A (Redundant) Question About AI Difficulty Settings

Hey all.

I know I read this just in the past day or two, but now I've lost it.

If someone knows, can you point me to the post regarding a breakdown of the difficulty settings for the AI? At what level is the AI NOT cheating. It seems I remember that the AI was at its optimum a level or three above the NORMAL setting; but I'm asking for help here.

A search dug up nothing, but my search keywords may have been all wrong, and it's almost time to go home and I'm lazy.

Anybody know of what I speak?

Thanks.
5,060 views 6 replies
Reply #1 Top
I don't remember it being in a post. I'm pretty sure it's on the wiki
Reply #2 Top
t what level is the AI NOT cheating. It seems I remember that the AI was at its optimum a level or three above the NORMAL setting


Tough is what you're looking for.
Reply #3 Top
Cakewalk = 15 (Fool)
Easy = 20 (Dunce)
Simple = 30 (Beginner)
Beginner = 40 (Sub-Normal)
Normal = 50 (Normal)
Challenging = 65 (Bright)
Tough = 80 (Intelligent) *Full AI capability from here on*
Painful = 85 (Gifted)
Crippling = 95 Genius)
Masochistic = 100 (Incredible)
Obscene = 120 (Godlike)
Suicidal = 150 (Ultimate)

Everything from Painful to Suicidal get increasing bonuses, maxing out at 300% (I think). But I have never seen a breakdown of all the various bonuses for each level.
Reply #4 Top
Those numbers that Moosetek gave don't particularly reflect anything by the way, they're just arbitrary. At tough the AI has all algorithms enabled, and no economy bonuses or penalties. At painful (gifted) the AI has I think just a 5% economy advantage, which Brad thought made it the "fairest" level being as the computer is handicapped by at least 5% by just being a computer.
Reply #5 Top
The WIKI...that is probably where I saw it. (smacks head - rolls eyes - sneaks a quick peek)

Yep. That's where it is.

Thanks for the insights everyone. I'm starting to find Normal too easy, believe it or not. I think I'll ease my way up to tough and see how I do.
Reply #6 Top
Those numbers that Moosetek gave don't particularly reflect anything by the way, they're just arbitrary.


They are not arbitrary numbers, they are what's reported in the debug.err for intelligence level.