiers AI would try not to build much more cities then human player. And would try not to built much better military then human player too.

[RGBVideo]

But there is a difference in CTP series.
In those games on two lowest difficultiers AI would try not to build much more cities then human player. And would try not to built much better military then human player too.

True. Too bad that the CtP-series suck...

[Unconquered]

I remember something in Civ II about the AI would not bribe cities or units, perform espinoge, etc. until certain levels. I can't remember where I read this, but I'm almost sure it was in Civ II.

The bonuses help at higher diff. levels... The AI builds faster, lower maintenance for the same units, transition times. But in the end at higher levels they still don't use their units wisely or effectively (they just have more of them). The only strategy the AI seems to know is full frontal assault. I've seen him attack on two fronts (albeit they were only 5 squares apart) only 2 or 3 times in the hundreds of games I've played.

The AI air strategy seems very weak, almost like the focused on land strategy too much. Even if they have 5-10 bombers and I place 1 A.S. Fighter in my city. None of the bombers will attack, even though only one bomber is at risk of being shot down.

The AI navy is not bad... for the sole reason that they build a lot of ships.

Another observation. Does the AI ever fill troop transports to capacity when invading? I have never seen them do this. Is there a mod or change so I can get them to do this. I've increased the Transport unit capacity to 8 and this still doesn't help...

[ToeTruck]

I agree with Verto and Warp that the AI does not gain any intelligence as the level progresses. However, the number of extra units and the degree of extra growth can cause very different *behaviors* at the different levels.

For instance, on Emperor, I've often noticed stacks of 4 enemy units wandering around kind of like a "mega-explorer". At Deity, it seems that the extra growth allows for much more rapid Settler production. So, the extra military units are used as escorts instead.

Has anyone else seen this?

I've never done the math to see how this really plays out, but it could be interesting. Maybe.

- TT

[Sava]

In CivII: ToT at least, the AI would bribe and stuff at the lowest level. AFAIK, the difficulty levels only affect production levels and bonuses. The AI is effectively the same.

[David Murray]

According to the Civ3 manual (however reliable a source it may be), the overall 'craftiness' (in other words, intelligence) of the AI increases with difficulty level. I think it does affect the AI's behaviour.

[Sava]

I recall reading the opposite, David Murray, but alas, I cannot find my manual, so you may be correct.

[King_Henry]

Originally posted by Unconquered
Another observation. Does the AI ever fill troop transports to capacity when invading? I have never seen them do this. Is there a mod or change so I can get them to do this. I've increased the Transport unit capacity to 8 and this still doesn't help...

I've never seen them do this. They always seem to put 2-3 units in a transport. I think It does say IN the manuel that the AI gets smarter the higher the difficulty level, But I haven't noticed much of a difference. Ive noticed little change in strategy or troop placement.

[Kuciwalker]

The manual was ****. It was error-ridden and useless.

[vmxa1]

There is only one Ai and it plays at Regent level. The game levels is accomplished by giving handicaps to either the player or the Ai. At the lowest levels the player get a hand. As you move towards Deity the AI will start to get a boost to simulate a "better" AI. The editor will reveal what the handicap consist of in terms of units. I think at Deity it is 24 units (12 warriors).

[ToeTruck]

At higher levels, the biggest advantage the AI enjoys is not extra units (although seeing a dozen warriors running around in 3500BC is quite disconcerting).

The biggest AI advantage is its enhanced growth and production rates. I believe at Deity, both are just about doubled. Every other row in the food and shield boxes are removed. That means that under Deity, the AI begins with the equivalent of granaries in each of it's citys. Not exactly, but close enough.

Plus, if a city actually does have a granary (or the Pyramids which was built in half the time), the AI only needs to fill rows 1, 3, and 5 in its food box. Growing a city of size 6 or less only requires 6 food. That's a *huge* advantage.

Under Emperor, it's a little less drastic, but only a bit.

Can anyone confirm this or am I blowing smoke?

- TT

[David Murray]

Well, I've only played one game at Chieftain and two or three at Warlord, but I recall that the AI was not as aggressive as it is at Monarch and was also more willing to trade. This may well be because of production penalties and AI-to-AI trade bonuses being smaller, but if it is the case that the AI behaves differently when it is at different levels of production etc, then it must surely follow that its behaviour is directly affected by difficulty levels ... surely?