You seem to be catching on.

And I second SeniorDonde's post

this would be nice if Ironclad would also give little candy on the web
about races or new sreen shoot or something to make people come on the site
The more we see the more we talk of it......

Give me some sugar baby.........

Keeep up the good work buddys

My thoughts on difficulty levels:
Is a world domination game supposed to be 'beatable'?
Is 'beating' the game, 'winning' sensful in such a setting? If so, why hasn't someone already 'beaten' our real world? Why do we live in a multi-polar world if at some stage in history various powers had achieved a dominant position?
Which international mechanism stopped the world from being 'won' by one party at some point of history? Can an AI, that lacks such a mechanism, create a sensful context that immerses the player?

An immersive game is a game that follows sensful rules. Sensful rules are rules that could possibly reproduce historic events. Thus a game that can be beaten can not be immersive.

In shorter words: Make the AI analyse the situation of the galaxy and let it predict the behaviour of other parties. Did one of the players declare war and recklessly extinguish another party? Is he likely to do so in the future? Is he likely to attack the analyzing AI? If so, what measures can the AI take to defend itself? The desired behaviour is an AI that systematically creates alliances against threats. A warmongering player is such a threat. Being allied the joint forces should be able to reduce the power of the warmonger and thus ward off the threat, in which case the reason behind the alliance vanishes and thus the alliance ceases to exist, leaving the galaxy in almost the same situation as before.

that sounds like some impressive AI, will it be able to make you a cup of tea as well?  

That sound like what the GalCiv2 AI does, they're always ganging up on me for being a bully and warmongerer. If the SOASE AI is that good I'll be amazed and pleased.

Of course, not even the GalCiv2 AI can keep things balanced like you describe, someone eventually gets squeezed out no matter what alliances they form. Usually by me  .

The GalCiv2 AI is particularly bad at this.
The GC2 AI tries to win by mowing down the smallest enemy it can find. Ganging up is a consequence of alignment, not of analysis. Nothing is easier than backstabbing a GC2 AI. You go rampaging across the galaxy, extinguishing every race that crosses your path in the biggest genocide in the history of the known galaxy and all remaining parties go: "Hi my friend! Nice trading going on!" And then you move in that fleet and capture 5 of their planets within 3 rounds.
AIs in this type of game are never aware of the fact that this game only started because the player wants to extinguish every other party on the map. They should be at least slightly suspicious about a rampaging empire that enslaves all species in their general vicinity. They don't even try to survive.
That's why they need those bonuses over the player to be at least fun to fight against.

Well vain I was referring to the GalCiv2 DA AI. I don't know if you've played with that game, but the AI is substantially improved over the standard GalCiv2 AI. If you play with the AI on tough, which is with all its logarithms unlocked but no bonuses to economics or research, it is very difficult to simply mow down.

Compared to other games the AI in GalCiv2 DA is very competent.

Hopefully the AI in SOASE will be as good or better!

The AI does make reprocautions against warmongers. Most of the time they ally, but I have seen UN messures, secret council meetings, Embargos, so much spying from so many sides I practically collapsed, and backstabbing of their own.

The massive spying was what really frustrated me. There I was with a clear lead, when all of a sudden I would be invested by four or five spies a turn.

There was no way to keep up with the influx, until I finally remembered the Counter-Espionage tech and built one on every planet.

Still, cleaning up all those spies took the rest of the game and I was pretty much powerless my economy was so wrecked.

Now as soon as I begin to take a lead I build the counter espionage building to prevent that flood of spies.

Wow that sucks... I also hate when I spy pwned...

Two Schems!?!?!?!??!?

*faints*

emp. my assumption is beginning to form.
you responded to two of the imposter's (and so not 1337) posts immediately and with the same reaction.

Yes, its me Schem, you figured it all out.(sarcasm )

Dont you think I have better things to do then go on impersonating my enemy. Though I can see the advantages, I was beated to the idea.

Or is it me? And your lack of foresight has yet to see the truth? Or is it myself being myself in another realm not realizing its me in the first realm...

the truth is, there can only be one.

Well then, your just being stupid

I have yet to see the actual Schematics name.

Actually, with the ability to create multiple accounts there can be plenty with no need to tap into the theory of a parallel universe. Heck everyone on this forum could be Schem. But that could mean… dare I say, Schem and Emperor are the same person. The Emperor being an ego driven manifestation in Schem's mind, the creation of an arch-rival, his nemesis.

We could all be personalities in Schem's mind all believing we are in the real world. If that is the case, than multiple Schem’s may indicate a fracture in his mind. It would also mean there has only been one pre-order .

But that’s just crazy talk… or is it?

Crazy Talk? That's my cousin.

why would I imposter myself, let alone do it with an elementary student candor?
I think I'll just revel in the fact that I'm the only one with a fanclub on this forum   
I'm a biggot, I wouldn't dare depart from my own views.

besides, you would see a lot more of spam posting going on.

that would be rather interesting... but then again, I think I would notice the blackouts and the missing time.

arguements, spam arguements. I'm pretty sure that was understood.

We are the SchematicsofNinjas. Lower your shields and surrender. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile

Hitler had a fan club.

As does Britney Spears.

The similarities are astounding.

I am similar to Hitler in that I am an intelligent bigot.
I am not a racist, self-interested bastard who would rather commit suicide (not sepoku) than be taken by allied forces.
I may have plans that could sieze giant chunks of the planet for my power but...
I dont plan to use them

as for Britney and I, we only are the same in that I am unbelievably good looking.

I think thye are trying to tarnish your reputation by acting stupid. I wouldnt call it a fanclub.

Would be funny if all the members of the forum had a secret meeting to conspire against you. Ofcourse that just ridiculous *whistles*.




This is proof that this new Schem is very illogical, meaning that he can not be the real one for the pure reason that Schem is usually logical. So you gain the title of IllogicalSchem .

AHAHA, good one

Truely, it almost made tears come out of my eyes.