Multiplayer AI

[fincident]

Couldn't find a way to add AI players on multiplayer game. If not possible, is there any plans to implement it in future versions?

[Big Daddy's Creations]

About online multiplayer with AI players - it's currently not a highly demanded feature, so we'd like to focus on other things. But we're not saying no, once we have more time to work on it, we can consider adding it to the game.

[fincident]

Thaks for the quick answer. Then I have to turn to the players: please highly demand this feature. It's fun to battle the AI players together especially when you introduce the game to a new player.

[Propbuddha]

I highly demand this feature!, right after you do turn timers and notifications.

For the record, other than Rise of the Ancients contnet, what are the "highly demanded features"?

[myhonda]

My friends and I are considering purchasing for multiplayer. Hard for us to get together for a regular game with family commitments. So asynch multi-player would be ideal. Throwing in an AI or two would create more of a challenge since we know each other's play styles. A little randomness or larger uncertainty bars... and the opportunity for ALL of us to lose to a merciless AI.

We play lots of games on game board arena.

[classicsmiley]

Originally posted by Big Daddy's Creations:

About online multiplayer with AI players - it's currently not a highly demanded feature, so we'd like to focus on other things. But we're not saying no, once we have more time to work on it, we can consider adding it to the game.

You already have AI take over for players that drop out. Couldn't you do something where you would start with a human player, and then cause them to drop out immediately, thereby allowing them to be replaced with an AI?

[Narkulus]

Lets see if we can get in turn notifications and turn timers first. Way more important than adding AI players to MP.

[demoss]

I'd really like to see a mix of AI and human players as well. I'm thinking particularly for private games - I'd like to have a 4-player game with one other human and a couple of AIs.

[i3lAzE]

Yes - please add ability to have AI players in online, multi-player games

[Hollow Man]

Just found out this version of the game exists. (have the board game and iOS versions). Yes; this is needed. I enjoy playing 4x PC games with my friends, people vs. the AI, so this just has to be implemented in Eclipse!

[JecJackal]

+1. I would love to be able to play this game with my wife with bots. We have a hard time getting a group of six people together for the boardgame, and this would be a great way to experience a six player game.

[skyrgra]

EDIT:

It's good idea / variant only for average, new players.

'AI' is very weak - if human-player get away from the multi-player game the AI (instead) will be doing stupid moves, such us built Monoliths on helpless hexes. They will built very poor ships. Their hexes it's a free gift for nearest human-player.

More important things:

- TURN ORDER VARIANT
rule from 'ship pack one': when you PASS FIRST you will start next turn
- turn timers & rapid replacement: AI instead human-player who get away from game, and don't come back in a 5-10 minutes
- destription of the game, for example: 'start today at 7 pm UTC+01:00, only Terrans'
- Rise of the Ancients, Shadow of the Rift :)

[Star Paladin]

Ya, we were all set to play a big online game with AI too, but, no AI allowed.

[Kornstalx]

Chiming in for the +1 to bots in multiplayer. Lots of us don't have a half dozen friends that we can play with all the time. Usually it's just a buddy, or a younger brother, etc, and the bots would definitely help things not seem so shallow.

[Star Paladin]

Ya, we ended up playing a 2 player game tonight after waiting 80 minutes. Sadly, my friend picked planta, and being at the opposite end of the galaxy, I just could not win (27/32 though, not bad for a human). If we had 2 AIs evil plant would not have won.

[demoss]

Yeah, that's why the rules recommend not using Planta (or Draco) in a two-player game.