Question for Horemvore/Gauntlet, Modding AI colonization behavior

Horemvore/Gauntlet, would one of you know which files, if any, could be edited to modify the choices the AI makes when colonizing planets? I am trying to mod out the AIs tendency to colonize planets in another players zone when there is heavy influence that would instantly flip the planet to the other player. This is happening quite a bit now and has become a real issue in my games since growth and planet rush was nerfed. On levels at genius and up I just have to survive and build up my influence in my area, couple judicious uses of the artifact that gives great influence helps but not necessarily needed, and the AI will "gift" me all the free planets sooner or later propelling me to the top of the food chain, kind of defeats the purpose of nerfing my growth and ability to colonize quickly.

A simple check as to the influence level before colonizing would be great but that is probably beyond the ability of xml files. 

Any ideas?

13,274 views 6 replies
Reply #1 Top

In laymans terms, get the devs to change the hardcode.

Horemvores hacky way, edit GlobalDefs and add this:-


<GlobalTriggers>
<OnEvent>OnConquerPlanet</OnEvent>
<Target>
<TargetType>Planet</TargetType>
</Target>
<RandomDurationMin>15</RandomDurationMin>
<RandomDurationMax>15</RandomDurationMax>
<Modifier>
<EffectType>ImmuneToCultureFlip</EffectType>
<Target>
<TargetType>Colony</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Flat</BonusType>
<Value>1</Value>
</Modifier>
</GlobalTriggers>


<GlobalTriggers>
<OnEvent>OnPlanetFlippedFromCulture</OnEvent>
<Target>
<TargetType>Planet</TargetType>
</Target>
<RandomDurationMin>15</RandomDurationMin>
<RandomDurationMax>15</RandomDurationMax>
<Modifier>
<EffectType>ImmuneToCultureFlip</EffectType>
<Target>
<TargetType>Colony</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Flat</BonusType>
<Value>1</Value>
</Modifier>
</GlobalTriggers>


<GlobalTriggers>
<OnEvent>OnColonizePlanet</OnEvent>
<Target>
<TargetType>Planet</TargetType>
</Target>
<RandomDurationMin>15</RandomDurationMin>
<RandomDurationMax>15</RandomDurationMax>
<Modifier>
<EffectType>ImmuneToCultureFlip</EffectType>
<Target>
<TargetType>Colony</TargetType>
</Target>
<BonusType>Flat</BonusType>
<Value>1</Value>
</Modifier>
</GlobalTriggers>

This was the only solution I could come up with for UCP (It is included with UCP_Core).

 

Reply #2 Top

Thanks Horemvore, if I read this right you address the problem by making the planet immune to culture flip for 15 turns? Am I reading that right? Interesting idea and a good workaround but it could introduce other issues if the AI was smarter, thankfully the AI does not know how to use influence properly or an immunity to culture flip even temporary combined with a couple artifacts that give 10,000 influence would be a pretty awesome strategy, not that I have been known to use it myself mind you LOL

As for getting the devs to fix it, I am trying but as you well know getting them to acknowledge the issue even exists is sometimes harder than getting it fixed ...

Reply #3 Top

The example above does indeed give immunity to culture flip for 15 turns. I used to beleive the AI was dumb when it came to influnce, however a recent incident in a 3.6 game has change my view, I had an AI that colonized a planet in a border system (in my influence), which I had already colonized, this AI then proceded to build culture starbases around said system, clever, I also do not have Retribution to see how said AI would have evolved this border system if it had access to Artifacts. I am not sure as to the current state of the AI when it comes to improvements (I modded this to make the AI get atleast 1 infulence improvement (mostly)) or building out said culture starbases (I blew them up).

Reply #4 Top

Interesting, have not seen this behavior in Retribution yet although the planets have been flipping so quickly there was not time to do anything except pass me the bill for the rushed improvements. Retribution is an interesting beast, couple steps forward but three steps back. I am still on the fence with it, the "streamlined" tech tree is not doing it for me so I like that Gauntlet added all sorts of techs for his "advanced abilities". 

Cheers

Reply #5 Top

Just an update on this, I've modified the AI to be more intelligent in this area.

Reply #6 Top

Thank you