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The AI level needs a randomised variation!
One of the problems with the AI in this and other games (Age of Empires comes to mind) is that different AI levels use a level factor of some sort but the level is fixed. So all the races finish things at about the same time, do things at the same time, discover techs at the same time, have the same cost to reach each espionage level etc.
My suggestion is that while the AI level should average to whatever factor it is set, that each turn or each series of turns that a random variation is generated for that factor. This would be generated differently for each race so that each race on the same AI level will behave slightly differently.
I'm speaking a little abstractly here because I don't know eactly how the AI works but say Cakewalk=1, Simple=2, Easy=3, Beginner=4, Standard=5 etc. Well, suppose you set all the AI races to Standard level. This would give them level 5. But you could then generate a random variation on that number. Level 5 might in fact mean anything from 4.5 to 5.5. So, first turn, one race might get a level of 4.7, another 5.4 and so on. But at regular intervals, the levels are randomised again. That regular interval might be as often as each turn; however my thoughts on this is that it might average out too much to be the same for each race if it is each turn so it might be better to only randomise ever so often. That way, each race could have a consistent trend of pace and races on the same AI level will show apparent differences. The randomisation routine could also make sure that each race on the same AI level has a different variation from any other race just to make sure they are different.
You would have to make the interval of randomisation regular enough that one race doesn't become that predictable. It could be a random interval and in fact each race could change their AI variation at different times to keep the unpredictablity factor in. Certain regular events could trigger recalulating the AI level for a race such as whenever it discovers a new technology or at some pivotal moment.
Make sense Brad? Anyone?
My suggestion is that while the AI level should average to whatever factor it is set, that each turn or each series of turns that a random variation is generated for that factor. This would be generated differently for each race so that each race on the same AI level will behave slightly differently.
I'm speaking a little abstractly here because I don't know eactly how the AI works but say Cakewalk=1, Simple=2, Easy=3, Beginner=4, Standard=5 etc. Well, suppose you set all the AI races to Standard level. This would give them level 5. But you could then generate a random variation on that number. Level 5 might in fact mean anything from 4.5 to 5.5. So, first turn, one race might get a level of 4.7, another 5.4 and so on. But at regular intervals, the levels are randomised again. That regular interval might be as often as each turn; however my thoughts on this is that it might average out too much to be the same for each race if it is each turn so it might be better to only randomise ever so often. That way, each race could have a consistent trend of pace and races on the same AI level will show apparent differences. The randomisation routine could also make sure that each race on the same AI level has a different variation from any other race just to make sure they are different.
You would have to make the interval of randomisation regular enough that one race doesn't become that predictable. It could be a random interval and in fact each race could change their AI variation at different times to keep the unpredictablity factor in. Certain regular events could trigger recalulating the AI level for a race such as whenever it discovers a new technology or at some pivotal moment.
Make sense Brad? Anyone?
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