difficulty question

from GalCiv2 Forums

I am a noob who is wondering about the game difficulties. I figured I would start at "beginner", but it looks like there are 3 levels below that? I also see "simple", "easy", and "cakewalk". I know it is a dumb question, but can I assume the difficulty from easiest to more difficult would be cakewalk - easy - simple - beginner? I need maximum easy! Thanks

8,835 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Cakewalk is the easiest, with difficulty rising as you cycle rightward through the options.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Where can I find the most basic of instructions/tutorial on learning this game? I read the excerpt below in an FAQ on the GameFaqs site. I looked on my hard drive in the GalCiv 2 folder and am unable to find the guide they are referring to.

 

"It is strongly recommended that you read the "Beginner's Strategy Guide" that
can be found in the GalCivII directory on your hard-drive. This simple guide
discusses much of the game interface that will be important to understanding
some of the terminology used here."
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

From the Galciv2 Wiki: -

Difficulty = (AI Level) (AI Intelligence)

  • 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)

AI Intelligence level is per AI controlled race. When you select a game each race has a varying degree of intelligence based on the game difficulty selected above. Exact details are not known, but AIs on higher levels (masochistics and higher) get significantly more "points" to spend in race creation and are not bound to the same point-spending rules the human player is (e.g. they can have 80% bonus in military production); and bonuses to economy, production, research, influence, diplomacy, range, sensors range and miniaturization. These bonuses vary to some degree in each game. Please note it's hard to distinguish invisible bonuses from AI abilities until a player gets first spying level on the AI, so updated numbers (game version 1.5 and Dark Avatar 1.6) for Incredible, Obscene, and Suicidal are "educated guess".

In older versions prior to v1.31 it was known to be the following.

  • Fool - The AI's economy is run at 10% of normal; no higher level algorithms are enabled
  • Beginner - The AI's economy is run at 25% of normal; no higher level algorithms are enabled
  • Sub-Normal - The AI's economy is run at 50% of normal; no higher level algorithms are enabled
  • Normal - The AI's economy is run at 75% of normal; AI evaluates common human tactics
  • Bright - The AI's economy is run at 100% of normal; AI evaluates most known human tactics
  • Intelligent - The AI's economy is run at 100% of normal; from this level up to the highest AI expertly picks abilities and all known human tactics are searched and countered
  • Gifted - The AI's economy is run at 105% of normal;
  • Genius - The AI's economy is run at 125% of normal;

Updated for newer versions of the game (DL 1.5 and DA)

  • Incredible - The AI's economy, production, and research are run at 200% of normal and it gets a ~20% bonus to miniaturization and +4 sensors,
  • Godlike - The AI's economy, production, and research are run at 300% of normal and it gets a ~40% bonus to miniaturization and +4-5 sensors;
  • Ultimate - The AI's economy, production, and research are run at 400% of normal and it gets a ~60% bonus to miniaturization and +5-6 sensors;