Mysteries of AI revealed!

[morteduzionism]

Over the weekend I finally figured out the AI.(Playing as Romans exclusively-results may vary depending on faction)

It's not messed up or irrational. The decisions are perfectly logical if you understand its' basic motivations/programming.

Kill the human controlled faction.

There are extremely high level complex diplomatic negotiations going all the time within the game. Just not with the human controlled faction.

Here's is how I made the discovery:

SITUATION: Greece is at war with Rome, Carthage and Thrace; Thrace is at war with Germania and Gaul; Rome and Thrace are allies; Rome at peace with Carthage

LOCATION: Sicily

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:
-270-260BC; a Greek king conquers the island, starting a war with Carthage, expelling the Carthaginian prince from the city of Lilybaeum located on the western tip of the island
-260-250BC; in response to aggresive behavior by the Greek king a Roman general takes control of the cities on the eastern half of the island
-@255BC; Carthaginian forces begin landing in the western province; Rome expects these forces to be used against Lilybaeum
-255BC-247BC; successive waves of Carthaginian forces land in the province but never attack the city; Greece allies with Germania & Gual; Gaul attacks Thrace and Rome
-246BC; the arrival of Hamilicar(a man known to have a hatred of Rome) made the situation intolerable, the Carthaginians were amassing thousands of troops in the province this was too much too close to Rome. Rome takes the city from the Greeks...

TRUE FACE OF THE AI:
Carthage sat by while I sieged the city the full 7 turns. On the very next turn, after taking the city, they attacked me......I can't understand that! I suppose allowing the Greeks(AI) to occupy the city for a decade or more was ok, but for the Romans(Human)...that must be unbearable

The only way this makes sense is that Greece paid off Gaul to attack her enemies(Rome/Thrace). No support/relief was sent to Lilybaeum because they must've had a deal with Carthage, to keep the city long enough to help finance the attacks on Rome, and knew Carthage wouldn't attack. This gave Carthage enough time/resources to amass a massive invasion force that would be used against Rome.

In essence a massive AI backed conspiracy of collusion between multiple factions(some who were at war with each other) for the sole purposes of hurting the human controlled faction...

Or have I been playing the game too long?

[MCM]

Its time for your medicine now....

Just kidding. - very interesting observation. I would love to see complete tests done like this.

for example it may be at times

• faction specific
• subject to certain conditions

But you would need to do a lot more tests

cheers

[Erakarhu]

Or it was the illuminati.

[aja5191]

No, no.

The lizard-people.

[pcp]

no! no! he's the psycodwarf Berlusconi!

[sumaznguy]

you are right. The AI is always out to get you.

I was playing as Greek Cities, and no faction would ally me, and the surrounding factions would declare war on me. Then they allied each other and attacked me from all fronts.

And I recently started a Pontus campaign and turned off fog of war. carthage just conquered a city on sicily and left it ungarrisioned with the greek cities army next to it. I was suprised that they didnt take it from carthage.

[reclaimer]

I have noticed that. The AI does seem to be less aggressive against other AI. Although Macedon will almost always declare war on the Greek Cities on the second or third turn.

They usually attack the smaller AI factions like they would if the faction was controlled by the human is something else I've noticed

[Mythos_Ruler]

Xenu is calling you back to the mothership.

[Jamey]

You cannot remove all irrationality from the AI, but there are things you can do to reduce irrational attacks.

Always keep your borders well guarded. The AI will always decide to go for a human held settlement that is lightly defended. ALWAYS.

Keep decent sized fleets (big enough to comfortably take out 2 enemy vessels) in your ports. This will reduce the tendency of the AI to start wars by blockading your "undefended" ports.

Be aware that certain AI factions just don't like certain other factions. As you saw, Carthage and Rome will go to war. I've never seen the AI behave otherwise. Inevitably, one perceives weakness or threat in the other (or maybe just decides they're tired of tolerating someone they don't like).

Be aware that if you are caught spying, it will really annoy the AI. Keep your spies in your territory and enemy territory. Never in non-enemy territory (unless you want to pick a fight).

Take advantage of the fact that the AI will tend to not attack you while you "owe" it money in tribute. Even 100 per turn will dramatically reduce the odds that the AI will irrationally attack.