Gameplay question

from Stardock Forums
Im new to the game. Ive played 3 games. One on a small galaxy, the next medium, and the last one large.

I seem to see the same things happening. The Drengin take a huge early lead over everybody in both military and economics. Its then up to the rest of us to band together and beat them down.

This has happened all three times. Is it my playing style or is this a common occurance?
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
The AI is different for each of the species, according to Brad, and the default Drengin are programmed to go for a military victory and subsequently concentrate on military technologies and build-up. However because of this they tend to miss out on a lot of the infrastructure improvements and if you can ride out their early threat, by alliances. trade or just old fashioned bribery, they will often fall behind in the tech. race later in the game. They (and the other AI species) will pick on you if you have the weakest military, so if you build up a fairly strong military and trade with them they'll often leave you alone and go for one of the others. If you trade enough with them they end up liking you, but I'm not sure which is worse - being attacked by the Drengin or having their ambassador tell you that he'd like to give you a hug.

You can, of course, randomise the alignments of the other species in the set-up screen if you find it becoming too predictable.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
The Drengin tend to dominate on any AI setting below Normal because, as mentioned by Mike, they have a very simple approach so the gimping that the computer AIs get at lower difficulty levels doesn't hurt them much. In my experience, from Normal to Intelligent the Altarians and Torians are by far the most dominant, as they have a strong tendency to ally with each other and this gives them an edge in any war with the other non-allied AIs. Past Intelligent I can't say who (if anyone) tends to dominate, I don't play at that level. :)
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks guys. Makes sense.

The AI is incredible.

one time there was a council vote on who should get the galactic zoo or some such thing. I had the most influence points and was at war with the Drengin. When the vote was tallied it showed that everyone voted for themselves except for the drengin who voted for the weakest race (and thus prevented me from getting the bonus)

I have been playing computer games for over 20 years and ive NEVER seen an AI make such a smart move.

Im looking forward to more surprises.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Getting the galactic zoo isn't necessarily the bonus you might think. Escapes have been known to happen . . ..


RR
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
SCramble like hell to get as many planets as possible. Play nice with them. On lower intelligent levels they are fairly dumb nd easy to placate. If it looks like somebody is trying to push you around, stand up and fight. On lower levels (at least) the AI will back down and offer or accept peace if you show a good accounting of yourself. Like most bullies, a bloody nose makes em think twice.
Cheers.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
When I was playing the lower levels, I found that making the Drengin my first trading partner kept them on good enough terms with me that I didn't have to worry about them messing with me, until I became a 'Saint'. Something to keep in mind...