AI Weapons Use

[Drakonn]

Anyone noticed that the AI tends to exclusively use Plasma or Disruptors on their ships? Every time I look at one of their fleets it's either one, the other, or a mix of both. (Though I think about tier 3 or higher I start seeing the normal weapons come into play).

Is this intended or a bug?

 

[Beric]

I've definitely seen the AI using these a lot. Plasma is very good meta-wise. Disruptors not so much - they're great against shields but bad versus hull. I prefer to combine plasma and mass drivers/railguns in my designs for weapons that have bonuses against both armor and shields respectively but aren't horrible against the other.

 

[TheDeadlyShoe]

i see a lot of cutting beams, actually. AI has a hard on for damage bonuses like armor pen or shield dmg.

 

[Drakonn]

I've definitely seen the AI using these a lot. Plasma is very good meta-wise. Disruptors not so much - they're great against shields but bad versus hull. I prefer to combine plasma and mass drivers/railguns in my designs for weapons that have bonuses against both armor and shields respectively but aren't horrible against the other.

I'd expect this and more later in the game (after the first century) fleets typically discover the joy of these.

i see a lot of cutting beams, actually. AI has a hard on for damage bonuses like armor pen or shield dmg.

Noticed that too. Just wondering if the AI weighting for those two bonuses is a little too much as it seems their fleets suffer for it.

 

[Sinister2202]

For me, the AI seem to be copying my weapon layout.

 

[CocoCincinnati]

Ha, I was just yelling (figuratively) at my fellow federation member this morning. I took the time to design some great ships for the federation fleet and even kept it simple by having just one design of each class (not at all how my own fleets are made up). So of course my ally proceeds to change everything when they have the fleet....they remove PD from the destroyer and add it to both the cruiser and battleship, they change the weapons from mostly plasma to half and half plasma/disruptors and replace the normal torp on the vettes with an energy torp. I know they mean well.

 

[Drakonn]

Ha, I was just yelling (figuratively) at my fellow federation member this morning. I took the time to design some great ships for the federation fleet and even kept it simple by having just one design of each class (not at all how my own fleets are made up). So of course my ally proceeds to change everything when they have the fleet....they remove PD from the destroyer and add it to both the cruiser and battleship, they change the weapons from mostly plasma to half and half plasma/disruptors and replace the normal torp on the vettes with an energy torp. I know they mean well.

I remember that issue from before 1.5. That and somehow my designs kept being replaced when it rotated (not changed; replaced completely in the designer) so I had to change everything every singly time I became president.

 

[Hidden Gunman]

For me, the AI seem to be copying my weapon layout.

Same. My current game, the neighbour I am constantly being dragged into war against has morphed from the disruptor/plasma loadout to almost complete mirror imaging of my ships, less the tech they don't have...pretty much masses of kinetic weaponry, and fighters/bombers.

I've also got the narks that 'Federation Fleets' keep getting both upgraded to the next Fed Leader's ship types, and get combined into one single fleet.

 

[Beric]

Same. My current game, the neighbour I am constantly being dragged into war against has morphed from the disruptor/plasma loadout to almost complete mirror imaging of my ships, less the tech they don't have...pretty much masses of kinetic weaponry, and fighters/bombers.

I've also got the narks that 'Federation Fleets' keep getting both upgraded to the next Fed Leader's ship types, and get combined into one single fleet.

That's because every war they salvage your technology. If it's better than the tech they use, they will switch to it.

Honestly, technology leak is a huge negative about war. It's almost impossible to maintain a technological advantage.

 

[Sinister2202]

That's because every war they salvage your technology. If it's better than the tech they use, they will switch to it.

Honestly, technology leak is a huge negative about war. It's almost impossible to maintain a technological advantage.

But I thought you don't leave behind any tech if your fleet survives and wins?

 

[Foraven]

But I thought you don't leave behind any tech if your fleet survives and wins?

If you lost any ships during the battle, they can salvage your tech once the battle is over. Not losing ships is the only way to prevent them from salvaging anything (other than blowing up all their science ships).