They are essentially forcing me to declare war over two influence starbases.

Or to build your own Influence (via starbases or planetary improvements) to counter theirs...

It's not random. They will build influence starbases around you if your influence rating is much higher than theirs. Sometimes they will do it anyway to raise their own and influence your worlds, possibly hoping for some defections.

Build a few of your own next to their homeworld. If your military is that strong they won't do anything but put up with it. And it will raise your own influence rating as well as lower theirs.

Is there a link to some info about how exactly Inf. Starbases work? I always assumed they "fed" off of local influence sources like planets, but I guess I was wrong. Do they then add their effect to whatever is already there?

=$= Big J Money =$=

What I do when the someone places influence starbases in my area that are causing me grief but I am militarily much stronger than them, is I simply destroy the starbases, and then immediately attempt to make peace and maybe give them some money to them to sweeten them up. In many cases this works, though sometimes it does cause grudges that I have to deal with later! lol.

Though to be fair if I diplomatically (if I had the option that is, would be nice to have) told them to push off I suspect they would hold a grudge against me anyway if they agreed. However interestingly enough they probably would only agree to that I suspect if I was miltarily stronger than them...or an ally!

EZ

AR

PS The post above may explain why you are seeing this behaviour, one of the problems of observing a AI from the outside, so to speak, is that it may have a valid reason for doing that, though it seems a little odd to us. You really need to evaluate what is thinking ? Is it simply range extending ? If so I much prefer an AI use an ISB to an MSB; far less aggressive. Is it looking to influence you over ? Then I would expect it to add more mdules over time.

I think it makes sense that different leaders have different views on what is considered an aggression and what is not
considering their own interest first

the AI may hope that you won't be bothered enough to declare war on them

the AI may be 'probing' what is your threshold for declaring war
of course it's risky considering that you are more powerful than him
at which difficulty level did you play ?

If there is no chance of your planets flipping, then just ignore them. If they later become a threat, either destroy them or deploy some influence starbases of your own. You don't HAVE to get rid of them just because they are there.

I'll use the above quote because it covers a couple points:

You are correct, there is no chance of my planets flipping and really no need to go through the hassle of putting up my own ISB. I may not HAVE to get rid of them, but there's a principle involved. If I start allowing the weakest civ to pull this crap, who knows what the Arceans are going to think. Actually, you can't see it very well, but the Arcean's have a world over in the right corner...sandwiched between two of mine. They also have an influence starbase, but it is out of range to affect any of the three planets in the corner. If they have shown me more respect than the Thalians, there's no way I can let the Thalians just put up ISB's at will.

There was an idea posed to put a couple of my own ISB's next to their worlds. For the trouble to do that I could easily just take their planets. Send a convoy of 4 of my 15 movement shock troop transports, with escorts and the problem will be solved.

I just found it odd that the AI's have little concept of what constitutes a threat. The Thalians actually put up their Economy bases first...extended their range. Fine. I figured I'd see a couple of their freighters. Instead I see a couple of ISB's go up. That looks like an invasion and if they won't let me peacefully purchase the bases from them, I will respond in a like manner.

this brings up a good AI point: Opponent Modelling

we know that the AI have routines to detect threats from the other players, but i wonder if they ever turn the table and say, "if you were me, and were doing this, and i were you, would i perceive this as a threat?"

this is, of course based on the (flawed) premise that the other player thinks the way you do... but it's better than no modellng at all!

so i wonder, i you built the same bases next to Thalians, what would they think?

The AI detects you constructing starbases close to it's territory and reacts to it so I doubt it would be very difficult to program the AI not to build bases close to you unless it's to provoke you to initiate war.

Actually, I've all but ignored the Thalians the entire game. I had to create a constructor with a 7 range just to reach their homeworld. That had something to do with the "invasion" impression.

Still, the problem has since been rectified as the Thalians no longer exist and the Maelduin Empire now has 3 more planets.

so i wonder, i you built the same bases next to Thalians, what would they think?

Actually, I've had this happen in a previous game. I think it was the Arceans who put up a couple of influence bases right next to a couple of my worlds. I "played the game" and responded with two of my own bases. Two turns later I received a message from them similar to:

"So, I'm reading the sector report for 11-17 and I see there's an Influence Starbase there? I guess it's ok as long as you don't build any more."

The next turn I received the exact same message from the Arcean's allies.

That's what I'm talking about when I'm unable to express my displeasure about the starbases. The AI may not treat the human player any different than another AI player, but the AI's do have more diplomatic tools available.

"we know what you are doing with all of those ships next to our border. i bet you learned that from watching human players, didn't you? it's lucky for you that i've got three beers in me, and need to go find more pretzels, or i might do something about it!"

If they change it so we can comment on things like this I dare them not to use your quote verbatim! Very nice.