Bug: AI makes a 201 point ship

[deanco2]

So I'm playing with a lot of AI help to start, notably ship design. I start a new game, and weird, I can only make Escorts and Frigates, no Destroyers. I don't think too much of it, as I figure maybe I don't have the tech yet. I keep playing, I still have just those 2 ships in the drop down menu. Maybe I deleted the design? So I look, nope, there is a destroyer. I load it up. Ah, it's a 201 point ship, and my limit is 200. No red warning text. I make a copy, delete an armor, save, and I can now make destroyers.

This can't be user error, I couldn't save it otherwise.

I don't have a save game, sorry. The only clue I can give is that I started the game with AI control of design, then turned it off to fiddle with making 2 kinds of scouts, then turned it back on later. I then ran into this bug.

Hope this helps.

[Dave32]

Saw this too, couldn't build destroyers. This game has a lot of bugs to find

[Okim]

AI usually uses exact number of components (i believe that they are predefined per class and are hardcoded) and some of them take additional space when upgraded. For example basic drives eat up to 8 space per component and if you make an exactly 200 size ship (destroyer or other ship - it doesn`t matter at all) after upgrading it to use new quantum drives you will get additional space usage (quantum takes 9 space).

Upgrade button replaces all components to the latest version. It does not take into account the space that those components will take. The same goes for games when you start with quantum engines from the very beginning.

In fact making automation to take space required and space available into account while designing ships is quite a difficult task as even human may experience difficulties while deciding what components to remove in order to meet the requirements.

I prefer to design ships manually so i never have such AI issues, but as i programmer i know that making AI more intelligent in such situations is a difficult task.

[deanco2]

ORIGINAL: Okim

In fact making automation to take space required and space available into account while designing ships is quite a difficult task as even human may experience difficulties while deciding what components to remove in order to meet the requirements.

Well, in that case, the game should not try to represent that it can handle that level of 'thought'. There should be a popup box: 'Warning: upgrading there components will result in an illegal design. You will need to edit the design to make the design legal. Are you sure you want to do this?'

As it is, the game has a checkbox for AI design. If I check the box, that should be end of story, and I should be able to count on the AI to make valid designs for me. If it doesn't, that's a bug.

[ASHBERY76]

Yes in my game I am using autodesign and the A.I has built a 212 design when my max shipyard is 200,so I can not build destroyers.If you try to make it 200 by edit,the A.I autodesigns it back to 212.

[FerretStyle]

ORIGINAL: Okim

AI usually uses exact number of components (i believe that they are predefined per class and are hardcoded) and some of them take additional space when upgraded. For example basic drives eat up to 8 space per component and if you make an exactly 200 size ship (destroyer or other ship - it doesn`t matter at all) after upgrading it to use new quantum drives you will get additional space usage (quantum takes 9 space).

Upgrade button replaces all components to the latest version. It does not take into account the space that those components will take. The same goes for games when you start with quantum engines from the very beginning.

In fact making automation to take space required and space available into account while designing ships is quite a difficult task as even human may experience difficulties while deciding what components to remove in order to meet the requirements.

I prefer to design ships manually so i never have such AI issues, but as i programmer i know that making AI more intelligent in such situations is a difficult task.

Can't see why it'd be terribly difficult.

If ship size is too big for your tech level, it could try to remove a fuel cell or something, then a thruster, then a weapon. Always keeping only as many life support and habitation mods as needed (currently, it uses extras for no apparent reason). There could be a lower limit of each stat (firepower, fuel, speed, etc) for each ship class to make sure it doesn't create useless junkers.

It might create some less than optimal designs but that sure beats making ships that's can't be built at all.

[Okim]

I`m more than sure that this will produce numerous reports like "Man! My AI have designed a ship with only 60 fuel" or "Why my AI designed ships have only one blaster and is SO SLOW?!".

It will be difficult to create such an AI that will analyse ship designs that require more attention. This surely will take more time to do and i think that devs have more priority issues to deal with. That`s what i was trying to tell. Never said that it would be terribly difficult, BTW