Dominions 3 A.I. Mod

[skavenhorde]

I was curious if anyone planned on making an AI mod for D3. I was amazed at what the More Naval Mod did for the AI in Fall From Heaven 2. It took an idiotic AI and gave it some smarts. I was hoping someone tried that here as well. I can't stand stupid AIs and I'm not really a fan of multiplayer.

I looked through the threads and didn't see anything so thought I'd ask just in case.

[Admiral_Aorta]

You can't mod the AI, there are no mod commands that affect it at all. You can use things like no independents mods and custom pretenders to make it play better.

[elmokki]

Modding Civilization 3-5 and modding Dominions 3 are two completely different things. For Civilization 3-5 it's possible to pretty much write your own game there changing huge amounts of mechanics, while for Dominions 3 you can edit fairly limited things - I mean, you can't even replicate all the nations existing in the game as new nations.

Shame really, if the AI was moddable someone would've probably written a better AI by now and I might actually play singleplayer.

[Gandalf Parker]

You cant change the AIs actions. But you can mod to the pros/cons of it.

Actually there are a number of AI mods. They remove units the AIs overuse. Or some modded nations which are specifically designed to be better AI opponents by being built around what the AI does well or doesnt do well.
There are also recommended game settings which can vastly improve AI performance
And maps have been created which can make AIs play better.

A lot of people actually play solo. Someone needs to do a webpage or sticky thread on the subject.
Here is iirc one of the more complete threads on the subject.
House Rules Against AI (improving the AI) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=44783

[Soyweiser]

There was also a mod that tried to improve certain spells so that the AI would not cast them as much. This is more a improve suicidal casters mod than an AI mod.

Calahan was working on it iirc. Search for it on the dom3mods forum.

I don't think it was ever completed sadly enough.

[skavenhorde]

Thanks guys. This gives me some hope of having a decent battle against the AI. At first the AI is a monster because you really have no clue how to play, but as you learn you pick up on all the stupid mistakes that the AI is making and then, unfortunately, the game gets a bit boring. There is nothing worse than a feeble AI. That's why I loved that mod for FFH2 and GalCiv games. Now those AIs will kick your butt if you aren't careful. The best thing about it is the GalCiv games don't cheat. I've never encountered a better AI than in GalCiv 1 and 2.

Too bad about the limited modding choices. The only thing needed to truly make this game beat the pants off of all the others is a decent opponent.

I'll read some more on the modded nations and will give the House Rules a try. Seems interesting. It's not the first time I had to handicap myself to give a game a fighting chance against me. The last game I had to do that in is Blood Bowl. Now that game makes this AI look absolutely brilliant.

Might have to try multiplayer too, but I hate being a noob Also I'm not really fond of one move a day/week matches. Would rather play it till the end right then and there or at least more than one move for the bigger maps.

[llamabeast]

By the way skavenhorde, are you aware of the excellent Skaven mod nation? It's available here:

http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/...?showtopic=106

[skavenhorde]

I saw that Skaven mod. Impressive. Nice to see the rats get some attention. Normally they're the last to get any kind of love from the modding community.

Thanks for the tip anyways.

How are they as an AI opponent? Does the computer know how to handle to units?

[curtadams]

You can't modify the AI, but you could write an automated player. It would be quite a project, though.