N/A

Yeah the trick is i'm trying to figure out a way to do it so that the spell doesn't appear in the (strategic) spell book to human players... and I think a spell that requires a hidden resource will be visible.  Still that's better than what I have far.

I'm sure a Requires UnitStat will hide the spell from players so i'm trying to figure out how to bump that for an AI Sov.  What i'm thinking is similar to what you've suggested.... need to make use of the <IsAIOnlyUnit>1</IsAIOnlyUnit> somehow.

I'm thinking, create new UnitStat, default value 1.  The AI Spell needs a value of 2 to cast (minimum).

An AIOnly unit could have an Ability that does something like set A_NewUnitStat, Value 100.... I think that will double the UnitStat value to 2 for all units.

The trick being what unit to give the ability... I tried creating AI pioneers a while back to do something like this but it didn't seem to work, from memory the AI kept building the default pioneers... not sure how to influence that.

I dunno it's all a bit tricky... various workarounds that can work, but in some cases the AI won't figure it out.  I'm tempted just to create a spell call "DON'T CAST ME - AI ONLY", and if the players wants to stuff things up by casting it so be it.

I really wish we had AI only spells and events though.

Possibly dumb question but what do you mean here?

Would love to take the credit for that one, but it's a classic Heavenfall technique that I have stolen, and now use for evil purpose.

I'm going to give them technique a try, probably won't get to it for a few days though, will post back results later though.

Thanks.

Wouldn't it be easier to create a trait that unlocks only for AI.  Use the hidden stat that will unlock a trait.  The trait then is the required prerequisite for spells/abilities.  This could be in theory tied to AI personalities so that when a personality trait is applied to a sovereign it increases the stat and everything unlocks like a domino.

I don't know if it is or not.  It may be something that can only be done at the Dev level.  So when a personality is applied a non displayed stat is increased by 2 (one for each personality trait) and then that stat can be used for what you are suggesting.