Rules that AI SHOULD follow - even at higher difficulty levels

from Elemental Forums

I understand the AI cheats at higher difficulty levels.  To an extent I don't mind it.  There are a couple rules/mechanics/consequences that it is very frustrating to see flaunted.

  1. Resources.   
    1. AI should still be forced to utilize resources to create units.
    2. AI should not be able to go into negative values for resources - gold/iron/crystal, etc.
    3. AI should get a (possibly dramatic) increase to resource acquisition.   i.e. they still need an iron mine, but while I may get 1 per turn, they would get 4 per turn (based upon difficulty level).  If the AI doesn't have an iron mine, or a crystal mine - they shouldn't be able to build troops without such. 
  2. Mobs.
    1. I understand the AI doesn't necessarily understand to clear an area before settling it - although I still don't see why.
    2. It is VERY frustrating to see enemy units walking right next to, stopping right next to a dragon and nothing happen.   Actually pretty stupid.
    3. Tarth has Stealth, Umber too I think.  No other factions should have this ability that costs a design point. 
    4. If buildings are shielded, fine.  It is just DUMB that a lone settler can stop next to a dragon.   If my units get attacked, theirs should be as well.  

There are probably more - but these are the 2 primary frustrations.   I like the game.  I really like LH.   Many things are drastically improved.   After the MANY iterations, I just think that certain cheats are more immersion breaking than others.

32,164 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I have never seen #1.  Does it show negative amounts in the Trade screen?  If I had to guess, I'd bet it's a bug in the way the AI upgrades its units (in that it doesn't check if it can afford it, it just does it).

Edit.  Ah, I see the other thread where someone posted a screenshot.  Honestly, in the game I am currently playing, if the Yithril weren't cheating I would have already won this game at turn 100.  So, kudos to Stardock for cheating!  And pthbt to you for spoiling the illusion.

#2 is a function of the world difficulty (as opposed to the AI difficulty).  If you set the World Difficulty to higher than Challenging, the AI will never draw agro from mobs.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I agree entirely. One of my biggest problems with the game.

Of course one of my other big problems with FE/LH was that the AI  wasn't providing a good challenge mid to late game.

These are conflicting complaints. The only way to solve both of them at the same time is to continue to improve the AI to the point that it can provide a strong challenge WHILE following the rules of the game (or at least bending them in ways which less obvious than they currently are).

So I recognise it is hard... but I still want it and I have to say like OP it does break my immersion, I like at least the illusion of a level playing field.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

To OP - the cheating AI completely and absolutely breaks immersion for me. If you see the AI cheating constantly, what's the point of playing?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Kamamura_CZ, reply 3

To OP - the cheating AI completely and absolutely breaks immersion for me. If you see the AI cheating constantly, what's the point of playing?

To show that cheaters never win? :)

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Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting zakath71, reply 4


Quoting Kamamura_CZ, reply 3
To OP - the cheating AI completely and absolutely breaks immersion for me. If you see the AI cheating constantly, what's the point of playing?

To show that cheaters never win?

Awesome