How to get the AI to build more powerful ships?

[magogian]

Hello,

I've started playing the game again after several months off. And I still have one nagging problem. The AI never seems to build ships with high firepower ratings. For example, an escort can be easily upgraded to over 100 firepower, but the AI's destroyers, let alone frigates or escorts never seem competitive to my escorts. Is there a way to get the AI to build better ships? Because the current ones they build are pretty pathetic.

[Kayoz]

Actually, I'm a bit surprised that you're finding the AI soft when you're building 100+ firepower escorts.

AFAIK, the AI copies your designs for escort and destroyer class ships. I guess the ones you've designed are beyond the AI's budget.

Well, for pirates anyhow... they should be causing you tons of problems.

[magogian]

ORIGINAL: Kayoz

Actually, I'm a bit surprised that you're finding the AI soft when you're building 100+ firepower escorts.

AFAIK, the AI copies your designs for escort and destroyer class ships. I guess the ones you've designed are beyond the AI's budget.

Well, for pirates anyhow... they should be causing you tons of problems.

Unfortunately, no problems at all. I've had this problem as long as I've played the game. I give my starting location disadvantages and make the AI's aggressive overall, but their ships are never competitive to my own.

[Kayoz]

Alas, the AI does suck the sweat off a dead man's balls.

[Haree78]

Try not setting your Galaxies to be Chaotic, set them to the normal setting, can't remember what it's called.

Sounds like the AI is behind in research? Or are you manually making ships with lots of fire power yourself?
If it is a research issue are you getting high tech from tech trading? I find this sometimes gives you too much of an advantage.
If you are making high fire power ships manually then you are paying more for them in maintenance than the AI and isn't necessarily a balance issue.

Have you tried adding other Empires manually when starting a new game and setting them to have a research and or Empire size advantage? I think this will help you get more of a challenge, it might not be what you want if you prefer the idea of all starting Empires but maybe give it a go, it can be fun