Why, oh why does the poor AI...

[Ozymandias]

Originally posted by alexman

The AI builds Mech. Infantry for defense. It builds tanks for offense, since they have a better attack factor and are cheaper.

AH! Excellent. I've been wondering if the AI (or, instead of "SI", "VAI" -- "VERY Artificial Intelligence" -- I write as an ex-programmer and mean no offense) does any sort of cost/benefit analysis in building units, or if it simply goes by upgrade path, flags, and a/d relative to the flags.

... At least, I presume that's what you meant?

Thanks,

Oz

[Ozymandias]

Originally posted by player1
By the way is there any chance to make unit/building type priorities, more open for editing?

For example, you can say "when AI get Infantry, it NEVER builds Guerrila", or always build Marketplace before Library.

In modding, I've been experimenting with the SMAC notion of "Doctrines", and trying to see if the AI will "tilt" one way or another.

The essence of my little experiment is:

1. Try to figure out how all the levers, flags, bells and whistles actually work to influence the AI behavior (THANK YOU, CATT, FOR POINTING ME TO THIS THREAD!!)

2. Have the tech tree contain rather more MILITARY advances than can be reasonably built in the course of the game.

"Doctrines" which must be researched to build the corresponding units are -- so far --

The Hussite's artillery wagon "mobile fortresses"
Tercio
New Model Army (Cromwell)
Blitzkrieg
Strategic Bombing (long range bombers)
Carrier Warfare
Guerilla Warfare
Stealth

After all, none of these were / are inevitable advances in the allegedly real world ...

I'll post results as I get them -- In the meantime, any comments / ideas?

Thanks,

Oz

[Thoth]

Originally posted by Soren Johnson Firaxis
now _this_ is a great thread. thanks for all the work, everybody... even though a lot of these fixes are only really going to affect the AI's performance for mods. I can't promise that everything here will be fixed, but I will do my best.

Now you've gone and done it Axelman By the time I've saved up enough to buy MOO3, PTW and paid rent, Soren will have the AI to the point where I'll have to go back to Cheiftien.



Go Soren, GO!

[alexman]

...does the AI build Wealth when there are other things to build?

Nineveh will be in need of an Aqueduct in 6 turns. Yet Hammurabi wants cash instead. Why?

Babylon doesn't even have Wealth as a build-often item.

I kept an eye on this city (it has the FP), and next turn it started building a Courthouse!

I suspect this happens because, just like when building Settlers, the AI doesn't look ahead at the estimated turns to completion and pop-growth. Since the food box is still not completely full, it thinks it doesn't need an Aqueduct.

[Coracle]

Re: ...does the AI build Wealth when there are other things to build?

Originally posted by alexman
. . . just like when building Settlers, the AI doesn't look ahead at the estimated turns to completion and pop-growth. Since the food box is still not completely full, it thinks it doesn't need an Aqueduct.

?!?! I never noticed that. Interesting.

Doesn't seem like it would take a genius AI to figure that out.

Comments, Soren?

[Konquest02]

Nice remark Alexman (as always )!

You might also note that the Babs currently have 0 gold in bank. This might play a role in the AI's decision of what to put in his build queue.

--Kon--

[player1]

Re: Re: ...does the AI build Wealth when there are other things to build?

Originally posted by Coracle
?!?! I never noticed that. Interesting.

Doesn't seem like it would take a genius AI to figure that out.

Can be easily seen with scenario Debug Mode.

Of course, you need PtW for that.

[Dominae]

I'm beginning to think that the behaviour of the various advisors seriously reflects (if not mirrors) the AIs' own decisions:

1. You're only told to build Aqueducts when you're cities are ready to grow.

2. You're recommended Communism as your next tech.

3. You're told to build more military units because your military is smaller (without mention of unit quality).

4. Your automated Workers irrigate everything.


Dominae

[Dominae]

player1, Coracle's "genius" remark was an attack on the AI (and therefore Soren), since it should be "easy" to code an AI to build Aqueducts at the appropriate time. The purpose of alexman's recent post was simply to point out this weakness, more as constructive criticism rather than trolling.


Dominae

[player1]

Originally posted by Dominae
player1, Coracle's "genius" remark was an attack on the AI (and therefore Soren), since it should be "easy" to code an AI to build Aqueducts at the appropriate time. The purpose of alexman's recent post was simply to point out this weakness, more as constructive criticism rather than trolling.

I know.

[joncnunn]

Some improvements for the AI with regard to Aquaducts would be:

1. If size 6, no fresh water, and no aquaduct and just finished building something -> Build worker

2. If city size 5, no fresh water but sufficent food, and there's a Temple, Market Place, and Catherdrial -> Build Aquaduct.

3. If city size 5, no fresh water but sufficent food, but some of the above happiness improving structures haven't been built -> Build cheapest of those happiness structures.

[Konquest02]

Originally posted by Dominae

3. You're told to build more military units because your military is smaller (without mention of unit quality).

Dominae

I thought this was addressed in previous Civ3 patches (1.21 or 1.29 in think).

Is this bug back in PTW?

--Kon--

[Dominae]

I may very well have missed the change; I've grown accustomed to not listen to any of the Advisors, other than during trade negotiations.


Dominae

[BRC]

Dom: I think Konquest is correct.

[joncnunn]

That was fixed in 1.29f.

Of note, prior to this pach normal workers were considered military units by the AI in making determinations on who to attack as well.

Originally posted by Konquest02

I thought this was addressed in previous Civ3 patches (1.21 or 1.29 in think).

Is this bug back in PTW?

--Kon--