A different model for the AI would solve a lot of issues for SP

[Nakkivene]

I think the simulationist, plays by the same rules approach has critically bombed with Megacorp. Fixing it would likely be difficult and I'm just guessing it would not be better in terms of performance.

I would suggest that there's no big need for the AI to play by the same rules. Many players already seem to enjoy playing on the highest difficulty that gives AI nations big resource and fire rate bonuses, and I have a feeling that fighting the FE/Crisis tends to be the most enjoyable late-game activity - the latter of which uses very different rules to the player.

If the AI nation resource/research income was abstracted to simply come from nation size and AI nation/personality type, there wouldn't be the problem of it completely falling apart by midgame and no need to make it do calculations on what to build and upgrade and so on. Simply have it always build according to preset templates that reflect the AI nation/personality type, and don't bother with complicated calculations of what AI pop goes where (since it would not affect it's income). It does not need to make decisions like that.

A militarist nation would build more strongholds, planetary shields, military academies and foundries while materialists would do more research labs and robot factories, while another (pacifist?) might have more holo-theaters, commercial zones and luxury residences.

Same with starbases and ships. Just have preset models for different nation and personality types, more anchorages for an aggressive empire, more bastions for inward perfectionists and so on. Ship types could be randomized at start in rough "corvette-cruiser missile empire/artillery battleships/balanced carrier fleets" style. Perhaps even forgo random tech for it so that it doesn't get screwed for it's ship designs.

Anybody know how feasible it would be to mod this?

EDIT : I also mean that it should be able to build and upgrade it's planetary structures for free to simplify it's economy, with neither input or output happening at it's worlds normally.

 

[MeowBeep]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this will be necessary going forwards.

Either, the game is easy enough for some simple AI scripts to be competitive with human players and thus boring for humans.

Or, it is hard enough to be interesting for humans and thus nearly impossible for scripts AI.

As the latest update very clearly demonstrates, the more interesting the economic mechanics are for human players, the less viable it is for AI to play according to the same mechanics.

 

[fodazd]

I can sort of see the logic behind this, but I think the normal +100% to everything approach that we have right now is sufficient. I mean, if you need sector AI for players who don't want to micromange everything anyway, why not use that for the other AIs as well?

 

[KingAlamar]

I'm of mixed opinions.

I agree with you that in a sufficiently complicated system with tons of variables and branching conditionals and inter-related impacts that it would be tough to have an AI play by the same rules. I also agree that what's important is the ILLUSION that the AI is fair ; plays by the rules ; and is challenging. I also agree that using some form of templating [for sectors / clusters / planet building / personalities / etc.] makes sense from a "grand" viewpoint if that gives us an AI that "feels" better.

HOWEVER, I understand that the Glavius AI Mod [and the person / people behind it] have made big strides in fixing some of the AI issues so it is MUCH more competitive now than before. Assuming someone at Paradox is nearly as talented they should be able to pull off the same sorts of fixes PLUS a lot more ... if the bean counters will let them that is ...

I also disagree that the current economic system is particularly challenging. Oh there are plenty of impactful decisions but if you're only worried about playing at a 'vaguely competent' level then a LOT of those decisions aren't particularly difficult. Combine this with resource bonuses ; perhaps scripted AI-only events ; etc. and you should have something that passes for somewhat competent if you don't look too deeply