Default set-up has lower number of AI....why?

[Reaperdamo]

As someone who used to rock with the default set-up before it seems a bit empty now - any reason devs?

Is it:

Balance

Performance

no reason

none of the above

 

[Reaperdamo]

any takers?

 

[TheShah]

performance

 

[Druesling]

Probably performance, or it has something to do with the amped up agressiveness. Or both. Or the other way around.

 

[Reaperdamo]

so what does everyone recommend for 600 stars - default or other? I am useless at these decisions and can spend ages agonising over it...

 

[Druesling]

Try default, them game developers might decided on it for some reason. See if it suits you.

 

[thekaje]

I'm sure they just don't want to propose default settings that modest machines can't handle. My three-year-old Alienware laptop has no problems with Huge + max AIs, though, even in the late game.

 

[General Retreat]

One thing I noticed with the new default settings is you tend to end up with fewer, massive empires that pose a bigger challenge to both the player and crisis events. In earlier versions, none of the AIs really had enough room to get properly established and expand, resulting in tons of smaller states that could be picked off one by one.

 

[thekaje]

One thing I noticed with the new default settings is you tend to end up with fewer, massive empires that pose a bigger challenge to both the player and crisis events. In earlier versions, none of the AIs really had enough room to get properly established and expand, resulting in tons of smaller states that could be picked off one by one.

Helps to start out with 10+ advanced start AIs, too