[Skirmish] Does the AI cheat on hard?

[An Angelineer]

I know I am not very good at this game, but I just don't understand how the AI can start summoning its titan when I am barely at half the tech tree required to do that myself.

I manage to barely beat hard AI 30% of the time by using a bombard rush, but this leads me to wonder : does the AI cheat? Or am i just that far behind when it comes to optimizing my dungeon?

[Biervampir [AUT]]

The AI doesn't cheat.

It is just very efficent, further to it knows how to boost its research efficency.

[An Angelineer]

Wow. really?

OK, then my question becomes : is there a guide on optimization? I am clearly missing something.

Even though I like real time strategy, I am just an "ok-ish" player with low APM, so I might lack the speed to apply this advice, but just the theorycrafting of optimizing play would be interesting to see.

[Biervampir [AUT]]

To improve overall (Early-Game rule got cut, and Shift Click doesnt work for MP anymroe)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKBQVoqzp-0&t=2s

The standard opening (But nowadays, most people just train to lvl 2 for several reasons)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1skvrrj4Z4E

[K84]

To boost your research:

1. Build an Archive before anything else, and make sure you fortify it ASAP for the maximum prop efficiency bonuses (max out your number of allowed workers at the start of the level and slap them to dig/claim/reinforce faster);
   
2. Turn off spawning of minions other than Cultists at your Gateway until you get the full complement allowed by your Archive;
   
3. Don't build a Lair/Slaughterpen/Tavern until your minions start getting unhappy so they won't take constant breaks from researching for sleep and food;
   
4. Train your Cultists up to level 2 (takes very little time);
   
5. Slap your Cultists to keep them at peak efficiency in the Archive (but not so much that they get annoyed).;
   
6. Use the Obey spell and Work-A-Lot potion as much as you can to speed up research once they are available.

[An Angelineer]

OK, thanks a lot for the tips.
I knew of most of those mechanics, but my immediate feel is that I might have underestimated the productivity boost of fortified walls : I send my imps do other things and usually don't fortify them until late in the game. It is the thing I seem to forget here.

I'll look into it.

I kinda know I'll never be super good against actual humans because of my low APM, but this may help me get achievements in the campaign.

[Biervampir [AUT]]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Hyakkidouran:

OK, thanks a lot for the tips.
I knew of most of those mechanics, but my immediate feel is that I might have underestimated the productivity boost of fortified walls : I send my imps do other things and usually don't fortify them until late in the game. It is the thing I seem to forget here.

I'll look into it.

I kinda know I'll never be super good against actual humans because of my low APM, but this may help me get achievements in the campaign.

At least in all RTSs I know, a hight APM isnt everything you need, the strat and caunter play are the things which are most valueable. Yes, somethimes you need a higher APM for a some strategies, but there are other strats which doesn't requie a hight APM.

And if you want to increase your APM, use hotkeys. They are usually easy to learn, if you set them yourselfe. As I first used Hotkeys in an RTS, I cant play any RTS without Hotkeys anymore

[An Angelineer]

Oh, I know. Despite having 50 APM on average in Starcraft 2 a few years back, I managed to reach the top 50% of players in that game (gold league) by using the basic mechanics combined with general strategy (momentum, expanding, counter-attacking, and other general concepts).

The "problem" with WftO is that, even though I think it's a really great game, it is just less popular and doesn't have a pro scene, and I have a lot of trouble finding guides on general strategy and basic optimized build orders.
The control is very different from Starcraft. And while I think this is very interesting to have a game in which troops must eat and rest, I am also not used to it.

You are right about hotkeys. I didn't really study WftO's hotkeys and it is definitely a limiting factor. I did use thaose in Starcraft and it sure helped. Is there a list of default hotkeys for WftO that is convenient to print somewhere? (I am kinda old school with keyboard overlays and paper memos XD)

Thanks again for the tips you already provided.

[Biervampir [AUT]]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Hyakkidouran:

Oh, I know. Despite having 50 APM on average in Starcraft 2 a few years back, I managed to reach the top 50% of players in that game (gold league) by using the basic mechanics combined with general strategy (momentum, expanding, counter-attacking, and other general concepts).

The "problem" with WftO is that, even though I think it's a really great game, it is just less popular and doesn't have a pro scene, and I have a lot of trouble finding guides on general strategy and basic optimized build orders.
The control is very different from Starcraft. And while I think this is very interesting to have a game in which troops must eat and rest, I am also not used to it.

You are right about hotkeys. I didn't really study WftO's hotkeys and it is definitely a limiting factor. I did use thaose in Starcraft and it sure helped. Is there a list of default hotkeys for WftO that is convenient to print somewhere? (I am kinda old school with keyboard overlays and paper memos XD)

Thanks again for the tips you already provided.

The default hotkeys for WFTO are crap IMO.
That's how I looks on my Keyboard
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/154311445398552576/391159078845415424/Keyboard.PNG
Here is the text list
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/154311445398552576/391159137003634688/20170514222928_1.jpg?width=88&height=676
I use Recall Rally and Cancel Rally on Mousbutton 4 and 5

Yep, Sadly only Webbernever1 and Me are the only "pro" players who upload Videos on YT, you can caunt Demonizer in as well, because he's a really good player.
I made 3 Videos back in 1.6 about 3 Strategies, which have changed a bit, but the core is still the same.
There's currently a Tournament going on, where I mostly show different strats on each map.

So really a proffessional scene doesn't exist. But I know some people who were on Webbers and My skill lvl, though most left Multiplayer for good reasons :/

[Titan]

If you wrote a script that gave you certain AI abilities it would be considered cheating but apparantly the AI does not

[Korvek]

The AI has no special abilities, so no, it does not cheat. In fact, the odds are stacked against it. It cannot react to map conditions, make good decisions, and anything below master difficulty receives a load of handicaps. The only thing going for the AI is its great micromanagement.

[An Angelineer]

Well, I know I will sound like a noob, but since I have low APM (practice over 5 years barely improved it...), an opponent with great micro has a clear advantage over me.

Anyways, you convinced me. AI does not cheat. I'm just too slow even though I have decent understanding of strategy concepts.

[Biervampir [AUT]]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Hyakkidouran:

Well, I know I will sound like a noob, but since I have low APM (practice over 5 years barely improved it...), an opponent with great micro has a clear advantage over me.

Yep, microing stuff gives an advanatage, thats why you do that...
But the thing is, you can have the best micro around the world, if you dont have information, Tech nor a Plan. If you see a weakness in your gameplay, improve, if you are limited with an APM under 100 thats fine, as long you know how to compansate for that.

That reminds me about a conversation with a guy, who is convinced that StarCraft II is all about high APM. I personally can say, that isn't true because then I would have won far more often. Further to WinterStarcraft played quite some Matches against Diamond player, with a APM under 100 and won them, because he uses his knowlage about Strats and got information from the Minimap that compensated for his lack of Actions.
So as long you aren't physically or mentally handycaped to a lower APM then 60, I dont think you lost due to your lower APM. For this guys, for me it felt like, it was his excuse to not touch PvP, but he simply do not enjoy PvP, so that's fine by me.

[Titan]

Whenever somebody mentions APM I'm always reminded of this scene in the pure pwnage series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShOusaHBSdI

[nutter666]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Biervampir AUT:

That reminds me about a conversation with a guy, who is convinced that StarCraft II is all about high APM. I personally can say, that isn't true because then I would have won far more often. Further to WinterStarcraft played quite some Matches against Diamond player, with a APM under 100 and won them, because he uses his knowlage about Strats and got information from the Minimap that compensated for his lack of Actions.
So as long you aren't physically or mentally handycaped to a lower APM then 60, I dont think you lost due to your lower APM. For this guys, for me it felt like, it was his excuse to not touch PvP, but he simply do not enjoy PvP, so that's fine by me.

That guy sees all things... and knows when you're talking about him haha