Does Selecting "Allow AI to use CPU-Intensive algorithms" Raise Your Metaverse Score?

Maybe AI Ship Redesign Frequency Should be Keyed to the Research Rate

In v1.2 a new option was added to allow the AI extra CPU time. Currently it just lets the AI redesign its ships more frequently than the base once per year. How often does the AI get to redesign ships with this selected? Does selecting it raise your MV score?

I play games on very fast research so a lot happens in a year. Not enabling this feature would cripple the AI on very fast research. Perhaps the AI redesign frequency should be keyed to the research rate or every time the AI gets a tech that affects ship design.
9,696 views 12 replies
Reply #1 Top
Does selecting it raise your MV score?


AFAIK it does not. Only Brad knows how often it redesigns with intensive algorithms on, though if I see him on I'll try to ask him.
Reply #2 Top
It should. It should factor into the difficuly level, which does affect scoring.

Fast research should also, since it allows you to score more points in meta game. (you get powerfull weapons faster)

Probably what needs to happen is some sort of calibration or normalization of scores depending on settings. For me I'm finding I can finish a game quicker with the newest beta...because they fixed minaturization which allows my ships to be super super fast. Hence higher scores with new beta...

Reply #3 Top
I even didn't get the question...
Reply #4 Top
Only Brad knows how often it redesigns with intensive algorithms on

Just take a look at the C++ source code. Manuals and developers may lie but never the source code.
Reply #5 Top
Unfortunately I don't have source access. I'm just the forum guy
Reply #7 Top
There are so many settings that affect score, difficulty, number of races, size, tech rate, allow tech trading, and that is just to mention a few. They all affect the score in a small to large degree so I am not sure how you could 'normalize' the scores and I would think it would be more of a guess as to how to alter total score based on all those factors.

So I am for leaving it the way it is, keep in mind I hate playing on anything bigger then large so I understand from the start that I will never be high up on the leader board, but that is a good thing that way I have an excuse
Reply #8 Top
Edit. Post went to the wrong flipping forum.
Reply #9 Top
In this journal post by Brad/Draginol/Frogboy, End of Summer AI work, he states:
So what does "Allow AI to use CPU-Intensive algorithms" do? Basically it allows the AI to design new ships more often and allows it to do some predictive branch analysis on what will happen in future turns. Does it make a huge difference in difficulty? Hard to say. It will mean more in Dark Avatar when I start to put in a lot more AI work. But I think it probably does make a mild difference. It doesn't affect Metaverse scores either way (so if you're really into maxing your score, you don't need to use it).

So it does not raise your score. Still no word on how often it redesigns its ships.

Reply #10 Top
In this journal post by Brad/Draginol/Frogboy, Preparing for 1.3, he states:
+ CPU for AI algorithm option enables AI ships to be re-designed twice as often.

So with it enabled, the AI will redesign twice a year.
Reply #11 Top
The question though is: did that comment refer to twice as often as with it off, or twice as often as it previously did in 1.2?
Reply #12 Top
The question though is: did that comment refer to twice as often as with it off, or twice as often as it previously did in 1.2?

True. Would you please ask Brad?

I think a fixed schedule is the wrong idea. Human players redesign when they need a new ship for some purpose or when they get a tech that allows them to improve and old design.

Just how long does it take 9 AI players to perform ship redesign? Ideally the AI should redesign everytime it gets a tech that affects ship design. If that is to often then a fixed schedule tied to the research rate (every 2 months at "very fast research", every 3 months at "fast research", etc.).