Why does the AI choose Death Scales all the time?

[jscott]

I'm still unclear.

So you are modifying individual maps to force the AI to have certain gods or certain scales or both?

[NTJedi]

jscott said:
I'm still unclear.

So you are modifying individual maps to force the AI to have certain gods or certain scales or both?

If you read the map edit PDF it will explain how it's possible to provide the AI with one or more specific scales. The option also exists to provide the AI with a specific god... you could even place equipment on the AI pretender at the start of the game so it's less likely to die early or later equip poor items.

I'm hoping with DOM_4 the AI opponents will know how to effectively place sacred troops with priests for blessings.

[Ballbarian]

Ah!
This must be the thread that Edi was talking about a few days ago.

For anyone who may be using RanDom &/or SemiRandom and was unaware, the latest versions are able to set random start locations and it is possible to create and add custom AI gods that will be assigned randomly. These custom gods can be given all manor of bonuses along the lines of what NT Jedi has been recommending. The AI opponents can simply receive beneficial scales, or give them bonuses such as magic items, extra starting sites, bodyguards, troops, etc.

I am currently working on a "god file" editor based on the functionality of the province editor to make creating custom god files easier. Hopefully when it is done, we will see an increase in the number of available custom AI pretender gods for the RanDom program. In the meantime, if you are comfortable adding gods to existing maps, you should have no problem creating custom gods for use by RanDom.

Following is a clip from an old post discussing this functionality:

1. Map text color can now be set.
2. Random start distributions can be set.
3. God files can be added similar to the methods used for adding province files. At this point, I have only created 1-2 gods for each nation in EA with the exception of Tir na n'Og. Over time, I hope to have a variety for all nations of all eras, but I would really enjoy playing games with a variety of gods designed by other players.


Steps for setting up a game using custom gods:
1. Use RanDom to generate desired map (if one not already available).
2. Set SemiRand options within RanDom.
3. Hit "Semi Randomize" to execute the SemiRand settings.
4. Copy yourMapsName_SR.map from the SemiRandom directory to your dominions3/maps directory.
5. Start a new game in dom3, select the SR map. The only age available will be the one that was set in RanDom.
6. On the participants screen, hit <add new player> until it greys out. This is how many nations were "allowed" when start positions were generated. Note that this number may be less than numPlayers!
7. Select the human player's nation(s) from the available nations. (the others are AI nations). Do not select a nation that was set to AI in RanDom or you will crash Dominions!
8. Set or load human gods.
9. Adjust dom3 game settings.
10. Start game and boom. All set.

[NTJedi]

very kool stuff Ballbarian !

one important note... if the AI opponents are given bodyguards it will not leave them as bodyguards, which is unfortunate.

[jscott]

What is RanDom?

A custom program for this kind of editing?

I feel very dense, but I feel like I've come into the middle of a discussion on this issue, though I started the thread.

I have been trying to make sense of how to use the mapedit commands to modify every map file I might use to have pre-set AI gods and its just too much work. I'm confused if I'm going about it in the wrong way.

[Endoperez]

The map-editing commands are meant for scenarios, not balancing. It's possible but boring to use them manually, but thankfully we now have a the RanDom program. It makes the same changes, or more, automatically.