My thoughts on the GalCiv's AI
from 
Stardock Forums
Stardock Forums
First of all, I'm new to the forum. So hi! 
Now, I have some issues I wish to discuss with all of you, and hopefully - the AI programmer of the game (if he's viewing the forums). He's names Brad, ain't it? Hey Brad! You're invited.
Before I say what I have in mind, I wish to let you know that indeed GalCiv has a really deep and sophisticated AI that I haven't seen in any game before. Brad, all my bases are belong to you for that.
However, there are a few things that disturbed me while playing a huge-map game, where all of the AI's were on 'intelligent' level. Thus, all of the AI scripts were availalbe.
1. I chose to play a good civilization, and thus became an ally to the Torian and Altarian civs. After spending a lot of time in an alliance with them, I noticed that every war we shared against this-and-that civ (whether it was a major or a minor one, doesn't matter) - I noticed that my allies weren't paying any attention if I was ACTUALLY taking part in the war. What actually happened is that they spent a lot of money\resources\ships on that war, while I just sat back and watched everyone rip each other apart. I grew really strong over them because of this. I believe a player can use this feature in order to exploit others, and I think this takes some elements of fun out of the game. I mean, in real-life, when you'll have to declare war on your allies' enemies, wouldn't your ally get angry on you if you just 'declared' the war but wouldn't actually do anything about it? For instance, not sending some ships to help him or not attacking along with him. Don't you think he'd feel a little bit cheated? I found it less fun that the AI's didn't notice whether I was participating in the war or not.
2. I eventually won the game through the Technological victory, altough I could win by an alliance victory really early, since my allies took the Drengin out and I helped by exterminating the Yor myself. The Arceans were on a close relations with me, so I could easily ally with them. However, I preferred waiting a bit and researching the final frontier, thus winning a technological win. I also took some planets from my allies by using cultural means, thus our alliances were kept and I controlled almost half the galaxy. Even with a lot more resources than the others, and spending most of my resources on research, it took me a REALLY long time to win, and I was always ahead of everyone technoligcally since the middle of the game. I finished the game in Aug 2226. And I tried to win it as soon as possible (technologically). The last quarter of the game was totally peaceful - whereas I didn't spend any resources on military and such, and everything was going to research. Don't you think it takes too much time to make this kind of win relevant? I'd rather try to win using the other methods (cultural, military, etc.). This was really boring just hitting the 'end turn' button for a couple of hours until I reached the final frontier.
3. My main war in the game was with the Yor. I found out that they weren't as tactical as I was - I Prepared 3 combat transports with protection fleets near 3 of their planets, then declared war and conquered them one by one instantly. However, the Yor just sent some corvettes and battleships around to wipe some of my ships here and there, perhaps trying to conquer a planet with a regular transport on a planet with a population of 13,000 ~. Of course, the invasion failed. It even attacked alone. You'd expect an evil, militarised civilization to try harder than that. I know that the Drengin are more military intelligent, but c'mon - attacking one of my largest planets with a regular transport? What're the chances that'll succeed? I wish that the AI's would be more deadly on such high AI levels. It could be fun to get hammered with a couple of enemy fleets going down on my planets in just three turns.
4. The Drengin are a conquering race. A warring race. But don't you think they could be smarter by focusing on a single or two enemies one at a time, and maintaining the war until they achieve something, and not just taking out a dozens ships, sustaining some losses and then signing a peace treaty and go pick on another race. What I saw they did in the game was warring with a race, signing a peace treaty with him without conquering anything, and then do the same to another one. Eventually they spent to much money and ships, fell into war with everyone at the same time, due to alliances, and surrendered to the Arceans. You'd figure they'd be cautious declaring war on the Torians when they're allied to me, the Altarians and the Arceans. The Yor were really weak at that time and very close physically to the Drengin empire's planets, and still they preferred to go against the Torians. I know that perhaps the Torians declared war on them instead, but this happened a couple of times throughout the game, so I believe one of these wars were planned by the Drengin.
5. During the game, about 3 random events repeated themselves at least 2 times each. Kinda wierd.
6. It appeared that several minor races which were really close phsyically to the Altarians weren't conquered by them at all. I conquered those minor civs myself close to the game's end. Why were the Altarians so peaceful against a planet or two they could easily take? It is said that a Good civilization is still a conquering civ.
7. Oh, no race tried to influence my planets. no one. This maybe just a one time case due to the game I played, taking the alliances into account. But I believe this should be noted.
I really want you to confront me on everything I said here. I really love the game and I'm going to start a gigantic-map game with 7 races (I have the Altarian Prophecy) just becuase I wish to enjoy this wonderful game even more.
I want to create a deep discussion here and I wish you to prove me wrong and explain to me if I'm looking at things from a wrong angle. Even an answer from Brad could be nice.
Thank you very much,
Ory.
Now, I have some issues I wish to discuss with all of you, and hopefully - the AI programmer of the game (if he's viewing the forums). He's names Brad, ain't it? Hey Brad! You're invited.
Before I say what I have in mind, I wish to let you know that indeed GalCiv has a really deep and sophisticated AI that I haven't seen in any game before. Brad, all my bases are belong to you for that.
However, there are a few things that disturbed me while playing a huge-map game, where all of the AI's were on 'intelligent' level. Thus, all of the AI scripts were availalbe.
1. I chose to play a good civilization, and thus became an ally to the Torian and Altarian civs. After spending a lot of time in an alliance with them, I noticed that every war we shared against this-and-that civ (whether it was a major or a minor one, doesn't matter) - I noticed that my allies weren't paying any attention if I was ACTUALLY taking part in the war. What actually happened is that they spent a lot of money\resources\ships on that war, while I just sat back and watched everyone rip each other apart. I grew really strong over them because of this. I believe a player can use this feature in order to exploit others, and I think this takes some elements of fun out of the game. I mean, in real-life, when you'll have to declare war on your allies' enemies, wouldn't your ally get angry on you if you just 'declared' the war but wouldn't actually do anything about it? For instance, not sending some ships to help him or not attacking along with him. Don't you think he'd feel a little bit cheated? I found it less fun that the AI's didn't notice whether I was participating in the war or not.
2. I eventually won the game through the Technological victory, altough I could win by an alliance victory really early, since my allies took the Drengin out and I helped by exterminating the Yor myself. The Arceans were on a close relations with me, so I could easily ally with them. However, I preferred waiting a bit and researching the final frontier, thus winning a technological win. I also took some planets from my allies by using cultural means, thus our alliances were kept and I controlled almost half the galaxy. Even with a lot more resources than the others, and spending most of my resources on research, it took me a REALLY long time to win, and I was always ahead of everyone technoligcally since the middle of the game. I finished the game in Aug 2226. And I tried to win it as soon as possible (technologically). The last quarter of the game was totally peaceful - whereas I didn't spend any resources on military and such, and everything was going to research. Don't you think it takes too much time to make this kind of win relevant? I'd rather try to win using the other methods (cultural, military, etc.). This was really boring just hitting the 'end turn' button for a couple of hours until I reached the final frontier.
3. My main war in the game was with the Yor. I found out that they weren't as tactical as I was - I Prepared 3 combat transports with protection fleets near 3 of their planets, then declared war and conquered them one by one instantly. However, the Yor just sent some corvettes and battleships around to wipe some of my ships here and there, perhaps trying to conquer a planet with a regular transport on a planet with a population of 13,000 ~. Of course, the invasion failed. It even attacked alone. You'd expect an evil, militarised civilization to try harder than that. I know that the Drengin are more military intelligent, but c'mon - attacking one of my largest planets with a regular transport? What're the chances that'll succeed? I wish that the AI's would be more deadly on such high AI levels. It could be fun to get hammered with a couple of enemy fleets going down on my planets in just three turns.
4. The Drengin are a conquering race. A warring race. But don't you think they could be smarter by focusing on a single or two enemies one at a time, and maintaining the war until they achieve something, and not just taking out a dozens ships, sustaining some losses and then signing a peace treaty and go pick on another race. What I saw they did in the game was warring with a race, signing a peace treaty with him without conquering anything, and then do the same to another one. Eventually they spent to much money and ships, fell into war with everyone at the same time, due to alliances, and surrendered to the Arceans. You'd figure they'd be cautious declaring war on the Torians when they're allied to me, the Altarians and the Arceans. The Yor were really weak at that time and very close physically to the Drengin empire's planets, and still they preferred to go against the Torians. I know that perhaps the Torians declared war on them instead, but this happened a couple of times throughout the game, so I believe one of these wars were planned by the Drengin.
5. During the game, about 3 random events repeated themselves at least 2 times each. Kinda wierd.
6. It appeared that several minor races which were really close phsyically to the Altarians weren't conquered by them at all. I conquered those minor civs myself close to the game's end. Why were the Altarians so peaceful against a planet or two they could easily take? It is said that a Good civilization is still a conquering civ.
7. Oh, no race tried to influence my planets. no one. This maybe just a one time case due to the game I played, taking the alliances into account. But I believe this should be noted.
I really want you to confront me on everything I said here. I really love the game and I'm going to start a gigantic-map game with 7 races (I have the Altarian Prophecy) just becuase I wish to enjoy this wonderful game even more.
I want to create a deep discussion here and I wish you to prove me wrong and explain to me if I'm looking at things from a wrong angle. Even an answer from Brad could be nice.
Thank you very much,
Ory.
