A.I and the NAP

[1337Dude]

After finishing just one match, it's safe to say that the NAP mechanic isn't fully implemented. Or it just plain doesn't work.

First, I will explain my experience with the NAP in a couple of comp stomps. Last night I played a comp stomp against 5 A.I. Within the first three turns, I find myself bordered with 2 AI opponents, and sent them NAP agreements. They both accepted my agreement. As a result, the A.I. focused on killing each other while I usurped thrones and grew my dominion. Once everyone who wasn't allied killed each other, I was left with one nation that I had a NAP with. This nation never figured out how to break the NAP to attack me. I beat win the game with the NAP by using my dominion to conquer him.

So, right now the mechanic seems to be that if you send an NAP, there's some random chance they will accept or deny the proposal, and if they deny the proposal, then you lose Dominion score. Yet, if they accept the proposal, they seems they are permanently non-aggressive until the player attacks them. Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but this is how two matches I've played with computers went.

With that being said, I don't like any aspect about how the NAP works right now. I think it's a cool idea, and worth implementing - but its current implementation has fundamental issues, as well as some other weird issues, such as; players unable to find which specific action is in violation of the NAP, or an issue I experienced where the NAP appeared to be simultaneously in-effect and not in-effect.

When all is said and done, this small diplomatic mechanic has a HUGE effect on a how a game plays out, yet the implementation of the mechanic seems questionable to me. Anyone care to share their experience or opinion?

[Firemad]

I saw something odd too for the diplomatic... OK i sent the AI : NAP and AI responded NO ways... I declare war. I mean... lol ok then but why not counter an offer like: I need 500 golds or I'll declare war next turn like a warning. I mean i was just checking if they wanted NAP... I only sent a message lol

It seem the diplomacy is very basic.

Human will counter offer or else something happen and maybe the human won't declare war.

Anyways a lot of others game with a basic diplomacy system is a lot better. I think they should improve it in the futur :)

I mean I never knew that I was offending the AI so bad when sending an idea lol

[1337Dude]

Originally posted by Firemad:

I saw something odd too for the diplomatic... OK i sent the AI : NAP and AI responded NO ways... I declare war. I mean... lol ok then but why not counter an offer like: I need 500 golds or I'll declare war next turn like a warning. I mean i was just checking if they wanted NAP... I only sent a message lol

It seem the diplomacy is very basic.

Human will counter offer or else something happen and maybe the human won't declare war.

Anyways a lot of others game with a basic diplomacy system is a lot better. I think they should improve it in the futur :)

I mean I never knew that I was offending the AI so bad when sending an idea lol

I'm curious if the A.I. makes an evaluation at all, It just seems like some flat random chance that they will accept or deny the NAP. They certainly never make an evaluation after the NAP is made as to whether they should break it or not. I'm searching for it in the manual and I don't see any details about it.

[TheDeadlyShoe]

you can try setting the diplomacy to non-binding, perhaps they will be more willing to break NAP then

[1337Dude]

Originally posted by TheDeadlyShoe:

you can try setting the diplomacy to non-binding, perhaps they will be more willing to break NAP then

I'll have to test it further.

So far, I love what Dominions 6 is going for. But this launch seems rougher around the edges than Dominions 5. I've never encountered a battle-log/replay desync in all my time with Dom 5, and I've already experienced a couple during my short time with Dom 6.