How to keep up with AI Unit Production?

[Grand Deceiver]

Ok here is the question....How do you keep up with the AI in unit production?

I have paid close attention to AI production rates..for example I now have 155 ships and approx 2200 units...while most other AI empires are very close to me in number of ships but average at least 9-13 thousand units. I am in 2-3rd place and KNOW I have more production capacity than #18. It is evem more apparent in the first few turns of a game, AI and Myself can produce the same amount of bases in turns 1-5 (which takes all my production capacity) but the AI can also produce several hundered units at the same time and I can't.

I know that some empires have a Unit Production.txt (not sure of actual file name) that reserves a % of points each turn for the AI to produce units. Does turning on the Troop/Mine Minister, Pruduction Minister, etc..do this for the Human player? If so what combinations of ministers?

Any Ideas?

[Arkcon]

Well, assuming you haven't given the AI a bonus when you set up the game, there are a couple of reasons why they can build more units faster than you can.

If their production rate is higher in their culture setting, or racial characteristics, or hearty industrialists racial trait they'll always have a few more satelites per turn.

As long as it has the income it will build units, it never stops, unlike me for example, who waits for two component techs to advance before I jump into production.

I'm playing against the United Flora, they put 100 satelites, on a dead end warp point, leading to a neutral. Bottom line, the AI wins the units rating, but so what.

[Grand Deceiver]

I understand about the scrapping and size difference etc...sure...you can produce INF faster than WP's...still doesn't account for how the AI pumps them out so fast...Even if I produce simple Infantry...the AI can outstrip me at incredible rates..while keeping up with Ship production.

As long as it has the income it will build units, it never stops, unlike me for example, who waits for two component techs to advance before I jump into production.

Exactly....it NEVER stops...

What Im trying to figure out is how? Do I need to use a combination of Ministers so my Empire will produce units in the Background? Do I have to create a *_Construction_Units.txt for my empire? will that automate it?

If you are playing a game and see that the AI for other Empires is pumping out units..and you switch that Empire from Computer to Human to peek at there Construction Queues..you never see troops but they keep appearing.

I just want MORE JARHEADS to feed to Grinder!

[oleg]

Simply set all your idle planets to build troops/units and set "repeat order" on. You may go broke soon

[JLS]

Hi Grand Deceiver I received your PM regarding AI Troop Production seems high in AIC.

Heres the Short answer, the long answer will require about an hour or more for me to prepare.


First of all we Human Players may build more then 100 Infantry per turn at your Home World from go; that would be 1000 plus units in the first 10 turns.

Whether we decide to or not is up to us, we may prefer building a few Scouts then a BSY then bang out Colonizers one after another as the original BSY upgrades to level 3 so it may build the next BSY (lvl 1) for just a few turns to be upgraded to level 3 to build yet another BSY� Opps I am getting ahead of myself� Well any way we usually desire not to build the 1000 troops early when there is no clear and present danger and why, we can build them when they are at a higher caliber

- -
Let us take the Terrens.

The first 10 turns they will build units as to defend them selfs from a quick strike from any other players.

That unit make up is about:
738 Infantry at Level I = MILITIA
6 Weapons Platforms at Level I = Missiles

The AI Players should not and can not wait for a higher caliber; it needs to protect itself early. As Cyrien posted the AI does not scrap the old units.
However, the AI does refresh the Infantry by loading the lower level units in there Troop Ships and this Infantry MUST and WILL be replaced as per the Unit File Rules; hense now even more units to the total This same replenishments applies for Mines, Sats and Carrier Fighters if the Files are set and in the respective Folders and the Research is timely so this replenishment will exceed a higher caliber and opps starting to ramble again

= = =

That�s it, as you can see you can out build this AI if you choose however as Oleg says (When do you wish to do this). For example if you are playing with no HP options and you (Hold off) on the infantry then when it comes time to invest in Infantry you may have 30 Star liners and 50 Combat Vessels and 6 Support Vessels active along with 5 BYS and a Repair Station. At the Colonies: You may building a Bio Hospital, 4 Urban Settlements and in the middle of upgrading a few Cities, setting out new expeditions, so what do you do then?

It now Choice time...
+ + +

That was the Short Version the Long Version would require you to grab the flashlight, roll up your sleeves and join me under the hood; so we can see what this baby can do.

[ October 27, 2003, 17:34: Message edited by: JLS ]

[Grand Deceiver]

ROFLMAO

Well..Im not opposed to getting dirty..and thanks for the clarification...guess my stubborness just didnt want to see it clearly!

[QuarianRex]

Also remember that all units are not created equal. While you might be pumping off 120kt satellites with large mount PPB's or large drones, the AI might be producing light troops, small fighters, or infantry (if you're playing a mod that has those). By mass producing these cheap units (up to hundreds at a time with infantry) an AI can easily produce more units even with an inferior pruduction capacity.

[Cyrien]

Also remember that while you may scrap old and obsolete units the AI as far as I have seen will never ever get rid of an old unit it built.