@zuPloed You make great points. The devs and Frogboy have emphasized they are out to cause players to have fun. Your come from behind victory is a classic example of that kind of fun. There is no real clever villian that you have had fun defeating, there is only a convincing simulation that worked for you. That is what they are after for both casual players and us extreme types. If Stardock could get away with not telling us anything about the AI worked, they could implement all sorts of clever short cuts. They could quietly script and adjust things for maximum adventure. If none of us were the wiser, then none of us would be less happy about it. It's the knowing that bothers us. And we have gotten too clever ourselves as players to fall for the old standard shortcuts like fow removal. So, GalCiv2 took the long route and worked out a clever enough AI to simulate a bunch of fun villians and partners. It took 7 years.
Stardock's approach to AI was always advertised a long term project. Comments about Ferrarris and dedicated project teams seem to be completely unaware of that fact, either deliberately or not. It makes me wonder if people research what they are buying enough. Stardock has an overall 5 to 7 year commitment to continued development on GC3, with AI being one of the big reasons for the length of the project. The AI in GC2 took that long to reach the benchmark status it gained. Stardock has set itself ambitious goals. We'll see.
I understand people want to contribute to that overall process and project. It is irresistible fun. For some of us, just as much as playing the game itself. I don't understand sounding surprised or calling something "broken" or any of that. Especially if it is offered as "encouragement". I have been in team projects under high pressure for big audiences, and none of that stuff is ever perceived as encouraging.
In the meantime, there is play value for a great many and griping value for a great many others. Satisfaction for two different customer bases!!
