difficulty settings

Soult · July 13, 2001, 04:16

The copy of CivII that I own didn't come with the manual, so I was unable to look this up...

I've noticed that on easy settings such as Chieftan your units fare better in combat than equal AI units, as well as a host of other benefits over the AI players. Of course, the reverse is true of the highest settings such as Deity. What are the specific differences between the difficulty settings, and which setting is closest to a 1:1 ratio(even playing field) between human and AI for combat, discovery time, production time, etc?

Marquis de Sodaq · July 13, 2001, 08:53

The AI plays at KING level.

Alas, the manual doesn't tell you that, anyway. The AI has many cheats to make up for lack of intelligence, there are threads you could dig up to get details. But basically, king level is the even playing field.

Soult · July 13, 2001, 13:07

Ok, thanks. King level it is.

finbar · July 13, 2001, 22:28

As I posted in one of the other threads, the Barbarian attack strength also varies according to the level you're playing as follows:

CHIEF: 25% of a Barb unit's usual attack strength

WARLORD: 50%, etc

PRINCE: 75%, etc

KING: 100%, etc

EMPEROR: 125%, etc

DEITY: 150%, etc

Thus, on Deity level, for example, a Barb unit with an Attack Factor of 2 would attack with a strength of 3.

Oh, and at Chieftain level, your own units' Attack Factor is doubled.

The Andy-Man · July 14, 2001, 16:11

there is nothing that could make up for the civ2 AS (artificial stupidity)

Faboba · July 14, 2001, 16:39

I managed to get raped by the AI in the Hodad scenario at Prince level.....

I sent like 100 tanks to the main city in Greenland.

I destroyed only about 14 shields.

The Andy-Man · July 15, 2001, 13:33

this is something i dont get with civ2.
you would expect a howitzer to blow apart about any city defence (except maybe a battleship).

once i lost mine to a rifleman!

finbar · July 15, 2001, 20:25

Was the howie attacking on its first movement point? And at full strength?

Wiglaf · July 15, 2001, 20:49

Quote:

this is something i dont get with civ2.
you would expect a howitzer to blow apart about any city defence (except maybe a battleship).
once i lost mine to a rifleman!

It happens sometimes. Civ2 incorporates randomness into battles, and I guess you got the worst of it. Maybe he got a lucky shot or something.

This assuming normal combat conditions, of course

The Andy-Man · July 16, 2001, 13:37

howie was full str on firts move

randomness is good in battle. but it dosn't encorporate stuff like the vietcong (i think) whipping the american, highly trained marines. (juts an eg)

finbar · July 16, 2001, 19:57

Quote:

Originally posted by The Andy-Man
howie was full str on firts move

randomness is good in battle. but it dosn't encorporate stuff like the vietcong (i think) whipping the american, highly trained marines. (juts an eg)

Yeah well. Look at the arithmetic. The howie has attack/defence factors of 12/2 and the rifleman has attack/defence factors of 5/4. And the howie has the added strength of ignoring the defence factor of city walls. So, in theory, the howie should blow the rifleman to buggery. Yet it's the howie's low defence factor - 2 - that's probably the key. That renders it pretty much a pushover in defence terms. Yes, there's a random element in the software's battle calculations. There's also, I've long suspected, a factor relating to which unit actually "delivers the first blow". In this case, if it were the rifleman, the howie was in trouble. 98 times out of 100, though, the howie should win.

Scouse Gits · July 16, 2001, 20:12

Quote:

Originally posted by finbar

There's also, I've long suspected, a factor relating to which unit actually "delivers the first blow".

So can I nominate finbar as President of the SNEAK ATTACK CLUB ?

-------------

SG(2)

finbar · July 16, 2001, 23:53

SG 2 - I've read references to this Sneak Attack business and never really taken the time to find out about it. Is that what it refers to? The warring units not, as it were, striking simultaneously? If that's the case, I suppose I have to join the club.

My point is that, I've observed battles - where my unit has attacked another unit - only to see my unit suffer the first damage.

BTW, would you happen to be a Rugby lad? Lions supporter? By any chance at all? Hm?

Alexander's Horse · July 17, 2001, 00:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Scouse Gits

So can I nominate finbar as President of the SNEAK ATTACK CLUB ?

-------------

SG(2)

He's more "victim of".

Rasputin · July 17, 2001, 05:51

Quote:

Originally posted by finbar

My point is that, I've observed battles - where my unit has attacked another unit - only to see my unit suffer the first damage.

I have seen this more than once Fin, I thought it was standard for the game , sometimes the defender gets first shot off. Although I have never lost a howie in an attack.

Hydey · July 17, 2001, 07:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse

He's more "victim of".

There was quite a stink about it too , shame that game did not continue

Rasputin · July 17, 2001, 07:17

thought at first you were meaning the game where you nuked him !! but then seeing the post subject "Mr spotless" you had to be referring to Deity.. hard to beleive he attacked without provacation though, he would lose his "Spotless" rep then

Soult · July 18, 2001, 14:57

Perhaps this first damage against the attacker is a result of the attacker 'missing' in the first round of combat, rather than the defender actually firing first.

The Andy-Man · July 18, 2001, 15:36

but to his question though, i have found that attack/defence wise, King is the even ground, but texhnology wise, prince is a little closer (but i guess that depends on where you start)