AI Competitors are not random

[Feverish]

Started new Single game and AI competitors were identical to previous game. Is there a fix to make truly random or do I have to select AI's each time if I want different ones?

[MinionJoe]

That'd be nice. Given how many times I've had to restart my game.

[SBA77]

Yeah, that's right. There should be a random option; every 4X in the universe has had that, even Amplitude's previous titles.

[AmesNFire]

Currently you have to select which personas you'll face off against.
The Idea of making players select them is to make each persona have 'history' with the player, I.E. you know how they play and what kind of strategies they'll pursue.

[JerBeware]

Originally posted by AmesNFire:

Currently you have to select which personas you'll face off against.
The Idea of making players select them is to make each persona have 'history' with the player, I.E. you know how they play and what kind of strategies they'll pursue.

You mean like every other AI that has a set of preferences it follows in a 4X game?

Honestly, I agree with the others here. Should be an option where each one could be set to 'random'. Especially considering they made everything else related to start random (e.g. culture, points on the map, etc.).

I have no issue getting to know a few of the AIs, but similar to points brought up in other threads, there should have been a choice. Hopefully this will be easy to mod in.

[Cryten]

Each persona can have 2 personality traits that dictate what type of empires they persue, and selected culture dictates the AI's behaviour.

[The Doctor]

Having Random AI opponents is pretty much a standard in this type of game. Some folks don't want to know who they're playing and to get a surprise. Even without meeting them, I know that the brown border I can see to the south will be Monkeyface1244 or the scarlet border just across the sea will be JillFC5K8 (Yes, I hate some of the avatar names and will flat out refuse to download any of these).

However, I have to say that these avatars are really not all created equal. Some will be utterly OP for players who haven't mastered the game yet because they get massive bonuses to production or Fame points earned. Regardless of the game's difficulty, the Zerator avatar for example gives +2 movement to all his units and that can alarm and upset some folks who expect an AI to be playing the game by the exact same set of rules that they have to play.

Or, conversely, for those of us who are comfortable with the extra challenge these enhanced avatars present, the bland avatars wiuth no bonuses will be push-overs.

So some caution is required and I can understand why they might have thought it better to make us choose who we want to play against. If I'm correct, I don't agree with that but I can understand.

[Cryten]

Just to correct a mistake, players dont benefit from avatar bonuses. Only when that avatar is used by someone else as an AI opponent. Though that doesnt change that AI's with the better bonuses can go insane.

[SBA77]

Originally posted by The Doctor:

Even without meeting them, I know that the brown border I can see to the south will be Monkeyface1244 or the scarlet border just across the sea will be JillFC5K8 (Yes, I hate some of the avatar names and will flat out refuse to download any of these).

I just saw a thread on the G2G forums where someone was requesting that the AI's be tied to a particular color and symbol and I think they're right, even more so after reading your story. It would really help in recognizing your AI opponents and getting to know them, and make them feel unique. It may difficult to set the colors, but at the very least they should have an empire symbol tied to them. Who knows maybe they should even allow you to upload your own symbols into them games similar to how games like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous allows you to add your own custom portraits.

[Dorok]

Originally posted by MinionJoe:

That'd be nice. Given how many times I've had to restart my game.

Yeah, but I think I'd like those options:
- Same AI set setup than last setup, and I constantly see a few AIs changed, not always.
- Shuffle current setup for a new AI set selection.
- Start with random AI set at start of the new game.

Originally posted by SBA77:

Originally posted by The Doctor:

Even without meeting them, I know that the brown border I can see to the south will be Monkeyface1244 or the scarlet border just across the sea will be JillFC5K8 (Yes, I hate some of the avatar names and will flat out refuse to download any of these).

I just saw thread on the G2G forums where someone was requesting that the AI's be tied to a particular color and symbol and I think they're right, even more so after reading your story. It will really help in recognizing your AI opponents and getting to know, and make them feel unique. It may difficult to set the colors, but at the very least they should have symbols tied to them.

Color wouldn't work, 50 AIs (downloaded) + about 12, too many for color identification. But yes, players should be able assign each a symbol and this option would be preserved.

For colors, the game should still allow more, but also really need show Player Name's Culture Name in fame list. And should allow rename AIs imported.