Spy network fails again!

bogatir · March 26, 2002, 14:06

Greetings all,

Does the AI ever do anything like use a spy or an embassy to examine a potential enemy’s capital (or other city) before declaring war?

In my current game, through an apparent complete failure of its intelligence agencies, the AI is getting its head handed to it. Here’s the situation:

It’s the year 2000. My Democratic City-States of Azteckia are marching resolutely toward a spaceship victory – 14 turns away by my estimate, and this without beelining the necessary techs. Azteckia has a commanding 2:1 lead over its nearest rivals, the Germans, in the histograph with the English running a close third. We command most of a continent, with the Germans and English owning a few colonial-type cities in the far north, occupying lands once claimed by the long-since destroyed Persians and Indians. Peace has reigned everywhere for nearly 50 years.

Wham. The Germans declare war on Azteckia, pretty much out of the blue. I guess I shouldn’t have traded them that last tech for a couple of luxuries. A pathetic mob of about eight cavalry attack from their northern colonies, and all die under the fire of my fortified mech infantry and artillery. Babylon and the really pitifully backward Americans (not even to Steam Power yet) join with Germany. I strike an alliance with the English (to keep them from DW’ing me when I make this next move) and proceed to hit the capital cities of the three offending nations with tactical nukes from nearby boomers. In two turns I raze the five German cities on my continent, and I’m now lining up an invasion of their homeland. My jet fighters have squished all of their airpower. My battleships sank all of their transports and defending frigates/ironclads/battleships.

Question: Doesn’t the AI look at anything before declaring war? I mean, before sending eight puny cavalry charging into my guns, wouldn’t you think maybe the Germans would use an embassy to peek at my capital city and see the three spare tactical nukes I had hanging around there?

I understand, to an extent, the strategic calculation – at least as far as it’s planned negative impact on Azteckia. The war has cut off a lot of my luxuries, and has forced me to switch govs to Monarchy. This has made a spaceship victory still possible, but dicey (I’ll need about 34 turns of research at the current reduced rate to get to Lasers and build the ever-popular Interplanetary Party Lounge). It’s slowed the accumulation of Azteckia’s score on the histograph.

But, strategically, it’s sheer suicide for the offending AI civs. I’m going to raze all three of them to greasy spots.

So, another question: Does the AI make decisions based on what it ‘thinks’ is good for an individual civilization, or are the calculations involved based more on what will work best to hamstring the human player, all else be damned?

If anything, Germany’s brainless dolt act has certainly added spice to the end game…

Observations? Comments?

titansfan216 · March 26, 2002, 14:33

judging from many games, it seems the AI in civ 3 plays to deny the human player a win, not to win itself.

dunk · March 26, 2002, 15:09

Titans

Steelers

Cuervo72 · March 26, 2002, 15:15

Quote:

Originally posted by dunk999
Titans

Steelers

Eagles?

Unregistered · March 26, 2002, 15:26

Quote:

Originally posted by titansfan216
judging from many games, it seems the AI in civ 3 plays to deny the human player a win, not to win itself.

That's my impression too. The earlier civs worked that way, so I'd imagine they put it in this new incarnation as well.

Cookie Monster · March 26, 2002, 15:42

Quote:

Originally posted by titansfan216
judging from many games, it seems the AI in civ 3 plays to deny the human player a win, not to win itself.

That's pretty sad if that's the case. Can't the AI be nice and try to win using it's own power and back the &*^% off of me?

In Imperialism 2, Stars!, and Europa Universalis, among others the AI is very skillful at winning games without having to resort to denying the human player a win by picking on him.

titansfan216 · March 26, 2002, 18:00

dunk--no way! titans are goin to the big dance this year baby!

Barchan · March 27, 2002, 08:46

Quote:

Originally posted by dunk999
Titans

Steelers

Cookie Monster · March 27, 2002, 11:11

Barchan · March 28, 2002, 07:22

>>

Kuciwalker · March 28, 2002, 22:18

I'm still waiting for something that merits that exclamation point.

Barchan · April 2, 2002, 08:12

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker
I'm still waiting for something that merits that exclamation point.

I'm afraid you may be waiting for some time....

Coracle · April 2, 2002, 22:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Haupt. Dietrich

That's pretty sad if that's the case. Can't the AI be nice and try to win using it's own power and back the &*^% off of me?. . .

It IS the case. It's the Human against the World, especially with 1.17.

Inverse Icarus · April 3, 2002, 13:30

the AI knows it loses if you win, so it tries to not let you win.

dunk · April 3, 2002, 14:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Cuervo72

Eagles?

I'm originally from Pittsburgh.

dunk · April 3, 2002, 14:21

Quote:

Originally posted by titansfan216
dunk--no way! titans are goin to the big dance this year baby!

I had forgotten about this thread.

Well, the Titans will have to get past the Bungles... a huge task for them I'm sure.

roalan · April 3, 2002, 15:54

PATS REPEAT-READ IT AND WEEP BABY'S

Cookie Monster · April 3, 2002, 17:25

Quote:

Originally posted by UberKruX
the AI knows it loses if you win, so it tries to not let you win.

Maybe the next patch should change it so that the AI doesn't know it loses if you win.....