AI Balancing Mini-Mod

[Redmeth]

Redmeth/Mlp071 AI co-op balancing mod

This mod is an effort to achieve balance between challenge and playability. After i completed my first money script , it became apparent to me that money and amounts of mercenaries is very co-related.

Mod has several parts to it, as follows:

- Money script(s) that allows AI to grow in different pace

- reworked merc file that prevents AI from buying stacks of mercenaries in 1 province turn after turn, endlessly.

- brilliant Eleutheroi script provided by Bovi, which will challenge player and develop Eleutheroi faction in balanced manner.Great work on this Bovi!

In addition, we have to mention great advices provided by The Errant, that helped allot.

Player has choice of 3 separate modes, that can satisfy their play:

1.) ROLEPLAYING MODE, which will give player slower pace of AI development, so they can truly enjoy their time lenghty RP and empire building.You want to enjoy your family members building their personalities

http://rapidshare.com/files/45282673/RP_modeV1.1.rar (1.1)

2.) BALANCED MOD, highly recommended to start with. It will provide AI with good growth and development. AI will develop economy and armies at same time and will cause challenge to player.Also AI will expand campaign in very nice pace.

Also recommended to play smaller factions with(ex. Saba, Saka, Sauromatae..)

This is recommended mod to start with , and then if you find this to challenging or to easy , you can try other two mods.

http://rapidshare.com/files/45282684/Balancedv1.1.rar (1.1)

3.)CHALLENGE MOD, name basically explains it all.Do expect that AI will field elite armies by 260-255BC, and be very aggressive. All that without "infinite" stacks , though.

If you find balanced mode to easy for you try this one. For ultimate challenge, try smaller factions like Saba.

http://rapidshare.com/files/45282706/Challenge1.1.rar (1.1)

If you require more explanations feel free to ask the questions but you can check the code for yourselves if you want to see how exactly it works.And we will work on improving this mod as and if there is a need for it.

Also feel free to PM either me or mlp071 if you require more explanations in addition to posting on the forums.

Installation instructions:

Unrar the file and paste the 2 files as instructed below: EBBS_SCRIPT.txt goes in: .

..\EB\Data\scripts\show_me

Example: C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\EB\Data\scripts\show_me


Put descr_mercenaries.txt in the folder corresponding to the way you play (with BI or without):

If you play with BI (using Oleo's changes too play):

...\EB\Data\world\maps\campaign\barbarian_invasion

Example: C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\EB\Data\world\maps\campaign\barbarian_invasion

If you play with RTW without BI:

...\EB\Data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign

Example: C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\EB\Data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign

If you want to be sure and have both you can put it in both folders.

IMPORTANT

This is savegame compatible, of course backups are suggested.

The changes in the EBBS will apply as soon as you use it.
But the merc changes will only apply when you start a new campaign.

This can make your game even harder as in some cases the AI receives even more money (there are some caps in place but still in the case of smaller factions the AI receives more money), so without the merc file your experience won't be as intended.

So the best way to experience the intended balance would be to start a new campaign.

Also, if you have the time, please give us feedback and tell us what you think. It's the best way for us to know what to focus on balance-wise when the next release comes if it is not already balanced by the team. But as it says above the most useful feedback can only come from people who started a new campaign. Thank you for trying this.

UPDATE

This update is only for the merc file, mlp071 was kind enough to reupload the both files but you really only need to download the merc file at the end of the page.


Updated 27/07 or 07/27 to version 1.1 for more info check bellow

Update for original version

We reworked mercenary file to add more variety of units available.If you downloaded version 1.1 you do not need this file.

It's a just update for first version and it doesn't change gameplay other then adding more variety of mercenaries available per province.

http://rapidshare.com/files/45283862...ERCENARIES.TXT

This file is savegame compatible, and you can install this as mentioned in installation instructions bellow
Also it is important to delete map.rwm, before plaing with this file.

[Imperator]

Excellent work! Thanks so much! But is it savegame compatible, I wonder ?

[Redmeth]

You can install the 2 files and they are savegame compatible. Of course back-ups are suggested.
The changes in the EBBS will apply as soon as you use it. But the merc changes will only apply when you start a new campaign.
So the way to experience the best balance would be to start a new campaign.

[fatsweets]

I just downloaded and played my current game and of course I had to fight 3 battles against stacks of AS and on the third battle I had a
CTD. This CTD during a battle has not happened in a long time, probably since .74. Just wondering if this minimod might have something to do with it. Maybe I should just start a new campaign. I am still playing .81 with out the newest .81a could that be the reason?

[Redmeth]

CTD's during battles normally have nothing to do with EB, or at least surely nothing to do with the 2 files in this mini-mod. The EBBS is based off the last version, but I don't think any CTD causing changes would affect you.
You should upgrade as I think 0.82 is savegame compatible.

[Schatten]

a other question, is this Mod compatible with the Colonial and Cultural assimilation Mod?

[Dyabedes of Aphrodisias]

How do you open a .rar file? Because I don't have anything that does, apparently...

[mlp071]

I just downloaded and played my current game and of course I had to fight 3 battles against stacks of AS and on the third battle I had a
CTD. This CTD during a battle has not happened in a long time, probably since .74. Just wondering if this minimod might have something to do with it. Maybe I should just start a new campaign. I am still playing .81 with out the newest .81a could that be the reason?

I have to add that all stacks which AI recruited prior to installing this mod are still going to be in your game. Since you are continuing campaing could take awhile for you to see the results of changes...

[Redmeth]

Also, if you have the time, please give us feedback and tell us what you think. It's the best way for us to know what to focus on balance-wise when the next release comes if it is not already balanced by the team.
But as it says in the first post the most useful feedback can only come from people who started a new campaign. Thank you for trying this.

[kemozz]

i can't download that file from rapidshare, is there an alternative download link. i keep getting invalid session and after a few tries it i get the following message "Your IP-address is already downloading a file. You have to wait until it is finished." and nothing is downloading. is it being hosted somewhere else ...

[Redmeth]

http://www.axifile.com/?4440043
Here you go, try this.

[Denbo]

I have just download the above file from axfile which gave me the balancing mini - mod, where do I cut and paste this because I can't see in the forum where it explains where??

Denbo

[mlp071]

I have just download the above file from axfile which gave me the balancing mini - mod, where do I cut and paste this because I can't see in the forum where it explains where??

Denbo

You have full explanation in first post of this topic

[Jurdagat]

This mod did by far increase the EB experience towards the better.
I'm totally blown away of how much this mod has made my current campaign a lot more interesting then my previous ones.

Not to mention that I've seen the AI use very good and balanced armies, and I've even seen the AI use some units I've never seen them use before.
The Aedui even crushed my polybian army at one point, where I used the 3 line checkerboard formation... which normally works great even with it's simplicity :)

I just wanted to give my thanks for this wonderful little mod. :)

[mlp071]

+++EDITED due to post being absolete. Check previous post from Redmeth..

[Ice]

Does this balance the factions well on VH/M?

[Redmeth]

Yes it's meant to be played on VH/M but try it and tell us what you think could be improved.
Do you find too easy or too hard (only vs AS it could be still too hard I think).
Another focus for improvement is on the mercs are there a lot of merc only armies?

[Ice]

Yes it's meant to be played on VH/M but try it and tell us what you think could be improved.
Do you find too easy or too hard (only vs AS it could be still too hard I think).
Another focus for improvement is on the mercs are there a lot of merc only armies?

I just installed (changed a few files ) this along with forced diplomacy and darth formations for EB. I'll start a campaign later and give you feedback the best I can.

[belliger]

hallo redmeth.
i installed your AI mod, the challenge one.
i wish also to install the Spoils of Victory minimod, by v.t. martin.
do they interfere? can they be installed and work together?
i ask it because i see that some files to change are the same, despite that sometimes they don't have the .txt end.
thanks

[Fish-got-a-Sniper]

Is this compatible with the EBBS script mod that eliminates the client ruler script? I want to download the RP version of this but I don't want to have to worry about spending hours of pressing delete to remove the client ruler script again.

[Strategos Alexandros]

@ Fish-got-a-Sniper It won't be compatible and it might not work with 1.1 anyway.

[sfmain]

is there any way to make this compatible with alex.exe E.B. 1.1?(specifically the challenging mod)