Vanilla AI is back, unfortunately

[P014K]

So one of the main reasons I liked SS 3.2 and 4.0 was that the AI was different than vanilla. In vanilla, alliances didn't hold and the AI was aggressive.

I do like an aggressive AI, but I don't like when every ally back stabs me even though our relations are very good.

I propose the old SS4.0 AI be reinstated in 4.2 or a hotfix.

[Resurrection]

I don't think KK did anything at all to SS4.0 AI, check the change list of 4.1. Personally I experience UltimateAI as I know it... Maybe you installed 2years-per-turn version and used files without UltimateAI which KK provided?

[P014K]

I don't think KK did anything at all to SS4.0 AI, check the change list of 4.1. Personally I experience UltimateAI as I know it... Maybe you installed 2years-per-turn version and used files without UltimateAI which KK provided?

4.1 Changes & Bug fixes

Changes

- Real Combat 1.21
- Lusted's battle AI
- Vanilla campaign AI
- New Polish Banners
- Laca's Byzantine Heavy Spearmen added
- Varangian Archer's missing swords and shields fixed
- Latinkon fixed
- Recruitable Generals and Grand Bombard for Kiev
- Hungarian Dismounted Chivalric Knights added
- Gaining command stars slightly easier
- Overconfidence and Dishonour traits disabled
- Several other trait changes
- Small Unit and ship recruitment changes
- Haji to Mecca and Medina triggers fixed
- Money reduced
- Less heretics and witches
- Many other small tweaks
- Desktop icon added

[Resurrection]

Oh sorry man, my mistake. Hell I wonder why KK removed UltimateAI?? Vanilla AI is worst thing ever happened to M2TW (in paraphrase the other topic :-). Hope there is a way to get it back...

[Quark]

I am playing as Byzantium and apart from the Templars siding with the Turks against me, the Ai is being OK. But its still the 1100's so we will see. I suggested to KK that he adds in the code for Islamic and Christain fractions not being able to make alliances.

I believe that KK thought the UAi was just too peaceful, so rolled back to vanilla. I may just start a Which is the best Campign Ai thread, but thats harder to test.

[Ieuano]

ive got an alliance as kiev, with novgorod for well over 50 turns, and with Hungary for 35.

Vanilla AI is fine.

[HaveFallen]

Haha no wonder why I got backstabbed by 3 allies lol...or maybe i'm just playing Byzantine so everyone hates me..

[edders]

Yeah, I noticed that - in just twenty turns I was attacked by over seven factions as Aragon. Bring back UAI!

[Sil3nc3]

I have the same problems Playing as byz, I am in war with Venice, Turks, Egypt and Templar. The worst thing is they are eachothers ally, so I can not reach peace through diplomacy. Its annoying, especially the backstabbing.

I liberated Tortosa from Egypt, 2 turns later Templar Knights betrayed me, but they never fought Egypt for it :s

I liked UAI much more, even if it was more passive, it was more reliable.

Greetz,

Sil3nc3

[PlanetEx]

I am more or less happy that he changed it. I played 4.0 with the HRE, Danes and the Scots, but it was so silent and i wondered why nobody wants to fight against me. Especially with the HRE it was strange.....peacefull till 1100.... then i attacked.

Now I started the first game with 4.1 (HRE) and it was "back to normal"..... Venice attacked me late (at around 1010) and the rest of the other factions did nothing. Nice game till now.

So I have to say, that I like the mod with the 4.1 patch much more.

[Froggie5]

I started a 4.1 campaign with Vanilla AI but soon became frustrated by erratic behavior (declare war with blockade, attack and then ask for peace the next turn, etc). I then gave Snipafist's (By the Sword) campaign AI a go but found it was just too wild (multiple wars and truces declared every single turn, the Papal States at war with multiple Christian factions, etc).

I would argue that much more important than the stability/backstab issue is how the AI reacts to threats - does it garrison border settlements? Does it move decisively once war begins? Does it attack with full stacks? Does it ally with its enemy's enemy? IMHO, while it isn't perfect, UAI does the best job with these.

[delra]

Many people didn't like UAI as it made AI be too peaceful. Maybe KK is planning to make something on his own in this area?

[lordklamath]

Is there a way to put UAI back in 4.1?

[Froggie5]

Is there a way to put UAI back in 4.1?

Here you go:


Just unzip and install these files into your Stainless Steel data folder:

descr_campaign_ai_db
descr_faction_standing
descr_diplomacy

When using UAI with other mods you also usually cut and paste in the last section of the descr_strat file (faction relationship initializations), but the entries in 4.1 are very close to those in 4.0 so this should not be a problem. EDIT: see post below for UAI compatible descr_strat file.

You should start a new campaign for best results.

[Quark]

Froggie5

what about

descr_sm_factions.txt

Remember, backup first, and then unzip in your SS mod data folder.

[Froggie5]

There is one key element of descr_strat that I forgot about - the ai_labels section and the faction personalities (trader smith, balanced napoleon, and so on). These are NOT correct for using UAI in 4.1. Here is a copy of descr_strat for 4.1 with the correct ai_labels and personalities for UAI.

[Quark]

Ok, I will edit my post so as to avoid confusion.

Still wish I had seen your post before I started checking the files out

Would be interesing if we could have two people start the same campign, with the same initial moves and then report as they go along.

[smitty]

These UAI installs for 4.1 mean a new campaign, yes?

[Froggie5]

These UAI installs for 4.1 mean a new campaign, yes?

I would recommend a new campaign for best results.

[numerosdecimus]

Perhaps if King Kong used a slightly modified version of the 1.2 campaing AI, he could tweak a bit with the AI concerning agressivity and the AI taking advantage of alliances, because a multi fornt will kill the AI, not to mention that if the AI starts rushing to irrational war it starts sending tinny worthless armies that the AI will lose and thus being a dead weigth in the AI economy.

It's true that I'm playing in VH/VH but the AI should perhaps be a bit more logical.

It's all a matter of perfection with each new version.