Group AAR #2: Fight for the Future

[Mart]

Settings alone, and their combinations too!
When CMNing, I was sometimes setting these for AI. You could see significant results, e.g. AI ordered to build many colony pods would really spam them, same for probe teams. I am not sure "exceptionally aggressive" or "exceptionally peaceful"
There are also objectives like "defend" "attack" "attack enemy HQ"

[Yitzi]

Even so, those just determine the AI's focus, they don't teach it to do things like think "can I afford support for these units".

[Yitzi]

I realized...I just don't enjoy playing with this format.  I'm afraid I'll have to pull out of this one...

[ete]

Ah well, fair enough.. I guess it's just me who likes it and has time.

Without the AI to screw my empire up and with no humans as potential opponents this game's not likely to be much challenge for me. If anyone wants to join late as another faction you're welcome (even the Imperium, if you want a headstart).

[Yitzi]

Ah well, fair enough.. I guess it's just me who likes it and has time.

The issue isn't time; it's that you're apparently the only one who likes the AI screwing up your empire.

(At some point, I probably should figure out the AI so that I can figure out how to make it not-so-ridiculously-stupid.)

[Buster's Uncle]

I reckon y'all might ought to try a straight succession game - take turns playing the same faction.

[Flux]

I have to agree with Yitzi. Even when I could play, I was much more interested in 100%ing Sonic Adventure 2 on my Dreamcast...

[Mart]

I can take over a faction, if needed. I like this kind of games

[Yitzi]

I reckon y'all might ought to try a straight succession game - take turns playing the same faction.

That would work better, although there's still the issue of style changes (either playing style or writing style)...

Another idea, which I think has a lot of potential, is as another type of GotM-like scenario, but instead of playing as a particular faction and trying to get the fastest victory or whatever, each player plays as a different faction (possibly with a penalty for the player faction or bonuses for the other factions) and the goal is to make the most interesting AAR from a roleplay perspective...

[ete]

Ah well, fair enough.. I guess it's just me who likes it and has time.

The issue isn't time; it's that you're apparently the only one who likes the AI screwing up your empire.

(At some point, I probably should figure out the AI so that I can figure out how to make it not-so-ridiculously-stupid.)

To clarify my sentence: There are not people who both like it and have time other than me. You don't like it, Jarl does not have time, BlueFlux is possibly both.

And it's not that I like the AI screwing me up, I like playing a game that feels like a potential challenge because there's humans out there building too without having to deal with the pace most MP PBEM games seem to go at (multiple months to finish a game, with a high chance of your foe leaving). Undoing the AI's screwups is kinda frustrating (you saw those 45 scouts it tried to attack with?), but at least it's a novel thing to optimize.

Making the AI less stupid is a noble goal. I'll be happy to help with that effort with testing and advise.

I reckon y'all might ought to try a straight succession game - take turns playing the same faction.

No challenge. Human v AI games are either kind of horrible because the AI has a stupid advantage and could crush you at any moment if they brought more than a fraction of their force against you so it feels just really uncomfortable, or basically cakewalks. Taking it in turns to play the same faction would be barely more interesting strategically than playing a normal game, with added delays.

I can take over a faction, if needed. I like this kind of games

That would be cool . I'd suggest the Drones as the most evenly matched faction to take over, but if you'd rather pick someone else you're welcome to. You may take a look around on omniscient before deciding. File's attached to my last AAR post.

[Yitzi]

Ah well, fair enough.. I guess it's just me who likes it and has time.

The issue isn't time; it's that you're apparently the only one who likes the AI screwing up your empire.

(At some point, I probably should figure out the AI so that I can figure out how to make it not-so-ridiculously-stupid.)

To clarify my sentence: There are not people who both like it and have time other than me. You don't like it, Jarl does not have time, BlueFlux is possibly both.

And it's not that I like the AI screwing me up, I like playing a game that feels like a potential challenge because there's humans out there building too without having to deal with the pace most MP PBEM games seem to go at (multiple months to finish a game, with a high chance of your foe leaving). Undoing the AI's screwups is kinda frustrating (you saw those 45 scouts it tried to attack with?), but at least it's a novel thing to optimize.

Making the AI less stupid is a noble goal. I'll be happy to help with that effort with testing and advise.

The other big project is to set up a Pitboss system so that MP can be played at a more reasonable rate.

[Mart]

Ok, I opened save and play Drones.

Now, if I would like to trade technologies with:
Creche - Doc Mobility
Technocrats - Industrial Auto.

do I need to agree on that with players here on the forum?

[ete]

You may trade and interact diplomatically with the AI unless a player specifically says their leader would prefer not to do a thing (like standing orders to whoever's running the empire). This lets the game progress faster. BlueFlux is not playing so you may interact with anyone but the Technocrats without any restrictions.

Guidelines for interacting with Federov: Don't ask him to go to war with anyone without permission from me, and you may trade techs if you have techs to offer in return, but not if you don't have any tech (including no buying techs, the AI often vastly underprices them,  and no getting him to gift techs).

@Yitzi: Both would be pretty major improvements.

[Yitzi]

@Yitzi: Both would be pretty major improvements.

Which is why they're on the table despite being really big jobs.

[Mart]

... and you may trade techs if you have techs to offer in return, but not if you don't have any tech (including no buying techs, the AI often vastly underprices them,  and no getting him to gift techs).

Ok, in few turns then I will have Synthetic Fossil Fuels to exchange. AI may not trade it due to Planetary Transit System. I can agree on not building PTS by the Drones. Would you exchange it? Presently Technocrats pursue Centauri Meditation.