Custom Maps, No AI activity

[Scifiwriterguy]

Without any rhyme or reason, the AI will sit and do nothing on a custom map. If workers are provided, they'll go collect some carbon if it's nearby, and it might use a scout unit if one's provided, but even with a free troop center and resources to start the game, it creates no units and takes no action.

What's weird is that it doesn't always do that. Sometimes (admittedly rarely), it'll behave normally and build structures, create units, and go on the offensive. I'm at a total loss to understand why and correct the problem, and Google was no help.

Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks in advance. :)

[Scifiwriterguy]

I'd hoped to avoid that... that's definitely not something I foresee myself being good at. :\

The funny thing is, I get the exact same behavior in AoEII (the original version, not the new thing). Sometimes the AI runs like you'd expect, and other times it sits there like it's been lobotomized. It's both unpredictable and weird.

[Ernst Zündel]

When you are defining the factions in the scenario editor (stuff like name, starting tech level, starting resources, etc.), there is a tab to choose if a side is playable by Human players or by the AI. If you choose the AI, I believe you can also set its behavior.

I'm not sure, but I suppose customizing the map difficulty affects the AI behavior as well. You can always test your scenario to find out.

[Scifiwriterguy]

Indeed, the option for AI behavior is available when the faction is set to Computer, but unless you've written an AI script, the menu's blank. :\

Oh, I've done tons of testing. Run a test, make some changes, test again. The scenario that started the thread gave me two hours of attempts with nothing to show at any difficulty level. Then, after upping the AI faction's starting resources slightly, suddenly the computer remembered it had a job to do and started playing. It's downright bizarre. It had resources, workers, buildings - more than the human player, too! - but giving it even more starting resources somehow bootstrapped it.

I really wish I knew what was going through its empty digital head.

[Ruinae Retroque Rursus]

You'd have to poke the AI file (can be done by opening gamedata_x2.drs with Notepad++, but please don't make edits to it when it's in this state!) to see what causes its passivity or not.

I'm guessing if it actually has enough to try and build a base from, it will.

Keep in mind on Hard and Hardest difficulty the AI gets resource cheats every so often, which may trigger it over the "oh hey I can actually build a base now."

[Scifiwriterguy]

Originally posted by Ruinae Retroque Rursus:

You'd have to poke the AI file (can be done by opening gamedata_x2.drs with Notepad++, but please don't make edits to it when it's in this state!) to see what causes its passivity or not.

I'm guessing if it actually has enough to try and build a base from, it will.

Keep in mind on Hard and Hardest difficulty the AI gets resource cheats every so often, which may trigger it over the "oh hey I can actually build a base now."

Thanks for the AI file name. I'll take a peek. (But no edits!)

Adding to the weird, though, is that when it's in its "Achilles sulking in his tent" mode, even Hard and Hardest difficulties with the involved resource cheats don't pop it out of its funk. It is, hands down, the strangest bug I've ever tried to diagnose.

[João Caju]

Anyone figured out a solution?
I was feeling quite the pro-player beating missions on Hard, but after seeing this I realized most (if not all) of the maps I played were bugged.

[Scifiwriterguy]

No solution. The workaround seems to be adding more starting resources to the AI players, but that can then give them a huge advantage and throw off balance.

Unfortunately, it's been like this since its first release (even as far back as AoEII) so we're not likely to see a patch.