Re: AI no better...
It is possible to get the AI to group minesweepers into fleets, which makes a big difference in thier ability to clear minefields. After observing the AI in the attempt to make AI improvements, I noticed that they will send a minesweeper or minesweeper fleet to the minefield and will then send whatever other ships/fleets it wishes to go through the minefield timed to enter the minefield immediately after the minesweeper does, but does not change thier orders if the minesweeper is unable to sweep the mines. This is where you see the AI attempting to 'sweep' the minefield with standard ships. Also, if the AI has not researched mines yet, it seems that it will ignore the minefields as it does not have the ships to clear them.
As earlier mentioned, try some of the newer custom races and the TDM-Modpack, and ensure that the AI difficulty setting is set to high to enable all of the AI's abilities. Each release of the custom races makes them more challenging, and I've recently seen the AI begin dealing with mines effectively making it only a matter of time before mines will not be an issue to them, and against the newest custom AI's a much larger number of satellites is needed do to thier increased Point-Defense and customized tactics. The AI's biggest failings are the modding comunities lack of understanding of how the AI operates (which is steadily improving), and its inability to creatively use non-combat ships in strategic combat (such as using satellite layers offensively - picture Honor Harrington missile pods).
[This message has been edited by Atraikius (edited 11 July 2001).]
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