Why do Artificial Intelligence (AI) countries do the things they do?

26 May 2017, 21:00

This is a question for the software developers (or other knowledgeable Bytro representatives) . . . .

Why do AI countries do remarkably obtuse things -- such as building new industrial complexes from scratch, at a massive cost in metals, rare materials and money, in NON-RESOURCE-PRODUCING PROVINCES, when they have resource-producing provinces that are not fully built-out with L3 infrastructure and an L5 industrial complex?

The AIs, of course, do what they are programmed to do. So, the question I suppose I should ask is, are the AIs programmed to build new industrial complexes at random, without regard to where their resource provinces are?

This is a mystery to me.

Post a Reply

Please log in to post a reply.

13 Replies

26 May 2017, 22:25

Interesting question. Yes we seen strange things, and yes, we want to know)))

26 May 2017, 22:41

K.Rokossovski wrote:
Interesting question. Yes we seen strange things, and yes, we want to know

@K.Rokossovski: And just to be clear, I'm not talking about standard AI (i.e. non-elite AI) battle tactics, which I am convinced are structured as a learning primer for rookie players. I am talking about the often seemingly random industrialization and resource development strategies of the standard AI . . . .

27 May 2017, 03:52

So you mean like this standard AI morocco that I am about to invade that has build a naval base in every coastal province except one by day 8? That makes 8 naval bases by my count. Having played as Morocco myself I know there isn't enough steel in Morocco to build more than two or three ships a week, so why?

War is a game that is played with a smile. If you can't smile, grin. If you can't grin keep out of the way til you can. - Winston Churchill
VorlonFCW
Retired from Bytro staff as of November 30, 2020.
>>> Click Here to submit a bug report or support ticket <<<

27 May 2017, 12:02 (edited)

VorlonFCW wrote:
So you mean like this standard AI morocco that I am about to invade that has build a naval base in every coastal province except one by day 8? That makes 8 naval bases by my count.

Exactly right.

There may be some logic to building L1 naval bases in core resource-producing provinces, in order to get the instant 5% boost in resource production. There is no reason for building redundant naval bases in non-resource provinces; it's a massive waste of scarce resources.

In the 22-player European map game I am currently playing, AI Morocco (your example) has built a naval base in all eight of its coastal core provinces on the Atlantic Ocean. Five of those are resource provinces, and three are non-resource provinces. Of the three non-resource provinces, in two cases the AI has built new industrial complexes from scratch. Again, a massive mis-allocation of scarce resources, especially when the AI has not fully built out its resource-producing provinces with L3 infrastructure and L5 industrial complexes, nor fully developed its original 5 industrial complexes.

27 May 2017, 12:10

MontanaBB wrote:
Of the three non-resource provinces, in two cases the AI has built new industrial complexes from scratch. Again, a massive mis-allocation of scarce resources, especially when the AI has not fully built out its resource-producing provinces with L3 infrastructure and L5 industrial complexes, nor fully developed its original 5 industrial complexes.

Maybe the AI is using gold to buy the scarce resources it needs? This might also explain the super AI sub stacks complained about in other threads as the AI would then have infinite resources at its disposal for unit builds. Sounds like we need a spy in Morocco.

"A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week." - General George S. Patton, Jr.
"Do, or do not. There is no try" - Yoda

27 May 2017, 12:59

It might be that the AI 'build' without using either resources or cash?

Easy to program that 'feature'.

The AI know your force disposition, without using spies. So, there might be many advantages the AI enjoy, unknown to us casual players.

27 May 2017, 13:19

WayneBo wrote:
The AI know your force disposition, without using spies.

Or more to the point, the AI is part of the biggest spy network of all: the COW software.

27 May 2017, 18:01

Ai does seem to be reactionary. They just seem to have what they need when they need it.

“I am the flail of god. Had you not created great sins, god would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”
―
Genghis Khan

27 May 2017, 23:16

Dixie wrote:
Ai does seem to be reactionary. They just seem to have what they need when they need it.

I played Starcraft against a guy like that many times. He would build 24 of every kind of production facility, build a strong defense, and wait. Once he ascertained your force structure on attack he would build units to counter that attack. It worked quite well for him.

27 May 2017, 23:57

VorlonFCW wrote:
. . . build a strong defense, and wait.

A strong defense may win American football games, but it doesn't win wars. An offense that can overwhelm your opponent is required. Your job, Gen. Vorlon, is to recognize the weaknesses in your opponent's defense and pick it apart by matching your strengths against his weaknesses. It ain't over until your infantry plants your flag on his acropolis.

The better AI personalities in Call of War are clearly not designed to win games, but some are designed to inflict maximum casualties on their attackers. If you've encountered some of the late-game AIs that have had 80 or 90 days to get ready for a human attacker, then you know what I'm talking about.

28 May 2017, 00:21

MontanaBB wrote:
If you've encountered some of the late-game AIs that have had 80 or 90 days to get ready for a human attacker, then you know what I'm talking about.

I have not encountered that, but i did find one with strategic bombers and stacks of destroyers on day 25 last week. Surprised me a little. Of course I had let my anti air lag about a two day march behind at that point, only 60 points from victory on the 22 player map. And the destroyers found my antiair convoy.

28 May 2017, 00:30

VorlonFCW wrote:
. . . i did find one with strategic bombers and stacks of destroyers on day 25 . . .

Seeing a standard AI with strategic bombers is pretty rare; usually that's a result of a human player having started the strat bomber research, then gone inactive, and the country being taken over by the AI. I have seen late-game AIs with dozens of fighter, tactical bomber and naval bomber squadrons in various combinations. Usually, the AIs will emphasize one or two special weapons systems for mass production (e.g., cruisers and destroyers; tank destroyers and fighters; submarines; anti-tank and light tank units; etc.). In one really weird example from a game last December, I encountered six or seven L6 battleships cruising the Great Lakes of North America!

28 May 2017, 00:50

MontanaBB wrote:
usually that's a result of a human player having started the strat bomber research, then gone inactive,

Now that you mention it, I believe that was the case here.

MontanaBB wrote:
I encountered six or seven L6 battleships cruising the Great Lakes of North America!

Post a Reply

Please log in to post a reply.

Back to Questions and Answers