How good is the AI?

[BladeofSharpness]

just that ...

[gryphin.rampant]

You are a human and I have looked at your profile. You present as a very experienced player. Well, in 40 years I have not met an AI I can't beat. With EDCE I have created conditions where my victory is not predictable.

My question for you is: "What do you want from a $20 game?.

The beauty, (for me), of EDCE is that you can script your own AI

Or
If you have the skills you can hard code it.
Or
You can download someone elses.

I personally create AI for this game that is unpredictable and by extension harder to beat.
For Example:
There you are moving your forces across the Pangea capturing every city in your path when out of no-where something unseen starts eating your units for breakfast.
You just ran into my 'Invi'.
Or
Maybe you are island hopping and all goes well when a denizen of the deep has its way with your transports. In the next 3 turns your armada is history.
What will you have to build to defeat them?

This game is as hard as you want to make it.

[BladeofSharpness]

Indeed, I have been playing strategy games for about 40 years, and mostly those.

What do I expect? A decent AI. I’m not fooling myself—I don’t expect an "AI" (and the term isn’t even correct) to be at the level of a good player. An average player would be nice.

I can code, but I don’t have the time or inclination to do it for a game, though I’d appreciate it if there were mods that could improve the AI.

It seems your AI is just about triggering events that automatically destroy units. I wouldn’t call that an AI or even an opponent. With all due respects for your work, though.

[gryphin.rampant]

> "triggering events that automatically destroy units."
What? How did you with 40 years experience draw that conclusion? I kept the description simplistic deliberately.
The two AI that I referred to could have easily concurred the map.

1) To myself I call it, 'CO', (computer opponent), when taling with non-gamers.
2) The AI that i script follows the basic '4X' principles if that is what you mean.
3) The use of 'AI' started as a marketing term and has stuck.

I would love an AI that
1) Recognizes - 'Gryphin' and
2) Records - My playing methods
3) Recalls - My playing methods
4) Recalculates - A counter strategy
5) Removes - me from the game
That said: Um, no, at 70yo with very low vision I am quite happy with EDCE and the challenges it provides.

Did you have something that meets the critera of actual, 'AI' in today's world?

[BladeofSharpness]

Ah, sorry, my apologies—I misunderstood you. The way you phrased your sentences made me think it was unfair event triggering.

So, it seems all good in the end. I will gladly download your scripts. Is there a place to download them? I don’t see a workshop.

Panther Games and the *Airborne Assault* series had some quite interesting AIs, although I’m not an expert in the series so far. Otherwise, perhaps in a few years, ChatGPT 8.0 will easily rival our military acumen.

[gryphin.rampant]

The scripts only work with the game. Are you saying you have EDCE?

[BladeofSharpness]

now yes!

[gryphin.rampant]

I suggest you:
1) Play several games and become aware of the surface level mechanics. Play against the 'Cassic 3' and the 'Enhanced'. Change the scenery around as well.
Once you do that and you are wining consistently
Then
2) Create a few new units and play with them. I would suggest:
A) An inexpensive weak militia unit for recon
B) A light cruiser with fewer hits and a little faster with a shorter build time.
Then drop my 'Mod' into place and use it.
Trying to run a mod before understanding the game mecanis won't end well.
Still, I'll upload it no later than Sunday, March 23rd.

Side note: My mod is not ready for general consumption because I am rebuilding it and no one else has shjown an interest in fighting 'monsters'.

[BladeofSharpness]

Thanks, I'll put some hours into the game. I can even wait longer if needed; I don't have a lot of playing time, alas.

[gryphin.rampant]

I'm here on and off most days.
There are a few other's who monitor this group but it can be intermittent.
Start small, 50x50 with no wrap and 1 or 2 AI.

[gryphin.rampant]

I just 'tested' my AI against the 'Classic 3'.
It was a 50/50 outcome with a bloddy give and take between the various AI.
In short, Depending on factors such as:
* Starting location
* Build time
* Combat values
* Transport requierments
The game is fairly balanced.
Most humans would eventually win.
My AI gives you the pleasure of the unexpected and the challenge of determining how to defeat them.

[BladeofSharpness]

Hi,
I tested it a bit but I just can't get into it (or not anymore, since I used to play it in my youth, 30 or 40 years ago—I can't remember). I hope I’m not disappointing you; after all, I’m just a stranger to you, so you should be able to move on.

Still, I’ll add—though it might provoke a reaction—that as a developer myself, I find selling a game for 18 euros with such an atrocious and outdated UI (even though it runs on Unity) a bit much. Honestly, it reeks of greed. The creator is willing to update the game so it runs on modern PCs, but reworking the UI? Nope, not worth the trouble. Selling it for more than 5 euros though? That, apparently, is fine...

Anyway. It's 2025. In 1990, I’d have played it, given how few decent games suited me back then. Now, jaded as I am with 400+ games in my library, I’m literally spoiled for choice. Maybe I’ll go with Old World, Factorio, or Anno in the next few days—or even Dominions. We’ll see.

As Camus might say, even in an absurd world, if you find joy in something, that's meaning enough. So it's all fine!

[Nicksheeson]

I love this whole thread! Played the original back in the early 90's and have put in a few hours in this newer version . i am glad to see there are people still passionate about it.

[gryphin.rampant]

@Nicksheeson Probably more people that posts because they are all busying playing EDCE.

At the moment I have a bomber that can't return to base because an invisible 'Denizen of the Deep' is blocking the way. I will hae to let aircraft attack the Den o De.

Still, I *should* be able to post my mod by tomorrow night. er, I hope..

[bailey.5050]

Originally posted by BladeofSharpness:

Hi,
I tested it a bit but I just can't get into it (or not anymore, since I used to play it in my youth, 30 or 40 years ago—I can't remember). I hope I’m not disappointing you; after all, I’m just a stranger to you, so you should be able to move on.

Still, I’ll add—though it might provoke a reaction—that as a developer myself, I find selling a game for 18 euros with such an atrocious and outdated UI (even though it runs on Unity) a bit much. Honestly, it reeks of greed. The creator is willing to update the game so it runs on modern PCs, but reworking the UI? Nope, not worth the trouble. Selling it for more than 5 euros though? That, apparently, is fine...

Anyway. It's 2025. In 1990, I’d have played it, given how few decent games suited me back then. Now, jaded as I am with 400+ games in my library, I’m literally spoiled for choice. Maybe I’ll go with Old World, Factorio, or Anno in the next few days—or even Dominions. We’ll see.

As Camus might say, even in an absurd world, if you find joy in something, that's meaning enough. So it's all fine!

Look into HOI3. It is older but still a decent game. And there is a random mod on Steam.