Which GalCiv2 expansion has better AI?

from GalCiv2 Forums

OK, I know that it should be ToA, that it is the most advanced expansion, etc. The truth is that I don't care much about specific tech trees for different races, or about new spying options (I rarely use spying anyway). For all I care, even if developers went back to antiqued graphic and limited options from the original Master of Orion (yes, the one made in 1993), but if the AI was improved to be even more challenging, that would be the best game for me.

 

I haven't played GalCiv2 for two years, and just a few days ago I installed the expansions. After a day or two of remembering how stuff worked and trying a couple of games, I began a great game in DA, on a medium map, tough level, five oponents. My first impresion is that, at least as far as I can remember DL, Dark Avatar has a much, much better AI. How would you describe AI in DA when compared to DL? The only weak spot I notice is that the AI doesn't adjust ship defences to different weapons type as good as it should, but nevertheless, it is very challenging. I am playing as the Terrans, it is late 2231 and I am still the third race in the galaxy, with Altarians and Drengin as rival "superpowers". (Frankly, their war is the only thing keeping me alive. The Altarians are also at war with me, and it's the most brutal conflict I ever saw in GalCiv2. Border planets switch ownership every few weeks, and my factories can barely produce enough of my most modern ships to replace the ones being lost at the front line. The Drengin also don't like me very much in spite of our economic and research treaties, and if they weren't at war with the Altarians they would invade my brains out.)

Anyway, I am not sure that ToA can offer such a good gameplay, because I've read about too many "issues", and have seen the Korath not colonizing bug myself. So, some races (Drengin and Korath) often don't colonize, some don't build any military (Altarians - fun idea when compared to their superpower position in my current game). Others report that AI can sometimes neglect developing a fleet, only because he focused on developing useless terror stars (Terrans). 

My question - if you think that ToA offers a better AI gameplay then DA, why do you think so? What can ToA AI do what DA AI couldn't? 

6,612 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Back during the Beta, Brad rolled through the AI on it's first (?) visit since the DL release.  There were some horrid AI bugs like (I think) his favortite being when the AI tried to make a 1-per-civ buidling on ALL of it's planets and once it finished on one planet, the building que ended for all the others...effectively shutting down that civ for some time.

That said, TA would be the best to go for in the way of AI as of right now.  That disclaimer is due to the 2.0 patch porting back tons of fixes only available right now in TA as well as other new things back into DA.  So, perhaps once 2.0 is released I could also say that DA's AI is as good.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I don't really understand what you wanted to say, can you clarify?

Quoting Loupdinour, reply 1
Back during the Beta, Brad rolled through the AI on it's first (?) visit since the DL release.
End of Loupdinour's quote

During the Beta of what - DA or TA?

Quoting Loupdinour, reply 1

There were some horrid AI bugs like (I think) his favortite being when the AI tried to make a 1-per-civ buidling on ALL of it's planets and once it finished on one planet, the building que ended for all the others...effectively shutting down that civ for some time.

End of Loupdinour's quote

So, this was in DA, in TA, or in both? Has the bug been removed? I am not really familiar with history of this game's development.


Quoting Loupdinour, reply 1

That said, TA would be the best to go for in the way of AI as of right now. 
End of Loupdinour's quote

How do you deal with issues I mentioned before, which are not present in DA and DL? Like civilizations not colonizing, not building an army, etc? All advices appreciated! :thumbsup:

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

During the Beta of TA, sorry for not clarifing.  The only beta I was involved in was TA, so in my mind 'beta' and 'galciv' only seems to register as TA lol.

The planetary improvement bug existed since DL I think he had said.  There were journals he posted when he was overhauling the AI and commented on this one.

As for the problems that only appear in TA (seemingly due to the AI change)...the only answer I can say is that hopefully it'll get fixed in 2.0.  There is something horridly wrong that seems to be stopping some AIs somtimes.

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

OK, thanks, but wouldn't you say that DA offers a "more reliable" AI then TA? For example, I haven't noticed this production bug, but I don't have the time nor the passion to play very much, either. I play a game or two, and that's it for me for many months. (What I want to say is that, to me, that production bug hasn't been an issue.)

So, DA AI can sometimes disappoint, but not drastically, while TA AI can, quite often, offer no resistance whatsoever.
I guess it's just different tastes and different priorities for everyone.