AI difficulty question

from Stardock Forums
I was wondering if the computer cheats at genius and incredible settings.. since their ships have +1speed, they seem to know where all suitable planets are, they research very fast, and they even build ships very fast.

I think there is a large gap between the "intelligent" and "genius" settings, as i have won 3-4games i a row at intelligent and then wanted to try something harder, but genius seems very hard, as they do the before mentioned things...

so i was wondering if anyone had some tips/strategies how to beat the game @ 5x genius with standard morality alignments.

and i would also like to know if the computer is cheating at the 2 hardest difficulty settings
652 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
The following are the AI bonuses/cheats at Genius/Crippling and Incredible/Maso.

Crippling

Economy +45%
Weapons +4%
Defense +8%
Morale +26%
Research +30%
Influence +26%
Trade +26%
Diplomacy +26%
HP +8%
Interest Rate +8%
PQ +5%
Trade Routes +2
Range +1

Maso

Economics +80%
Weapons +7%
Defense +15%
Morale +50%
Research +47%
Influence +50%
Trade +50%
Diplomacy +40%
HP +15%
Interest Rate +15%
PQ +30%
Trade Routes +2
Range +1

since their ships have +1speed
End of quote


That's probably their racial pick.

they seem to know where all suitable planets are
End of quote


They know that at all difficulty levels.

so i was wondering if anyone had some tips/strategies how to beat the game @ 5x genius with standard morality alignments.
End of quote


- Use Diplomacy (get picks at startup) to trade techs you don't have and sell them to everyone you meet.
- Bribe AIs to war with each other, esp those with Strong/Strongest military and econ.
- Culture bomb
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Does this mean the AI are not really smarter at higher levels, they just get bigger bonuses?
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I don't think so, although those bonuses look quite intimidating.

To sight an example that shows increased AI effect at higher levels. On Crippling and Maso the AIs don't seem too keen on putting themselves into debt while on normal they'll happily accept ridiculous deals for which they're economically ruined with the techs they purchase and can therefor never utilize.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Doesnt that depend on diplomacy? As Maso, they get a 40% diplomacy boost so dealing with them is harder.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Does this mean the AI are not really smarter at higher levels, they just get bigger bonuses?
End of quote


I believe AI are also smarter at higher levels. One example is that they are better at protecting their transports (though never as well as humans).
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
They are stupid at protecting their planets. It makes no sense to have colony ships in orbit after colonization is finished. They are easily destroyed and the star system loses 5,000 population for each ship destroyed, making invasion easier. A good fix would be to absorb unused colony ships and build Defenders instead. BattleAxes and Defenders fair equally as well against Dreadnoughts but both stop transports.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
And if they're rich enough and have sufficient production capacity, build battlehammers to stop the big bad dreadnaughts.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
According to Frogboy, the AIs get smarter up to "intelligent." After "intelligent" they just get bigger bonuses.

The "no trading for cash" thing on maso does *not* depend on diplomacy. They simply won't trade anything for cash, even if your diplomacy is greater. The AI will be more likely to part with ten good techs than it will part with 40 BC. It's just a design feature to make maso harder.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
According to Frogboy, the AIs get smarter up to "intelligent." After "intelligent" they just get bigger bonuses.
End of quote


That is, except for the diplomacy on maso where they won't trade money (only minor civs except the starting two).