Computer building ships with shields but no weapons

Just when you thought the AI couldn't get any worse...

from GalCiv2 Forums
This is truely terrible, as there is very litte difficulty to begin with, even on 'Tough' difficulty, but now the computer has started building ships without weapons. The last planet I attacked was guarded by five ships all with shields but with no weapons altogether. At first I though it was a bug that wasn't allowing the enemy ships to fire. It's simple enough to tell the AI to build all ships with at least one attack in some area, what is the point of having shields or armor without something to retaliate with. It's not like ships can escape combat!
4,465 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What were the ships called?
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
And which race? Each race has its own AI that is pretty distinct.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
At what point this is in the game. I believe in one of the Beta Log it mentioned that some races will be building ships that has pure defense in order to counter the initial rush. I had that in my games but as later into the game they'll be upgrading those ships.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This feature doesn't make sense to me either (it's listed as a tactic for terrans in the beta release notes). Even if the planet is guarded by a ship with 5000 defense, a ship with 1 attack will eventually destroy it.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've noticed the Altarians doing that in my game. Checking their planets now there are two Defenders, A(0-0-0) D(0-0-1), floating around still. Their more up-to-date ship models all appear to have weapons and armor. I can't remember if the ones I remember seeing were all Defenders, but I think at the least the majority has been.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Not sure if they are they same as the intial batch I destroyed, but the Yor defender 2-11 has 0-0-0 1-0-1 and 11HP for stats and two of their planets still have them 3 of them as their only defense. Strangely enough, the Yor Defender 2-6 has 4 attack and 2 defense but did not appear to be made in high volume. I've noticed the Terrans have made a lot of ships without weapons or armor, but only 1 per planet which I suppose is to stop unescorted transports. I believe other races have made weaponless but armored ships as well, but nothing in the quantity the Yor have produced them in.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I agree. It's better to build a pure tiny hull (IE: nothing on it) to guard a planet, than to build a ship with defenses only. Not only does it make the ship cost more (and thus longer to build), it also drains maintainance (the only armor *I* would EVER put on these is the massive but cheap "Armor Plating" - but the AI never does this - anything else will make that tiny hull drain 1 maintainance instead of zero). Furthermore, there really isn't any point to having multiple of these on a planet, because a ship with 1 attack and multiple engines will take out several 5000 defense ship per turn, it just takes some lucky rolls (turn off the combat viewer for this).

Luckily, the only purpose of these things is to stop early transport rushes, so the life span of these ship isn't awfully long, but it's still a waste of resources nevertheless.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I don't think so. If it stops you taking planets, it works.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Also, I shoiuld point out that this is late game, I am producing large ships now and have had four groups of three medium ships controlling the galaxy for awhile now.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Also, I shoiuld point out that this is late game, I am producing large ships now and have had four groups of three medium ships controlling the galaxy for awhile now



Eh, then you're lucky man, or to me at least. I'm also playing on Touch and the AIs are keeping me on my toe. I had the upper hand for a while but now I'm facing ships with 3 different weapon systems and 2 denfense systems, nasty.