How to get AI to train better units?

from Elemental Forums

Hi all,

I know DSRaider has done work on this, not sure if anyone else has mucked about with it....

I'm finding the AI has a tendency to spew out cheap units, rather than go for the higher quality ones.  In my mod that i'm currently testing i've got a few units that are similar to slaves, i.e. they are cheap cannon fodder and cost no maintenance.  The AI seems to love them and churns them out like hot cakes.

That's fine for an early game strategy but i'm seeing pretty much a whole stack of these "slave" units.. which is not what I want.

Any ideas how to get the AI to lean more towards higher end units?  Does the AIPriority of the weapons and armor have anything to do with how it chooses which unit to train?  Anyone know anything how it works?

Cheers.

3,930 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I have found that AI priority on items and units has nothing to do with what the AI chooses to build. Take a look at the military policy section in CoreAIDefs.xml and to a lesser extent at AIMilitaryStrategyTypes.xml. Of course even after editing this stuff I find the AI really loves no upkeep units and will rarely build anything else. Limiting the free units to only certain roles helps a bit as well. 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting DsRaider, reply 1

Take a look at the military policy section in CoreAIDefs.xml

OK thanks looking at it now, also taking a look at what you've got in B&M.   I notice you don't say to move that AI Def stuff to the core folder.... does that all work ok from the mod folder then ?

Edit -> Next game i'm going to drop your AI Def's into my mod folder and try it... should work ok just using that file?  Looks like you've done lots of work on it already.  

 

Quoting DsRaider, reply 1

I find the AI really loves no upkeep units and will rarely build anything else.

Bugger, these are no upkeep units of mine that the AI is spamming.

 

 

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top


Hi all,

I know DSRaider has done work on this, not sure if anyone else has mucked about with it....

I'm finding the AI has a tendency to spew out cheap units, rather than go for the higher quality ones.  In my mod that i'm currently testing i've got a few units that are similar to slaves, i.e. they are cheap cannon fodder and cost no maintenance.  The AI seems to love them and churns them out like hot cakes.

That's fine for an early game strategy but i'm seeing pretty much a whole stack of these "slave" units.. which is not what I want.

Any ideas how to get the AI to lean more towards higher end units?  Does the AIPriority of the weapons and armor have anything to do with how it chooses which unit to train?  Anyone know anything how it works?

Cheers.

Try Patchwork mod. AI has special AI only units and he trains the best of them. Mostly mounted, heavily armored, full of magic items they are often trained in properly enchanted cities. If you play on higher difficulties, AI units also get more health and more abilities.