1.6: AI has no clue what to do with pioneers

from Elemental Forums

Playing as the Paridens with a fresh start 1.6 game, I was exploring around Kraxis territory when I saw some of their units appear around my borders (we still need some sort of popup alert when enemy units are spotted near our borders, by the way).

Upon examination, the units weren't soldiers - they were pioneers. Completely undefended, hanging out near my territory. Mind you, this was after the Kraxis had declared war on me. I didn't attack them to see what would happen. Nothing happened. They just sat there. After a few turns, there were three Kraxis pioneers, just hanging out. I called an end to the experiment and killed them all. And then the Kraxis sent more undefended pioneers.

Maybe the Kraxis pioneers were following around my sovereign like hippies used to follow the Grateful Dead. But I kind of doubt it. :)

Elemental is getting better, but there's still a good long way to go.

elemental
5,715 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I saw this behavior in a brand new game (1.06 with the hotfix). The AI just walked around with its pioneers like it wanted to colonize in my land but couldn't get in as there was no non-aggression pact. I think its something to do with the AI trying to colonize at a point behind your territory and when it cant path to that area it just stops moving the unit.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I was thinking along those lines too, Glavius. I actually went back in to the game just now and saw a bunch more Kraxis pioneers in unclaimed territory near their cities. No path-finding issue there, so who knows?

The area they were in was full of those barren scrub tiles that you can't build on, so maybe the AI doesn't realize that there's some tiles it can't settle pioneers on.

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Ergh - that is disturbing to hear.  I hope they get a handle on that part fast - the whole game is about empire expansion so if there is no expansion there is no game.