here is an enhanced AI

[Lihnit23]

I'm experimenting with making a tougher AI. I've used the design template thing, increased resource generation, and adjusted the policy files. Notes in next post.

[Lihnit23]

Extract this to your customization folder.

First off, play as the Naxxilians because they are unmodified. Also, this has only been tested on the classis game setting, so I don't know how it'll work if you play as pirates or prewarp.

For all the races (except the Shakturi, mechs, and Nax), I've just about doubled research (except for the Atuuk since one of their race victory conditions is to do the least research), resource extraction, and trade bonuses. Ship and troop maintenance are 1% of normal cost.

I think that's it for global modifications.

[Lihnit23]

On the design template file, I've created custom designs for the first 4 races: the Ackdarians, Atuuk, Boskara, and Dhayut.

First off, I've increased the ship size of these guys by 37% (~60% for the Acks since their ships are 20% larger in vanilla). This was done because I wanted to fit each military ship to a certain researched size. So the escorts and frigates use the size 230 research (I had to put frigates here because the AI doesn't use escorts in fleets. For the AI to make fleets at game start with starting research, I had to make frigates ~size 230 along with the escorts).

Destroyers: size 400 research
Cruisers: size 650 research
Capital: size 1100 research

The +37% increased came in because I wanted the capital ship to be size 1500, not size 1100. Using the design template system, I couldn't give a ship type 2 different sizes (1100 and 1500), so this was the best solution I could come up with. As a pleasant side effect, these races' ships should be tougher to destroy in general.

Onto the policy files. Again for the first 4 races, as per various forum members comments(esp. Icemania's posts), I've adjusted troop strength per planet to either 15 or 20 per planet. This is easily affordable for the AI because of the 1% cost. I've done a few tweaks to some policy slots as well.

On research (with weapons at least), by matching the policy file weapon preferences to the race file weapon references, the AI actually focuses on the weapons I've chosen for it. Excluding research paths in the races file helped with this, also.

[Lihnit23]

To make the game more "fair" for the AI, follow these restrictions:

1) Make sure you pick the Ackdarians, Atuuk, Boskara, and Dhayut races in your game.

2) Keep your fleet sizes at 20 ships (or less). That's about the biggest size of each AI fleet (adjusted in the policy files).

3) On all the ports and defensive bases, when you upgrade them, just swap components or add new ones, don't increase the number of any existing components. For example, if a medium port has 22 shields and you research a new shield, don't add 44 of that new shield. Just replace the 22 old shields with 22 of the new shield. When you research long range scanners, you can add that (since it wasn't there before you researched it). This restriction is here for a couple reasons: to give the AI a chance to destroy your ports, and the AI can't build past what I put in the design template file.

4) On the mining stations, gas mining stations, and resort bases, use up to 5 of a main weapon, up to 5 of a secondary weapon, up to 5 shields, and up to 25 armor.

5) On all other immobile structures, use the bare minimum to make the structure function.

6) Don't use spies to steal research (that's how I play at least).

I think that covers everything. Try out the mod and tell me what you think.

[Icemania]

Lihnit23, while I'm not playing DW at the moment, I strongly applaud your effort here and hope the community gets involved in supporting you. I really hope the next expansion opens the game up to broader AI modification.