Anyone elsie notice the A.I. sometimes doesnt defend its cities?

trickey · July 29, 2002, 07:54

It might just be me, but before v1.29f, i had never seen the A.I. leave one of its cities undefended. But now, after the patch, twice the A.I. built a city without having a defender for it.

I play on regent.

phunny_pharmer · July 29, 2002, 11:04

hmm...can't say I've noticed this myself?

Do you have a save?

Killerdaffy · July 29, 2002, 12:07

I haven't seen undefended cities yet but since 1.29f the AI DOES send out settlers with the escort joining on the way, especially in the beginning. It makes sense, at least when all the babarian settlements have been cleared. I think the cities might stay undefended if the (intended) defender gets killed en route.

ixnay · July 29, 2002, 14:29

I once had the situation where I declared war on the Americans, whose city of New Orleans was planted entirely on the other side of my empire. As I moved troops within striking range, a ship sailed in and evacuated all of the units defending it, leaving it open for the taking.

vondrack · July 29, 2002, 15:59

Quote:

Originally posted by ixnay37
I once had the situation where I declared war on the Americans, whose city of New Orleans was planted entirely on the other side of my empire. As I moved troops within striking range, a ship sailed in and evacuated all of the units defending it, leaving it open for the taking.

Yep, I had exactly the same experience once. I was really glad to see the AI behave in this way, as it made perfect sense...

(unlike planting the city in that remote location, that is...

)

dexters · July 29, 2002, 16:45

Human players sometimes leave cities undefended as well

ChrisiusMaximus · July 29, 2002, 16:53

I do quite often but always try to have something near to just in case.

GhengisFarb™ · July 29, 2002, 17:01

Quote:

Originally posted by trickey
It might just be me, but before v1.29f, i had never seen the A.I. leave one of its cities undefended. But now, after the patch, twice the A.I. built a city without having a defender for it.

I play on regent.

I've noticed it to. Not only to the found cities without a military unit. They often build the first military unit for the settlement instead of moving one in.

However, after I've picked a few of their vagrant settlers off for slave labor they tend to start escorting them again.

Carver · July 29, 2002, 18:59

Quote:

Originally posted by ixnay37
I once had the situation where I declared war on the Americans, whose city of New Orleans was planted entirely on the other side of my empire. As I moved troops within striking range, a ship sailed in and evacuated all of the units defending it, leaving it open for the taking.

I've never seen that myself but I've read many posts describing such evacs.

Overall, I guess its an AI improvement to send out settlers sans escort, as the AI can probably settle territory faster without waiting to build a defender.

dnassman · July 29, 2002, 19:35

Even before 1.29 I found AI civs planting cities without a defending unit. This was in the ancient era and when I was pounding them in a war. It happened a few times actually. After capturing most of the AI civs I almost always find one or two new cities that have no defender. I'm assuming the AI rushes the settler and needs the defensive unit in the city that I am attacking. So yes I have seen this happen the way you describe it.

trickey · July 29, 2002, 20:14

Sorry, i dont have a save game, i didnt think of it at the time to take a screenshot

This was very early in the game ( in both cases, the undefende city was the second one built by the A.I.), i took the cities with the inithial warrior that i always build first. I must admit, it worked awesome. The A.I. would then give me the 2-3 tech they had that i didnt, and usually thier worker. Then i would make peace with 'em. I cant believe how much me taking that 1 city slowed down the A.I expansion.

dexters · July 29, 2002, 22:39

From what I've read here, the AI probably has a learning algorithm where it eavsdrops onto your movies and see if you have enough troops in the region to threaten it, and or, whether you are in the habit of attacking with your forces (at the time) if both return no, the AI may then go for more aggressive fast paced expansion where it settles new cities without support.

GhengisFarb™ · July 29, 2002, 23:16

Quote:

Originally posted by dexters
From what I've read here, the AI probably has a learning algorithm where it eavsdrops onto your movies and see if you have enough troops in the region to threaten it, and or, whether you are in the habit of attacking with your forces (at the time) if both return no, the AI may then go for more aggressive fast paced expansion where it settles new cities without support.

I don't think its based on the number of units you may have in the area because I'd often have their lone settlers run into 3-4 or my scouting militia units.

Zylka · July 30, 2002, 02:02

To what end???

Ijuin · July 30, 2002, 07:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Zylka
To what end???

I am thinking that if the AI knows that it cannot hold onto a city--for example, if it only has a pair of Spearmen defending it and you are bearing down on them with a stack of 20 Swordsmen, then it will abandon the city, stripping away the units and selling improvements in a "scortched earth" maneuver to save whatever it can.

Carver · July 30, 2002, 10:04

Quote:

Originally posted by dexters
From what I've read here, the AI probably has a learning algorithm where it eavsdrops onto your movies

The AI does alot more than eavsdrop. They apparently have a spy planted within each and every one of your units as the AI seems to see every movie you make.

GhengisFarb™ · July 30, 2002, 10:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Dexters
From what I've read here, the AI probably has a learning algorithm where it eavsdrops onto your movies...

AND.....

Quote:

Originally posted by Carver
The AI does alot more than eavsdrop. They apparently have a spy planted within each and every one of your units as the AI seems to see every movie you make.

He must have the Spielberg wonder.......

First of all I'm not attacking your spelling as I make a lot of spelling errors myself. But when you make a spelling error that still produces a logical sentence......