Difficulty Level

Tampa1 · May 3, 2002, 11:45

What difficulty level do you play? And can someone explain the difficulty levels and the advantages the AI gets with those levels?

ixnay · May 3, 2002, 11:50

The various advantages/disadvantages the AI and you get at each level can be found in the editor under the Difficulty settings tabs. As for difficulty levels, I finally won my first deity game last night. Hooray!

Tampa1 · May 3, 2002, 12:13

When I play on Regent I find it easy but when I try Monarch I get too far behind early on.

kcbob · May 3, 2002, 13:26

Congratulations, Ixnay. I'm still waiting for my first Deity win. As to the original question, it mostly has to do with decreased/increased production and scientific research. Lower levels penalize the AI, higher levels boost it. For example, on Chieftan level, the AI might be producing at 80% while on Deity it's producing at 120%. That might not be on the nose but you get the idea.

Tampa1 · May 3, 2002, 14:05

Either Regent or Monarch has an equal playing field but not sure which one.

ChaotikVisions · May 3, 2002, 14:13

If I remember right from what others have said. Chieftain through Regeant give you some advantage, Monarch is normal, then anything above gives the comp advantages.

dojoboy · May 3, 2002, 14:28

I'm just beginning to be a regular winner at regent level which is where things are equal for AI and human. Of course, there are always exploits one can use against the AI.

Jawa Jocky · May 3, 2002, 15:39

I can always beat Monarchy unless the starting position is really bad. But I still haven't earned my 1st emperor victory yet (got close once). I actually dropped down to Regent for a game so I could enjoy a building game, but I'll start playing emp. again now that I have 1.21. I just don't get to play very often. 50 hour work weeks, computer classes at night, and a my wife has a home improvement list a mile long (we are excepting our 1st child this August

) I only get to play Friday and Saturday night....

Flanker · May 3, 2002, 16:03

Quote:

If I remember right from what others have said. Chieftain through Regeant give you some advantage, Monarch is normal, then anything above gives the comp advantages.

I recall it says in the editor that Regent should be the "normal" or standard setting. Whatever that may mean. However, I usually play on Monarch, that suits me fine. It´s not too hard if you just think as a human, not as the AI...

Bella Hella · May 3, 2002, 16:39

skipped regent and started my first monarch game last night as the persians. i got REALLY lucky and ended up on a decent sized subcontinent. i am successfully defending the "goosenecks" with spearmen so the friggin AI can't swarm in. we'll see what happens.

Grrr · May 3, 2002, 18:49

I find that the difficulty levels are pathetic. One can lose on Chieftain or win on Deity depending on the starting locations. Their should be a starting location slider to deal with this.

Denday · May 3, 2002, 19:03

Quote:

Originally posted by Tampa1
Either Regent or Monarch has an equal playing field but not sure which one.

regent does
because when you get to monarch you will notice the diffrence
not to hard though

God · May 3, 2002, 20:14

Regent has the equal playing field. In monarch the difference that you'll notice is that the AI develops techs a bit faster. Thats the only difference other than limit of number of content citizens, 3 or 4 I think.

IMO monarch is the most even level. The AI does get a bit of an advantage, but that is evened out with the player's skill and strategy that the AI can't develop. The only way AI keeps up is the faster techs and production. On regent the player with his strategies and all will blow away the AI.

Grrr · May 3, 2002, 21:47

I agree with God (not with christianity

) regent and monarch are the best levels.

Thrawn05 · May 3, 2002, 22:54

I worked my way to Regent, played Monarch a couple of times. Although I must confess, I have been known to play a round of cheifton. Just because it's really easy and good to pass some time away.

BillChin · May 4, 2002, 11:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Tampa1
What difficulty level do you play? And can someone explain the difficulty levels and the advantages the AI gets with those levels?

You can check in the editor but I believe these are accurate:

Chieftain, AI has a 20% cost premium on all units, tech, pop
Warlord, AI has 10% cost premium
Regent, level playing field
Monarch, AI gets 2 free units, 10% discount
Emperor, AI gets 5 free units, 20% discount
Deity, AI gets 15 free units (not all at the start though), 40% discount

The discount applies to the food box for population as well as units, and is one reason the AI can expand so fast.

In general, a seasoned player can win any start on Monarch or below, though it may not be much fun. On Emperor, it takes a top 10% player to win every start, but a good player can win the vast majority of starts. On Deity it takes a top 10% player (maybe a top 2% player is more accurate) to win a majority of starts. Map size, number of opponents and starting terrain are all big factors. My rough estimates are for eight players, standard size random map, random starting civ.

P. S. I am promoting my May tourney game, it is Regent level as Chinese:
http://64.246.32.51/~admin1/forums/s...threadid=49114