Diplomatic Relations between the A.I.s

How do you find them?

from Sins Forums
I'm still learning the ropes of the game. My last game was a FFA wherein I played as the Advent for the first time against two TECs. Although I received numerous missions from both computer players that generally involved sabotaging the Other Guy, the computer players made no attempts to directly attack each other. In fact unlike myself, they were able to leave in single, defenseless colony ships in another computer's system without being attacked. Not once did they fire upon each other; only me. There was no where on the Diplomacy screen could I find a "Relations" chart that showed that they were actually allied against me, but when a giant fleet of one AI followed by a Me-Too fleet of the other attacked me, I knew I was playing a 1vs2 game (And promptly quit.) And no, I didn't setup the game with locked teams with two A.I.s both on Team 2, they were clearly separated. So what gives? Why wouldn't the A.I.s attack each other? It won't always be like this, will it? Another thing, I've found all of my attempts to curry favor with either opposing faction was inevitably thwarted as they would sent a scout ship into my system to be instantly obliterated along with any positive relation gains I'd made. Although I COULD turn off Auto-Attack, that would mean I wouldn't have that instantly obliteration against the OTHER opponent(s). Is there any way to set up a "Do not attack Player X" outside of having a cease fire/peace/alliance agreement?
8,879 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
I think they do attack each other. But usually they will attack the weakest faction or a valuable planet. Check your ranking constantly. If you are usually the highest (ex. 3 out of 3 players), the chances are you will be attacked. This game does not favor defensive. Tried to keep churning out fleet. One thing good about this game, even a lowly frigate has its merits. You just have to complement it with another cruisers or another.

Hope this helps.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
So the top player is attacked.. but so is thhe weakest, so aim for #2? :P

The valuable planet thing might have been it, although it was only valuable because I made it so and I was playing as Advent (Desert planet, not as useful to the two TEC players.) In any case throughout the game I noticed both AIs would have a fleets present in the same system but would only attack me, much to my frustration.

I tend to build a balanced, 'round numbers' fleet. For example,
-1 Capital Ship
-10 Frigates
-8 M. Frigates
-2-4 Light Carriers
-2-4 Support Craft
etc.

And then a separate "siege" fleet.
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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
I've only played 1 game since buying this but in my first while I was wiping out my closest rival the other two races were in constant war (I had planet view with one of them) losing many ships and planets.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
The game should have options to ask them Credits, Metal and Crystal.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
I had the exact same thing happen to me in my last two games, both FFA. It seems the AI is a cheater, and it only attacks the player in FFA, so it's basically all vs player AVP, instead of free for all. Not only they don't attack each other, they coordinate their attacks so they are attacking in two planets at once at full force.

And I hate that. It's plain, simple cheating, and it's no fun. I've played tons of games of FFA, not in this game, but others as Civilization 2-4, Galactic Civilizations 2, and the AI doesn't join forces vs the player as default and diplomatic relations are a lot better than in Sins.

Basically, FFA is useless.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
The AIs do fight among themselves in FFA. But, especially on the higher difficulties, they do ally up and try to storm the highest ranked (most dangerous) player. Sometimes that's you, sometimes it isn't.

To me, FFA is the only way to play because it's the only unpredictable game mode. Locked teams is a lot less fun because you know the allies and enemies are never going to change. ;)
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Sometimes I actually find it better to go for a slow start with unlocked teams as you won't be the most powerful player, and thus not the one who gets murdered by all the AIs teaming up.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
The above is especially important if playing against Unfairs in FFA. They have plenty of money in the beginning to outbid you on the first few pirate raids, so if you're targeted you're usually unable to sic 'em on anyone else. I always try to play conservatively at the start, so they run bid wars among themselves instead :)
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

I am playing 10 player diplomatic FFA on my map. I assure you the AI is all too happy to go to war with each other. as a matter of fact I have NAP or better with all AIs except the one I'm exterminating.  And the AI's are all too eager to help me with that also.

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

You can always save the game. Quit and reload, with changed player relation settings.

So when you are happy that your defences are up, you can unlock teams for the rest of that game.

 

Personally I favour the FFA style as I find the AI treats you like an AI if you play like it does. 8|

Hope thats not to cryptic