Another AI Question..

[StarShadow]

Actually I think I've figured out most of what I need, I just needed to read through the AI posts a couple of times for it to start sinking in. Setting up the research AI is going to be a pain in the neck though, since I want each neutral to be somewhat different from the others.

[Captain Kwok]

I think your efforts would be better spent on making regular AIs since most people would prefer to have good regular AIs than more neutrals.

[StarShadow]

You're probably right, I'm mostly just doing this for myself though, plus, this might be good practice in case I decide to try making my own race later. I already have a good appreciation for just how hard a good research AI file can be.

[Captain Kwok]

One way to make a decent AI research file is to play a game yourself and write down the order that you do your research.

[StarShadow]

True, but I don't want the neutrals to all do their research the same way. Plus I'm trying to optimize the way they research. Also, I usually start with 3 planets, because of that I almost never research DUC. The neutrals, who only ever start with 1 planet, research 3 times slower than me, so I have to plan their research to take that into account, also, I want to make them different, have them prefer different weapons, etc.

[Q]

A good way to enhance the neutrals is to give them a special racial technology with improved facilities (they can only colonies the few planets in their system), a colony module for all planet types, a special atmosphere converter ......
The best is that they have all this technology even in a low tech start game from the beginning.
Eventually you will still overpower any neutral empire but in the beginning it might be quite difficult.
And one more important point: make them refuse any treaty.

[PvK]

There is a neutral AI mod made a year or two ago... as I recall, it added some primitive tech levels for them and gave each one something primitive but unique and therefore worth capturing rather than glassing.