A modding idea

[Brandy Blue]

Lots of people have pointed out that the AI doesn't know how to handle its economy. I've picked up a few ideas from various threads on how to improve this. (Sorry I don't remember whose ideas they were so I can't give them the credit due.)

I'm not a good modder, so I would appreciate it if someone could tell me if I'm on the right track before I try it.

1: make trade building upgrades very cheap and quick to build, but never build the upgrades myself.
2: significantly increase (if possible) the income increase for the trade building upgrades
3: Spread out the farm income a bit in some areas.

#1 and #2 are intended to allow the AI to make some profit from trade inspite of its poor performance at building trade networks, while forcing me to still work for my trade income.

#3 is intended to reduce the effect of the AI's poor strategic planning. I wouldn't be able to simply take over Spain or the Constantinople-Georgia-Egypt triangle and get all the money. Maybe I could level the field too by increasing income in poor provinces belonging to factions that don't usually do well.

[drone]

#1 would be fairly easy. Maybe also reduce the castle requirements for each level.

#2 I don't believe is possible, the income increases are hardcoded on the Trading_Post building line.

#3 On the farming, maybe what is needed is a longer line of Improved Farmland buildings with some non-linear bonuses per level. Instead of the vast disparity between provinces in the base farming value, even it out some but start with a higher farming improvement level building. You could cap provinces with a resource that would be required for higher levels of farming.

[gollum]

Interesting ideas BB, just try out your hand in modding. I seem to remember that you were tweking unit stats too at some point.

[Jxrc]

##3 On the farming, maybe what is needed is a longer line of Improved Farmland buildings with some non-linear bonuses per level.

Just one small comment. Bear in mind the steward V&V. IIRC for a general to get the "great steward", he needs to be governor a provinces which goes from nothing to +80% and of another that is improved by two levels (0 to 40, 20 to 60, etc). A bit tedious but that gives a reason to upgrade farms in Arabia ... Adding levels might advantage the player who'll get the V&V while the AI will probably not.

[Ironside]

You could try to halve the trade export, but make the port income 200% (instead of normal 20%). That way, the AI earns more than you on your own networks.

Downside is that it will cripple the AI:s economy as soon as the networks breaks, due to the upkeep of his armies. The AI is poor on keeping a money reserve and cannot disband troops.

For 2. Haven't tried modding that part myself, but what does "office level" do? I was thinking if upping those might make a difference.