AI in 1.2 still builds ships without weapons

from GalCiv2 Forums
I've been playing DL Campaign in 1.2, and through the first 3 levels the Drengin have only built warships with defenses, but never any weapons. They even upgrade defenses, going from 2 to 4 or more, but never put any weapons on. Granted, I played the first 2 levels on Normal, but the 3rd (I forget the name, but with Altarians as allies) on Painful.

If this isn't a bug, what is it?
4,190 views 10 replies
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I understand the weaponless ships from a planet protection standpoint bu tthe upgrading is hard to justify. As many scouts as the AI builds it would seem they could be programmed to park them as planet protectors.

Damned if you do or don't I guess. If you add value to defense the AI builds it but they don't understand it is all but worthless without attack. Can the AI be programmed to understand this? Beats me.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I had the same experience on Masochistic, but I was jumping out of the gate and blowing up the 0-power defenders right from the start. They just kept buying them till they lost.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The problem is that they are building ships with only defenses when they could have built a ship with nothing on it for far less money and time, since both are just as effective in stopping an early invasion (which I guess that they are for).
That they build more then one weaponless defender on a planet is also pointless. If the enemy has a ship with weapons, the number of weaponless defenders won't make any difference.

The easiest solution would IMO be to forbid the AI from building weaponless defenders completly and have it research weapons earlier if needed.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah, Ignuss, that sounds like a good solution. I'm glad to hear that others have seen the same problem. But maybe I shouldn't be!
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This is very common in DL campaign.
But in sandbox I've seen only Terrans use it from time to time.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Actually I think the ships are built like that to boost their military rating since it includes attack/defense and hp. Since defense is smaller, you can get more points of it on a ship than you can weapons and can get them earlier.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
On the other hand attack is cheaper so they've could built more attack ships for same time.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think building 1 ship with 2 defense is cheaper than 2 ships with 1 attack each.

I'm not saying it's smart, just saying that's my guess as to why. It's the fastest/cheapest way to raise your military rating if you have the tech already.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i've seen the drengin to this is a sandbox game.

they build a massive fleet of 0/0 ships, and start putting money into the treasury. when the arceans and their beam weapons rolled in, they upgraded all their ships to rather frightening missile/shield ships, and their military power skyrocketed in a few turns. this was on crippling. in a few short turns, they managed to tear down the arcean military advantage (they had like 3 military resources, which i quickly grabbed up).