Ranking Request: Remove AI from Skirmish and Pantheon

Many matches begin with AI and cause personal rankings to improve unevenly.

from Demigod Forums

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A great deal of Demigod players are excited and driven about achieving a high ladder ranking. However, the ranking system is flawed in more than one way; one of which is the fact that some players face Artificial Intelligence foes and recieve credit for it.

Because the AI in the game is rather easily beaten at this time, playing a match against them results in an easy victory that improves a player's ladder reputation. Furthermore, that player can cancel matches at the connection screen... thus manipulating the circumstances in order to only face this rudimentary foe.

What's more is that players can sometimes be paired with AI against opposing players (often in the aftermath of a flawed connection at startup) which results in an uneven match off the bat!

In order to prevent these imbalances and further legitimize the ranking system in the game, I request that Artificial Intelligence be removed completely from Skirmish and Pantheon games. Instead, broaden the variables which determine which human players face which other human players in these arenas.

I believe that our community is wide enough for players to be able to face each other without a great deal of waiting. If players wish to face AI, they can do so within the Custom game system matches or in the network or single player arenas.

Online gaming is first and foremost about people facing people: therein lies the challenge. Let's set the table straight and organize Skirmish and Pantheon to more properly show us who is a wise and able Demigod player.

 

Sincerely,

Boxleitner

1,434 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

You didn't provide a compelling argument - and drew unsupported conclusions based on opinion, as if it were fact.  This isn't a flame, this is just how I read your words.

Here is one example:

Because the AI in the game is rather easily beaten at this time, playing a match against them results in an easy victory...

That assumes you are only playing against bots as in 1 v bots pantheon or skirmish match.  I'm certain there are  pantheon games out there where a team lost against a team that had bots, which would prove your assumption to be false.

So please don't forget that you're not playing against bots - you're playing against people on a team that may also have bots. (Of course there are!) The AI could be improved, but that has little to do with what you're proposing.  The AI sucks equally well whichever side you're on, so the imbalance you're suggesting may not be quite as easy to prove - since both sides are dealing with it.  There may be other ways to provide an objective ladder and ranking system.  I don't disagree with what I think is your goal - to have an consistently fair and objective ladder and ranking system.  I just disagree with how you're proposing to resolve the issue.

Online gaming is first and foremost about people facing people: therein lies the challenge.

Not everyone plays online for the same reason you do.  Accept that, because it will help to move on to think about other ways to provide an objective (what you call 'fair') ladder and ranking system.

Not signed.

Reply #2 from Demigod Forums Top

I continue to disagree. AI is definitely easily beaten with or without human players to babysit them. I do not feel the need to extrapolate to players and Stardock crew who are familiar with the game and its nuances. I believe I have expressed myself conscisely and appropriately and that you have no grounds on which to find fault.

And online gaming is about multiplayer.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Aesir, reply 1
You didn't provide a compelling argument - and drew unsupported conclusions based on opinion, as if it were fact.  This isn't a flame, this is just how I read your words.

Here is one example:


Because the AI in the game is rather easily beaten at this time, playing a match against them results in an easy victory...


That assumes you are only playing against bots as in 1 v bots pantheon or skirmish match.  I'm certain there are  pantheon games out there where a team lost against a team that had bots, which would prove your assumption to be false.

So please don't forget that you're not playing against bots - you're playing against people on a team that may also have bots. (Of course there are!) The AI could be improved, but that has little to do with what you're proposing.  The AI sucks equally well whichever side you're on, so the imbalance you're suggesting may not be quite as easy to prove - since both sides are dealing with it.  There may be other ways to provide an objective ladder and ranking system.  I don't disagree with what I think is your goal - to have an consistently fair and objective ladder and ranking system.  I just disagree with how you're proposing to resolve the issue.


Online gaming is first and foremost about people facing people: therein lies the challenge.


Not everyone plays online for the same reason you do.  Accept that, because it will help to move on to think about other ways to provide an objective (what you call 'fair') ladder and ranking system.

Not signed.
End of Aesir's quote

Whatever dude. The AI is terrible. We need human only team automatch.

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

Well bear in mind the game isn't saved the first three minutes so you can just quit if you do get stuck with AIs without consequence.  Doesn't really address the idea behind your complaint, but it does mitigate the effects of the current implimentation a bit.