AI Personality Ideas

[TheDarkMaster]

Just some random ideas for AI personality types. Feel free to add your own to the thread. There definitely were some inspirations from other sci-fi's for these ideas.

On conditions, '+' means increases chances of empire having this personality type, '-' decreases the chance, 'no' disqualifies them.

Cowardly survivalists
Empire always does whatever it can to protect itself at any cost.

• Will always try to have the most local military power or be in the alliance with the most military power.
• Will fortify their worlds against any potential attackers.
• Will try to make friends with everyone they can to avoid being attacked.
• Generally really likes guarantees of independence from anyone of equivalent or higher military power.
• If behind in military tech from a potential foe, prioritizes military tech.
• Doesn't like mixing own race with other races at all and will never accept this deal willingly.
• If it can't get into an alliance or federation to protect itself from a dangerous neighbor, they will offer very generous deals for independence guarantees. In extreme cases, it will willingly offer vassalization.
• Never starts wars unless it has overwhelming superiority.
• Is a loyal vassal so long as their overlord is the strongest nearby empire. If integration exists, they will immediately try to get independence if they are being integrated.

Conditions:
(+) Pacifists
(++) Fanatatic pacifists
(+) Xenophobe/fantaic xenophobe
(no) militarist/fanatic militarist
(no) Charismatic
(+) repugnant
(++) weak
(--) strong
(no) very strong


Racial propagators
Empire wants to spread out their founding race to as many planets as possible.

• Will prioritize colonization and colonization technologies.
• Empire values free migration trade deal over any other, assuming that the target has planets their race can settle on.
• Will only accept alliances or federations on the condition of free migration.
• Empire strongly dislikes empires that have their founding race as slaves.
• Empire dislikes empires who's planets their race can't settle on, considering them to be an unhelpful nuisance (unless they can get permission to settle worlds inside that empire's space).
• Empire considers any race that refuses to let their founding race settle on worlds to be an enemy.

Conditions:
(+) Xenophile / fanatic xenophile
(no) xenophobe
(+) Spiritualist / fanatic spiritualist
(++) Spiritualist government
(+) Adaptive
(++) Extremely Adaptive
(no) nonadaptive
(+) Nomadic
(-) sedentary
(+) Fast breeders
(--) Slow breeders

Eager Explorers
Empire is primarily concerned with exploring the galaxy and discovering the secrets of the cosmos.

• Will prioritize exploration, FTL technologies, and special projects.
• Maintains more science ships than other personalities.
• Generally gears planets towards technological growth.
• Empire highly values open boarder treaties.
• Generally doesn't bother with military or diplomatic expansion and likes forming federations when possible.
• Often works as diplomats or as mediators.

Conditions:
(+) Xenophile / fanatic xenophile
(--) Xenophobe
(no) Fanatic xenophobe
(+) Materialist
(++) Fanatic materialist
(+) Despotic hegenomy or Science directorate
(++) Intelligent
(+) Natural Engineers/Physicists/Sociologists
(+) Nomadic
(+) Quick learners
(--) Sedentary
(no) Slow learners

Honorable Protectors
Empire views itself as the protectors of the galaxy, believing that it is their duty to protect the races in it.

• Prioritizes growing its military power and military technologies.
• Will generally seek to peacefully vassalize other races.
• Freely gives guarantees of independence to any weak nearby races that are not warmongers.
• Strongly dislikes aggressive warmongers.
• Will try to liberate conquered planets and vassals that dislike their rulers if it can.
• Will only attack warmongers and prefers to vassalize them once all planets that can be have been liberated.
• Isn't interested in federations and usually isn't in alliances, believing that they should be the clear leaders.
• Dislikes mixing races, preferring to keep them in separate vassal states.
• Is a loyal vassal so long as their overlord is not an aggressive warmonger.

Conditions:
(++) Militarist / fanatic militarist
(++) Xenophile / fanatic xenophile
(+) Spiritualist / fantic individualist
(+) Individualist / fanatic individualist
(no) Pacifist / fanatic pacifist
(no) Xenophobe / fanatic xenophobe
(no) Divine Mandate or despotic empire
(--) Conformists
(+) Strong / Very strong
(+) Enduring / Venerable

 

[SgtSmuckers]

Personally I would love to have an AI personality that puts on a facade of being friendly, yet when they acquire a sufficient amount of power, breaks the mask and goes on a violent rampage across the cosmos, not stopping til they are wiped out.

A good name for them would be Time Bombs

 

[garbud]

Personally I would love to have an AI personality that puts on a facade of being friendly, yet when they acquire a sufficient amount of power, breaks the mask and goes on a violent rampage across the cosmos, not stopping til they are wiped out.

A good name for them would be Time Bombs

are you talking about space Gandhi?

 

[Ultimuh]

are you talking about space Gandhi?

Only if they obtain Nuclear Weapons.

 

[Alectron]

I came up with a few ideas as well
Immoral Researchers
Empire thinks of aliens a bit more than of animals, and attempts to ascend to a higher level of existence as soon as possible despite any costs.

• Will focus on research and and exploration.
• Aggressive study of pre-spacefaring races and enlightenment of pre-sentients.
• Will often trade research.
• Tries to create non-aggressive pacts will all of its neighbours.
• Will explore as fast as possible. Tries to search for the precursors.
• Will not declare wars (usually), but will be aggressive against Fallen Empires (superior tech)

Conditions:
Materialist and/or Xenophobe (+)
Fanatical Materialist or Fanatical Xenophobe (++)
Spiritualist or Fanatical Spiritualist (no)
Xenophile or Fanatical Xenophile (no)
Intelligent (+)
Repugnant (+)

Galactic Unificators
This Empire will seek to unite the entire galaxy under one rule: no matter whether it's peaceful or aggressive way.

• Will try to vassalise small empires and pre-spacefaring races.
• Attempts to get as many colonies as possible
• With the empires of similar strength would try to form federations.
• Doesn't prohibit slavery, but against robots.
• This empire will build many space bases and frontier bases.

Conditions:
Collectivist and/or Xenophile (+)
Fanatical Collectivist or Fanatical Xenophile (++)
Individualist (no)
Xenophobe (no)
Communal (+)
Charismatic (+)
Decadent (+)
Repugnant (-)
Solitary (-)

 

[CatsPajamas]

The most important thing to consider with AI personalities is how they'll interact with the player. It's good to see these ideas for AI personalities include how they'll interact with other Empires, because that will likely be the player's main way of seeing the effects of their personality. When coming up with ideas for how to tweak AI behavior or implement new AI behavior, the impact on the player experience should be the main thing to consider.

In addition, it's important that the AI Personalities influence how the AI behaves but doesn't dictate the same actions every time. One of the strengths of Stellaris the development team wants to emphasize is the game feeling like a new experience each time. If the AI behaved completely predictably based on the personality displayed to the player it would detract from that goal. Therefore, the AI personality should be taken into account along with other factors like the current game situation for AI decision-making. It looks like that's the way things are handled now, as we could see in the Blorg stream where AIs with the same personality behaved differently because they were in different situations.

 

[13Foxtrot]

 

[13Foxtrot]

 

[TheDarkMaster]

Since Wiz posted the template for converting these into the game, I went ahead and did three of my suggestions. I left off the explorers, as they've now revealed a personality that is basically the same as that. (Personality template here.)


Cowardly survivalists

Spoiler

personality_cowardly_survivalists:0 "Cowardly Survivalists"
personality_cowardly_survivalists_desc:0 "Cowardly survivalists are only concerned with their own survival, seeking to do anything they can to preserve it.  Their only dealings with other races is in the effort to protect themselves from perceived threats."



cowardly_survivalists = {
    type = isolationist
    aggressiveness = 0.5
    trade_willingness = 0.9
    bravery = 0.2
    military_spending = 1.6
    colony_spending = 0.8
    alliance_acceptance = 20
    federation_acceptance = -50
    threat_modifier = 3.0
    friction_modifier = 0.33

    behaviour = {
        conqueror = no
        subjugator = no
        liberator = yes
        opportunist = yes
        slaver = no
        uplifter = no
        purger = yes
        dominator = no
        infiltrator = no
        robot_exploiter = no
        robot_liberator = no
        migrator = no
    }
    allow = {
        NOT = { is_country_type = fallen_empire }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_militarist" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_militarist" }
        NOT = { has_trait = "trait_charismatic" }
        NOT = { has_trait = "trait_very_strong" }
    }
    weight_modifier = {
        weight = 5
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_ethic = "ethic_pacifists"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_pacifists"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_pacifists"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_xenophobe"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophobe"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_repugnant"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            has_trait = "trait_weak"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.25
            has_trait = "trait_strong"
        }
    }
}

Prolific Pioneers (I renamed them)

Spoiler

personality_prolific_pioneers:0 "Prolific Pioneers"
personality_prolific_pioneers_desc:0 "This race is primarilly driven by its desire to settle new worlds and discover new species.  Its long history has always been one of free travel and open boarders.  They will seek to spread their species to as many worlds as possible."



prolific_pioneers = {
    type = propogator
    aggressiveness = 1.0
    trade_willingness = 1.0
    bravery = 0.5
    military_spending = 0.6
    colony_spending = 2.0
    alliance_acceptance = 10
    federation_acceptance = 0
    threat_modifier = 1.0
    friction_modifier = 0.25

    behaviour = {
        conqueror = yes
        subjugator = no
        liberator = yes
        opportunist = no
        slaver = no
        uplifter = yes
        purger = no
        dominator = yes
        infiltrator = no
        robot_exploiter = no
        robot_liberator = yes
        migrator = yes
    }
    allow = {
        NOT = { is_country_type = fallen_empire }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_trait = "trait_non_adaptive" }
    }
    weight_modifier = {
        weight = 5
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_spiritualist"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_spiritualist"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_xenophile"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophile"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_adaptive"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            has_trait = "trait_extremely_adaptive"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_nomadic"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_fast_breeders"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.5
            has_trait = "trait_sedentary"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.25
            has_trait = "trait_slow_breeders"
        }
    }
}

Honorable Protectors

Spoiler

personality_honorable_protectors:0 "Honorable Protectors"
personality_honorable_protectors_desc:0 "Viewing themselves as the guardians of the galaxy, this race will seek to bring other empires under its protection as vassals.  They will also generally respond strongly against any empires they view as villainous warmongers.  They have little interest in alliances or federations, believing they should be at the top."



honorable_protectors = {
    type = honorbound
    aggressiveness = 1.5
    trade_willingness = 0.8
    bravery = 3.0
    military_spending = 1.5
    colony_spending = 1.0
    alliance_acceptance = -30
    federation_acceptance = -100
    threat_modifier = 2.0
    friction_modifier = 0.5

    behaviour = {
        conqueror = no
        subjugator = yes
        liberator = yes
        opportunist = no
        slaver = no
        uplifter = yes
        purger = no
        dominator = no
        infiltrator = no
        robot_exploiter = no
        robot_liberator = no
        migrator = no
    }
    allow = {
        NOT = { is_country_type = fallen_empire }
        OR = {
            has_ethic = "ethic_militarist"
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_militarist"
        }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_government = "government_divine_mandate" }
        NOT = { has_government = "government_despotic_empire" }
    }
    weight_modifier = {
        weight = 5
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_militarist"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_ethic = "ethic_xenophile"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophile"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_individualist"
                has_ethic = "ethic_individualist"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_trait = "trait_strong"
                has_trait = "trait_very_strong"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_trait = "trait_enduring"
                has_trait = "trait_venerable"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.25
            has_trait = "trait_conformists"
        }
    }
}

 

[Valyrian_Knight]

Interesting idea. Some personnality which wants to maintain the Statut Quo in their area, like the Great Britain did in the Continent in the 18s /19s in ordre to maintain a balance of power

 

[ZenthWolf]

Personally I would love to have an AI personality that puts on a facade of being friendly, yet when they acquire a sufficient amount of power, breaks the mask and goes on a violent rampage across the cosmos, not stopping til they are wiped out.

A good name for them would be Time Bombs

Ruthless Capitalists?

All fine and dandy peacefully trading until they can take you on.

 

[Ultimuh]

Ruthless Capitalists?

All fine and dandy peacefully trading until they can take you on.

Also known as Hostile Takeover.

 

[TheDarkMaster]

Interesting idea. Some personnality which wants to maintain the Statut Quo in their area, like the Great Britain did in the Continent in the 18s /19s in ordre to maintain a balance of power

How about something like this?

Galactic Manipulators

Spoiler

personality_galactic_manipulators:0 "Galactic Manipulators"
personality_galactic_manipulators_desc:0 "Galactic manipulators seek to secure their own dominance in the galaxy while also keeping their race pure.  They will attempt to control the balance of power through wars to break threats apart."

champions_of_democracy = {
    type = hegemond
    aggressiveness = 1.2
    trade_willingness = 0.75
    bravery = 1.0
    military_spending = 1.0
    colony_spending = 1.0
    alliance_acceptance = -20
    federation_acceptance = -50
    threat_modifier = 2.0
    friction_modifier = 1.0

    behaviour = {
        conqueror = no
        subjugator = no
        liberator = yes
        opportunist = yes
        slaver = no
        uplifter = no
        purger = yes
        dominator = no
        infiltrator = no
        robot_exploiter = yes
        robot_liberator = no
        migrator = no
    }
    allow = {
        NOT = { is_country_type = fallen_empire }
        OR = {
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophobe"
            has_ethic = "ethic_xenophobe"
        }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_pacifist" }
    }
    weight_modifier = {
        weight = 5
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophobe"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_militarist"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_militarist"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_collectivist"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_collectivist"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_solitary"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.5
            has_trait = "trait_decadent"
        }
    }
}

Also, here are a couple ideas for ideologue personalities. You might notice a bit of overlap and some satire of existing governments/ideas.

Champions of Democracy

Spoiler

personality_champions_of_democracy:0 "Champions of Democracy"
personality_champions_of_democracy_desc:0 "This empire is dedicated to the ideals of individualism and democracy.  They are primarilly interested in spreading these ideals to any and all that they can, by force if necessary."

champions_of_democracy = {
    type = idealogue
    aggressiveness = 1.5
    trade_willingness = 0.9
    bravery = 1.5
    military_spending = 1.2
    colony_spending = 1.0
    alliance_acceptance = 0
    federation_acceptance = 0
    threat_modifier = 1.33
    friction_modifier = 0.5

    behaviour = {
        conqueror = yes
        subjugator = no
        liberator = yes
        opportunist = yes
        slaver = no
        uplifter = yes
        purger = no
        dominator = yes
        infiltrator = no
        robot_exploiter = no
        robot_liberator = no
        migrator = yes
    }
    allow = {
        NOT = { is_country_type = fallen_empire }
        has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_individualist"
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_pacifist" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_pacifist" }
    }
    weight_modifier = {
        weight = 5
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_militarist"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_militarist"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_xenophile"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophile"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_conformists"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_resiliant"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_slow_learners"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.25
            has_trait = "trait_intelligent"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.5
            has_trait = "trait_fast_learners"
        }
    }
}

Militant Proselytizers

Spoiler

personality_militant_proselytizers:0 "Militant Proselytizers"
personality_militant_proselytizers_desc:0 "Militant Proselytizers are a faction of religious ideologues that actively seek to spread their religious ideals to the rest of the galaxy."

militant_proselytizers = {
    type = idealogue
    aggressiveness = 2.0
    trade_willingness = 0.9
    bravery = 1.0
    military_spending = 1.6
    colony_spending = 1.0
    alliance_acceptance = 0
    federation_acceptance = 0
    threat_modifier = 1.0
    friction_modifier = 1.0

    behaviour = {
        conqueror = yes
        subjugator = no
        liberator = yes
        opportunist = yes
        slaver = no
        uplifter = no
        purger = no
        dominator = yes
        infiltrator = no
        robot_exploiter = no
        robot_liberator = no
        migrator = no
    }
    allow = {
        NOT = { is_country_type = fallen_empire }
        OR = {
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_individualist"
            has_ethic = "ethic_individualist"
        }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophobe" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_pacifist" }
        NOT = { has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_pacifist" }
    }
    weight_modifier = {
        weight = 5
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_militarist"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_militarist"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            OR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_xenophile"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_xenophile"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_conformists"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_resiliant"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1
            has_trait = "trait_slow_learners"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.25
            has_trait = "trait_intelligent"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.5
            has_trait = "trait_fast_learners"
        }
    }
}

 

[danest]

I'd love an intriguer/deceptive personality type, but looking and seeing the new aliens listed as "treacherous deceivers" or the like would sort of spoil the whole point, and hiding the alien AI type doesn't seem very popular as an idea.

 

[ZenthWolf]

and hiding the alien AI type doesn't seem very popular as an idea.

I will immediately be seeing if I can do this, since it should be a pretty straightforward removal. On top of this, I will also see about getting personality values to vary slightly so even if I did know, I won't really know (plus, this might be iron man friendly). That said, the decision to give this info to the player is understandable in terms of reaching out to more players and to somewhat compensate for an additional complexity to the game (whereas in another 4x, you know what to expect from each empire after some play). At the very least, what they have done should be default.

As for personalities, right now its very difficult to think what will be needed as far as entirely new personalities. We know there is an "opportunist" modifer, but we don't know exactly how it affects decisions and who will consider it. As for deceiving and intriguing, the game honestly doesn't seem prepared to handle this in much more of a way than "opportunist" allows for. AI will be dragged into your wars, so it has no chance to think "hey, I could just fight you instead", and there just isn't gameplay information to be... well intrigued upon. Maybe later we can get spies and saboteurs and maybe even information reports (of varying reliability).

I mean... what exactly do you want them to do? Just about the only thing left is to force allies into a war that gets the allies destroyed, and then backstab the ally. Sounds great, honestly. But we must have 100% consensus to get into war, and once you go into a Federation, it really isn't a possibility since you'd have to take one the rest of your entire federation (in which case, you never needed to declare that war ). On top of this, this means intentionally scripting AI to drag their feet in a war, and that will just plain not go over well with players once they realize that.