Q&A With Merni - AI

[Torakka]

Is the AI of synthetic empires different that the AI of organic empires? I mean, does for example the glorious robot revolution use its ships better than the puny meatbags or does it just produce more ships thanks to stat bonuses?

 

[crowdemon]

[

Our main objective has been to develop the AI with data driven design so that a major part of the AI is scriptable and the decisions the AI make are largely connected to script. I am curious, what do you wish was different or better with the AI in our other games? Maybe I can answer your question better.

Maybe the question wasn't thought out.

 

[Xerberus]

Sectors are more like specialized factories for resources. Rare resources in sectors will be available for the empire.

yes but my question is still unanswered: will sectors with POP's having the decadent trait be unhappy because the AI doesn't use slaves? or what is about general AI empires if they pick the decadent trait, are they crippling themself?

 

[thErgonomic]

@merni I hate to make a double post, but how do the AI controlled POPs decide when to start factions and eventually rebel?
Can for example differences in ethos and race be countered solely through happiness?

 

[merni]

Do you focus on making the AI play "human like" or are there other more important goals for designing the AI?

Before it feels human, it has to be able to use the features in the game. So in the early and mid development, it is mostly about creating a toolbox for the AI.

 

[merni]

Is the AI of synthetic empires different that the AI of organic empires? I mean, does for example the glorious robot revolution use its ships better than the puny meatbags or does it just produce more ships thanks to stat bonuses?

They have the same AI.

 

[merni]

I have a fear that the AI may be too passive? What is the depending factor to if a alliance will attack you out of "fear"? Since there's no coalitions here, that is.

I don't think the AI is passive, considering what I have seen and heard from various streams etc

 

[Haldan]

Which AI personality is your favorite?
Which feature is your favorite?

 

[merni]

Anything you can share about the slaves never rebel issue? (the problem, difficulty to fix, eta, etc)

Thanks for answering questions!

I think @Zoft talked about this in the stream today.

 

[doomdude1]

@merni, so is there any difference regarding the AI when playing at higher difficulties, or is it just a flat % boost to their economy/ships/diplomacy?

 

[LordMune]

@merni I hate to make a double post, but how do the AI controlled POPs decide when to start factions and eventually rebel?
Can for example differences in ethos and race be countered solely through happiness?

Happiness is a huge influence on any given Pop's loyalty, but certain political/social issues will weigh heavier than their happiness, even if maxed out. What these issues are differs depending on the Pop's ethos, location, situation, etc.

 

[Gemberkoekje]

Which feature of the AI are you most proud of?

Similarly, which feature of the AI do you feel still needs the most work?

 

[merni]

Which feature of the AI are you most proud of?

Similarly, which feature of the AI do you feel still needs the most work?

The fleet strategy AI has definitely been the most challenging part of the AI, technically. There is plenty of cool things we could do with the crisis AI in the future.

 

[Sithril]

Is it possible to mod the AI to use features added by mods that arent really present in the base game? For example, if someone added a black marker/underworld organizations into the game (most likely as seperate empire-entities with limitations/differences), can the AI be taught how to use and interact with them?

Speaking of non-standard "empires", do odd factions like space nomads and migrating space fauna (the space cows) use a simillar AI to regular empires? Can they be modded?

Thanks for the QnA! Much appriciated.

 

[Xerberus]

The fleet strategy AI has definitely been the most challenging part of the AI, technically. There is plenty of cool things we could do with the crisis AI in the future.

then i guess the only answer remaining is....will you?

 

[merni]

Is it possible to mod the AI to use features added by mods that arent really present in the base game? For example, if someone added a black marker/underworld organizations into the game (most likely as seperate empire-entities with limitations/differences), can the AI be taught how to use and interact with them?

Speaking of non-standard "empires", do odd factions like space nomads and migrating space fauna (the space cows) use a simillar AI to regular empires? Can they be modded?

Thanks for the QnA! Much appriciated.

You can create different country types in script, as well as add different AI modules to them. You can also use different types of events to steer their behaviour. Fallen empires and crisis empires work like this for example. I think we can make it even more modular and mod friendly in the future.

 

[merni]

then i guess the only answer remaining is....will you?

I hope so

 

[Spyhawk]

Is there any kind of easter-eggs in AI behavior?
Also, maybe a more personal question based on your experience: What could be done to attract more women in the field of AI programming, or the gaming industry as a whole?

 

[lakrids404]

Another question in a-little-knowledge-is-a--dangerous-thing category.

But would it be feasible and perhaps even useful?! to use some genetic / semi genetic programming. Where every AI weightnings stats gets ranked, after for example survivability and strength. For every different combination of the different ethos. So fanatic spiritualist and pacifist is one group, and fanatic militarist and materialist is another and so on. Then pool the "best" of them in a central server and then "breed" new combinations of those, for example "Fanatic spiritualist and pacifist", and send those out to players pc, who will send the best back again to the central server. It's the great circle of (AI)life.