AI trading

[RabidMonkey]

I have yet to see the AI set up a decent trading route, they always seem to stack huge groups of ships into just a couple of sea zones. This is a fairly important aspect of the game as its possible to generate a large income from trade so why doesnt the AI get trading?

[deejayvee]

I've seen the Italians spread their ships everywhere but they usually decide to blockade me by sinking one of my ships - blockading them as well.

[malkuth]

Constant war, etc might negate the ability to them. Lets face it when you go to war with a faction whats the first thing you do? Decimate their Fleet right? (if they have one) The ai doesnt do this very well. And is always at war with someone.

You on the other hand. You buy your time. Build your forces, ports, ships. The ai has one option and that is Conquer. Its not your fault or mine, its just the way it is. You cant expect AI to plan like you do. It is only a computer of course.

[RabidMonkey]

well maybe the AI needs some more strategys, instead of just conquer there could be something like: build up huge trade empire make lots of money then conquer now that you can afford huge armies.

And on a similar subject why is it that the almos are becoming the hojo horde of MTW, what is it about the Iberian peninsula that allows them to churn out so many men when most other factions are sitting around doing bugger all.

[ToranagaSama]

RabidMonkey, Agree COMPLETELY!!

CA needs to work on this, hopefully for the Add-On, but most likely won't be much of an improvement unitl they build a New and Improved AI. I truly expect this for TW4.

[RabidMonkey]

Anyone who has played CIV will know that it had a damn good AI that could really challange you, now why couldnt they manage this for MTW. The problem is that even though the AI appears to be obsessed with conquest they struggle to build troops and then when they do its usually low quality troops like peasents?!?

[smap1024]

i tend to play spain a lot. in my opinion, any faction that owns the entire iberian area can expand really fast. even without trade.

at 80% agriculture developement, the entire iberian area seems to be "high income" areas.

compare this to other factions i played, besides the muslims, the central/northern europe areas seems to be plagued with low income areas. not sure abt eastern europe.

the muslims have it better generally speaking. but take out the mines from the north african areas and dun forget crap areas like sinai and arabia.

so as a whole. any AI owning the iberian areas will become a power. (and also iron deposits)

[andrewt]

The Almos start the game with 6 provinces and only 2 borders. The Iberian peninsula is rich in farmlands and you can conquer it easily as you have fewer borders to defend.

Civ AI isn't really great once you take out all the cheating the computer does. I prefer a stupid AI that doesn't cheat than an AI that cheats way too much. In fact, the AI there might even be worse than the AI in MTW. Reminds me of old RTS games where the AI have infinite money. I don't like the AI cheating blatantly. I'd rather have an easy game.