Wow - tough game!

from GalCiv2 Forums
Okay, so I'm playing the campaign, and I get a super-powerful ship, and I'm pitted against the Yor. At first, it sounds pretty simple:  We're testing an uber-powerful ship. Wipe them out. Well, it turns out is isn't. I have two planets and they - well, they have the rest. Of course, I have to get the techs for taking over the planets, and they seem to research it (or already have it) at the beginning. Despite having the super powerful ship at the beginning, it just served to delay my demise.  Tried several things, got frustrated.  Even ended up taking over nearly half the planets in one marathon game. Unfortunately, the game took so long that the Yor were able to get far enough along the research line to make my ship useless, forcing me to invest heavily in weapons research myself. That game ended up in failure as well - I never managed to take over enough planets to turn the tide in my favor.

Ended up lowering the difficulty level to win. I must say, I'm impressed at how difficult the AI gets. I'd probably fare better in a more evenly matched game, but it does seem that the AI knows all of the standard tricks, and is difficult to fool like the AIs of so many other games.
6,540 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Depends on the difficulty level. At some point the AI players are cheating (economy bonuses and such), so I'm not I'd give them that much credit. Depends on the level you were playing.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Depends on the difficulty level. At some point the AI players are cheating (economy bonuses and such), so I'm not I'd give them that much credit. Depends on the level you were playing.
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"Tough" difficulty is a fair game. Above that the AI gets advantages. I don't know about you, but "tough" is more than sufficient to kick my ass. This game has some of the best AI I've ever seen in a computer game.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I was playing normal level, but the campaign gave me a very unbalanced setup.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Don't play the campaign as you would a sandbox game. Sprint towards the given victory condition as fast as you can.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This game has some of the best AI I've ever seen in a computer game.
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Absolutely.

In regard to the AI economics at higher levels, its certainly true they get higher economic rates, that does not alter the tactical handling of what they have produced. The Industry accolades Brad is getting for the quality of the GalCiv AI are well deserved.

At the end of the day the AI is there to give enjoyment and a challenge. Its a given a human will always beat an AI "head to head", they are spending Zillions trying to create the perfect Artificial intelligence, and I suspect they will do so for ever, no AI ever built is going to be able to compete with a human brain.

Regards
Zy
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Don't play the campaign as you would a sandbox game. Sprint towards the given victory condition as fast as you can.
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QFMFT

The TA campaign is best played (or meant to be played?) on your toes and rushed. I know the Arnor is very brief in what he says and so even that seems like things are urgent. Those Arnorian ships really give you a clock ticker on mission length on further missions. The ticker being your economy.

If a mission wants you to get somewhere or take some planet, expect it to be a rushed game. Get the ships you need from your planet and get moving. Some games I don't even touch any planetary improvements.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Maybe I'll play the rest of the missions at the lowest level just to see what the plot is. I think otherwise I'll just play the sandbox games.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The campaigns are nice to play for the storyline end of things. Otherwise, I don't see any replayability in them and thus Sandbox games (normal, MV, tournament) are where the replayability is at.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
"Tough" difficulty is a fair game. Above that the AI gets advantages. I don't know about you, but "tough" is more than sufficient to kick my ass. This game has some of the best AI I've ever seen in a computer game.
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The AI isn't too bad, other than a few stupid strategic things here and there. But stuff like... leaving all their ships orbiting planets 'defensively' when they could be gathering into fleets to counterattack and destroy my fleets, is kinda dumb. I hadn't a transport in sight nor had I even designed one, so it's not like that defense strategy was slowing me down.

But the AI is good. I was saying I wouldn't give them too much credit IF they were at a cheat level.