Why didn't the AI in GalCiv 1 ever build Sensor Drones?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Yes, I know this is a GalCiv 2 forum!

I was playing GalCiv 1 last night and was reminded of how the AI never seemed to build any Sensor Drones. I love those little things, since they were free (no maint), cheap, had great range and great sensor range. I would build a bunch and send them all over the map to watch the AI ship movements. If they die, they die. No big deal.

- But PC, that was GalCiv 1. You're living in the past dude!

OK, maybe. But I wanted to raise this issue because I'm hoping the AI will be even smarter in GalCiv 2. Will I ever see a GalCiv 2 AI sensor drone (or reasonable equivalent)? Does the AI like to see the uber-fleet coming, or does the AI believe that ignorance is bliss?

-PC
11,239 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi!
Have you ever noticed AI ships follow your ships even when you know they're out of sight? Seems to me that the instant knowledge about yellow stars isn't the only one (hidden) advantage AI in GC-1 has.
BR, Iztok
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Have you ever noticed AI ships follow your ships even when you know they're out of sight? Seems to me that the instant knowledge about yellow stars isn't the only one (hidden) advantage AI in GC-1 has.

Well, how do you know that your ships were out of sight for the AI?
And if your movements have been spotted by the AI, maybe they are just guessing where you have gone.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Also, I remember writing code so that if your ship's destination was an Alien ship, it would follow it as well.  So it wasn't entirely one-sided.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Hmmm...if one could afford to buy warships that also have sensors to a degree, sensor drones quickly became a waste of time and resources. The AI never had a shortage of ships to "see" you with.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
not necessarily since the space taken up by the sensors could have easily been devoted to more important things like death rays and missel batteries
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Hmmm..my statement might not hold true for GC2, but since we were talking about GC1 where all ships had at least the basic sensor tech, my statement stands as is.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I personally never found much use for sensor drones. Then again, I almost always played on a Gigantic galaxy map, and poured alot of finances into espionage. It kind of made the need for slow-moving physical "eyes" moot. Plus, the AI really had no need of them, as a.) they already knew where the good worlds were, and b.) if they wanted to keep tabs on you more often than not they'd send in something both quicker and capable of defending itself. One game I recall the Arceans parked a few Battle Hammers near some of my stars. I foolishly allowed them to stay (didn't want the war of attrition) and they only left once a starbase had been constructed. By then they were well on their way to converting my planets in that sector. (Naturally the gloves came off at that point...)
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi!
Well, how do you know that your ships were out of sight for the AI?

Because I was the only one in the universe to have "Eyes of the universe" wonder, and had +1 sensors from the start too. So when my ships ended movement their ships weren't visible anymore.

I remember writing code so that if your ship's destination was an Alien ship, it would follow it as well.

That explains the behaviour. Thank you.
BR, Iztok
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Well my best guess is that the AI "thought that it was not Cost-efficent becuase it didn't cost anything!"
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I'd say it didn't need sensor drones. It always knew seemed to know where my property was. Of course, as a combat unit, it wouldn't have any value with its big 0 attack/defense.