AI Not Handling Star Bases Well

I've just won a game in which the challenge and fun was rather intense then went flat with the discovery that the AI just couldnt or wouldnt use star bases well. (Drengens where on my ass till I researched a few weapons they couldnt deal with...then the crying started HA)

In a huge universe with 9 races all set to intelligent with the Drengen set one notch higher, I've found that the Ai just does not use star bases in way that would solidify their strength on the map. I mean Star base use is critical, and every mining resource should be explored for, mined to max and protected very very well!!

Further each AI system should have at least one maxed economic base well protected, hell Ive got two maxed economic based per system cluster to help my situation in the early game.... further, well placed military bases protiecting key systems and or placed and built into a system when a big invasion is to occorr, are absent. I bump into Military based wih no protection all the time??

Hell Ive made fast scout ships and sent them out to explore the far fringes for resources midgame and uncovered about 8 of them in the late game that where unclaimed and just sitting very close to major enemy system clusters..... so why has not the AI at least explored its back yard properly and done the same as myself to send out far scouting ship??

Gal Civ I was so frustrating because of the AI's inability to set up star bases strategically..... I just dont get this. Is anyone else seeing this pattern?

I've played 5 games now and I see the same thing.... star bases set up here and there but not smartly or intensively upgraded to make a solid difference.

Im hoping the 1.1 patch can address this as the game is seriously compromised by an AI that doesnt use this powerfull aspect of the game to win.

The difficulty on this game would grow exponetially if one had to deal with well star based systems and well guarded resource bases, that had fleets protecting them.

Regardless I hope this feedback can help with amazing game get better.

Yukon
9,798 views 6 replies
Reply #1 Top
See the dev journals on the left. Lots of work on starbase stuff.
Reply #2 Top
They could do better but they are way better than they were in GC1.

They will build a lot of culture military and some econ bases but imo it is a mistake to start building those bases while there are some obvious mining resources to be had.

In a small map game tonight, the AI let me grab every mining resource while they built probably a half dozen each of military and culture bases.
Reply #3 Top
On Suicidal they try, but do not take advantage of military starbases to great effect.

What they need to do is either:

A) Upgrade military bases with defenses and offensive capability and have some ship enhancing capabilities

or

B) Go all out ship enhancing capabilities, and use fleets of ships to guard them.

Also, the AI needs to realize that my fleets hanging out next to his military starbases and planets are not there to say hello, but are indeed a military force that will cripple them in a single turn. And they need to realize that two overlapping military starbases are strategically way more than twice as effective as one.

I don't know if the above is possible. If it's not, then I say drastically reduce the effectiveness of offense and defense bonuses from military starbases because the AI just cannot compete.

On a tanget now, but the AI really needs to stop declaring war several turns before they actually decide to attack. If I sound overly critical, it's because this is such a great game and I know it's going to improve with patches.

Reply #4 Top
Do starbase defense bonuses for ships apply to other starbases in range? i.e. if I have a military starbase with maxed out ship assists will those modules assist my nearby economic starbase when she is attacked? Or do I have to build up the defenses to full on EACH base?
Reply #5 Top
The ship bonuses only effect ships.
Reply #6 Top
the AI acts incredibly stupid in all parts of the game of course this is the same with this vital part. i havent played the highest difficulty lvl so far as i only played 4 games and didnt finish one. they were all so easy i was too bored to play on.