Can you tell in game what the difficulty level is?

I think the only way would be to save and exit the game, then check in the debug.err file.

Cakewalk = 15 (Fool)
Easy = 20 (Dunce)
Simple = 30 (Beginner)
Beginner = 40 (Sub-Normal)
Normal = 50 (Normal)
Challenging = 65 (Bright)
Tough = 80 (Intelligent) *Full AI capability from here on*
Painful = 85 (Gifted)
Crippling = 95 Genius)
Masochistic = 100 (Incredible)
Obscene = 120 (Godlike)
Suicidal = 150 (Ultimate)

Where do you look in the debug.err file?
It is rather large.
Is the number associated with the words above or something else?

In the foreighn relations screen, stats tab. Then look under misc I think and you'll see their intelligence level. If it isn't that particular tab, it is in there nearby.

Also if you hit randomize AI intelligence your not really playing on tough. The one you ran into is probably between easy and beginner, at cakewalk the doesnt have enough money to colonize. but if there is one AI on there that is obscene or suicidal you'll probably have a good game

Yes, it is under "stats" "Misc", and I while I thought that level
was set for tough, intelligent, instead it said "fool" for the AI.
Which meant that I must have been a fool for setting up the game this
way. Normally the settings remain the same for a new game set up and
I don't use randomize.

I am using a slight mod of planetimprovements.xml file but I don't think
that caused it to go to fool. Just started another game under tough and
intelligent with my mod and found a nearby opponent and the misc setting showed "intelligent" which is what it should be. The only thing
that I changed is that I slightly upped the morale buildings somewhere between 1.4 and 1.2.

Meanwhile I wasted an hour and half of the game with a nearby anomalie of
2500bc. That gets me the "fool" status. Fire away.

And, the debug.err file is located in your main game folder, usually C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2.

It can be opened with Notepad, it is a plain text file.
This is what the first part of it looks like, and the intelligence level is at the end of what I copied into the post:

Debug Message: Version v1.4x last updated on: Mon Oct 23 17:43:56 2006
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 11/3/2006, 01:54:20
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: MOOSE2
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: HP Pavilion 061
System Model: EL409AA-ABA M7360N
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 283MB used, 3397MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6800 GS
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00C0&SUBSYS_C3893842&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor Name: HP vs17 flat panel monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9147
Driver Date: 8/11/2006 20:42:52
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy 4 [DF00]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0008&SUBSYS_10211102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1161
Driver Date: 6/17/2005 21:53:28
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0



Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GS
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 75
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 a6f1bb60
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No string tables in C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM/Data/*.str
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: Create setup screens.
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: * Collectors Edition *
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\ShipDefs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\PlanetImprovements\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\TerrainColorSchemes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\PlanetDescriptions\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\Anomalies\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\Events\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\UPIssues\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\Invasions\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\PoliticalParties\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\StarTypes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\StarbaseModules\*.xml
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\KHSM\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message: Creating Galaxy
Debug Message: Killing threads.
Debug Message: Kiling civs.
Debug Message: Killing ships.
Debug Message: Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message: Killing misc objects.
Debug Message: Killing stars.
Debug Message: Killing anomalies.
Debug Message: Killing space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
Debug Message: Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Galaxy Size Set: 18 x 18
Debug Message: Creating Random Map
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message: Number of Unplaced Stars: 4.
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message: *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 300
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message: Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Terran Alliance: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Altarian Republic: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Arcean Empire: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Torian Confederation: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Yor Collective: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Dominion of Korx: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Drath Legion: Intellence -> 150
Debug Message: Meese: Intellence -> 150

This intelligence message is only generated when the game is first created.

It is not later generated again for saved files. If you switch games or move a game
to a different computer or delete the debug.err file, you won't see the information on "intellence". Why do they mispell it?

This intelligence message is only generated when the game is first created. It is not later generated again for saved files. If you switch games or move a game to a different computer or delete the debug.err file, you won't see the information on "intellence". Why do they mispell it?

Misspelling seems to be the norm these days.

You misspelled misspell, as well. lol

But I agree. It should be spelled correctly by this time. I guess little things like that either fall through cracks or are simply ignored as not being important enough.


Merriam-Webster OnLine...

It is somewhat ironic to misspell that word and I am a teacher (who sometimes
doesn't proof-read--contrary to my instructions to my students). Most of the
time it is because I am trying to go too fast.

Since I teach law, my most hated misspelling is "So and so looses the case."
My favorite misspelling: this practice is illeagle.

Yes, the famous 'sick bird' of the legal system.

I never have an issue with spelling. With a little study, a bit of discipline, and an eye for detail, spelling errors are never really neciiss... wait a sec... necesisarey... hold on... necessararary... well.......... there goes that theory.

  

As to the original post, I have seen a post somewhere in these forums showing this as a bug. He posted his debug.err, and you could see a couple ctrl-n's were done. The first 3 or 4 times the AIs had intellence(heh) of 100. The last time they were 15. An obvious bug, since he couldn't have changed the settings after starting.

Just thought I would point this out as a possibility that it wasn't your error, brycej.

I think I remember that particular thing being fixed in one of the lastest releases, so it should not happen in either 1.31 or 1.4.

I had this problem after doing a Ctl-N and so I am suspicious
that occasionally for some reason the intelligence rating
somehow gets screwed up.

I guess if you do Ctl-N you might want to check the bottom
of the debug.err log to see if the numbers for intelligence
(however they spell it) are right.