Tired of having the AIs screw me!

from Sins Forums

I have been trying to play SSE in normal.  The problem has been when I play games with more than 12 planets that the AIs for the other factions gang up.  It really sucks when you are not that far into the game and you are actually maximizing resources and funds so that you can build the empire.

I am seeing massive pirate raids of 5 to 1 ships and while I am fighting the pirates, I am being attacked by a combined force of mainly two and sometime 3 other factions where the ratio of ships is like 40 to 1.

Its like all the AIs have incredible resources and funds and simply field massive fleets while posting bounties on me and each other at rates greater than my total resources at any time in the game. That's just not right.

What really sucks is to finally get maybe 3 additional planets then get totally smashed and defeated by the combined forces of pirates and factions who are all attacking at the same exact time.  What I do not get is that the factions often refuse to attack each other when they are at war with each other but ignore to attack my fleet then they attack each other. I have watched these fleets pass throught as many as 4 planets systems where they ignore each other to attack a planet I have. Then they attack each other for control of the planet I lost.

Not only is that bad enough, then I get some sort of market crash where I lose funds and resources  faster than I ever created them.  I have read of the market boom effect but never seen it or its not so noticable. But the market crash by god is extremely noticable and its like watching a the 1/100th count down timer on a stop watch.

The game concept is great but I hate losing because of factors that are just stupid and unrealistic.  I progress through the tech tree about as fast as I can.  I have the most foritfications of any faction yet they are of no effect against such huge fleets. Its like my weapons are of no effect at times.

This is extremely noticable when the ratio is out of balance by any standard be it pirate or faction.  When I send in say 3 to 4 capital ships with roughly 15 other ships of roughly equal division facting say faction fleets of 2 to 3 capital ships but having say 18 lt detroyers, 10 planet bombarders, 11 flak, and the remainers is 2, 3, or 4 of the rest.

I focus all my ships to take down say the bombarders, but what happens is that my ships dies at such a rate that no one bombarder gets destroyed. Even when the combat goes on for several minutes.  If the combat goes on for more than 10 minutes, I lose control of my ships. I can not call a retreat because my ships ignore the command. This is extremely annoying!

So you have a bit more work to do on the patch guys. I also think that you should allow for the first planet to have more base items without penalty.  After all, who does not control their own capital planet better than anywhere else concerning resources and basic protections.

I am just tired of losing a game in as little as 5 hours of play.  I normally resign at 5 hours because by that time my fleet is reduced to maybe 4 to 8 ships  I am down to 1 or two planets but I never captured more than 5.  I am normally being attacked by a combined faction alliance where the ships of the factions near 100 ships plus I am having to fight off pirates. 

Its not right for pirates to attack and then immediately when the pirates are defeated to have to fights another faction. Thus I am always at war and without resources.  I can not do anything to improve my position. Especially when other factions ask me to attack another faction that they are combining in an attack against me but do not attack each other until I am destroyed. Makes absolutely no sense for two enemies at war with each other to not attack each other until they have defeated a 3rd party. Its just not logical not is it right.

PLEASE FIX IT!   As it stands, I am starting to not like this game at all. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,237 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Okay, so it sounds like you're playing against three or more AI's. Here's the absolute essential question you haven't answered: DO YOU FULFILL AI MISSIONS TO GAIN ALLIES?

If not, I would *entirely expect* you to get stomped. Complaining that you're losing a 1v1v1v1 game without engaging in any diplomacy at all is like complaining that you're losing without ever building a crystal-harvesting asteroid. In multiple-AI games, Diplomacy and allegiances are essential unless you're really experienced.

-- Retro
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Added: Please read this entire thread.
https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/311638

-- Retro
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Started a game with 9 other AIs (unlock, pirates active) last week. Usually there are enemy to your left and right.

I pick one to rush and kill them off while hold choke point on other side. Works pretty well for me. I don't bother trying to fulfill AI quests at all, they matters after few hours into the game.

Other tactic I use is hit and run. Destroy some ships and few structures and run away, regroup with more ships and do the same again over and over. Planetary defense matters alot in most cases and they seem to hold against joint attacks fairly well. Plot out your frigate factories between planets well in order to send reinforcements quick.

Create groups of scouts and have them run in circles keep you updated on neighbor planets to see what's going on. Launch attacks when you don't see any defenses to wear the enemy thin.

I don't bother with tech trees much in beginning, they kind of just wasting resource when you try to get a fleet going.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Play with Diplomacy off and locked AI, maybe?
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Don't get me wrong, but maybe you're not too good in this game?

I rarely do missions, but somehow I manage fine with normal AIs. Always keep some cash before pirates attack so your bid is the highest. Also, portofu's advice is always good in any game - scouts, always have them running, so you'll know in advance what's going on.

As for AI, try to kill their caps, they panic and run :) Just keep an eye on your own caps and jump away for a while when their shields are down.

Or, maybe you have 'Bad Luck Magnet' turned On ;)
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
The first few games can be very frustrating, especially when you're making rookie mistakes but don't know what they are. :) Here's some tips:

- When in doubt, drop the difficulty to easy (click the rank next to a player a few times to cycle through).

- If you want an easier time at the start, create a game that is 2v2. Put an AI on your team, and set it to "Locked Teams". You'll have an ally to help you out.

- You can turn Pirates off in the game options (same place you set locked teams, when creating a new game).

- Defensive structures are of very limited usefulness, especially if you don't have Repair Bays (those help substantially). Don't build tons of defenses, build more ships. If you do want to build defenses, try to focus them on worlds on the "outside" of your territory. The computer doesn't tend to fly past one of your worlds to get to another one, so defenses on outer planets are more valuable then inner ones. (Pirates will, but once you get the hang of the game Pirates aren't as big a deal.)

- Don't do too much research early on in a game, you need those resources for ships and certain key technologies. Long Range Frigates are quite good (Assailant, Javelis LRM, Illuminator). Weapon upgrades aren't worth doing until later in the game.

- There is no "market crash". If you start losing funds it means you either just colonized a planet but didn't upgrade it (non-upgraded planets generate negative income due to the cost of supporting them, do the planetary population upgrade twice immediately after taking a planet, and once for an asteroid). You may also have lost your capital world. All planets have an allegience score, and if its below 100% the planet suffers an income penalty. Its calculated primarily by distance to your capital world, so if you lose your capital you can be in real trouble. (Make a new world your capital if this happens, which is also a planetary upgrade.)

Hope that helps.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
maybe it is a good idea to play agains 2 AI's instead of ... more.
try to play with fixed teams, 1 vs 1 vs 1, 1 normal and 1 hard or something.

you said, you do not like the pirates, why don't switch them off? I disable them as long as that buttom is there.
I used a mod before, to disable pirate-attacks  ;)  but that isn't necessary anymore.  :CONGRAT: 

maybe it is also a good idea to play with an other fraction, like vasari, because they have there long-range ship at the begin of the tech-tree. they also have there resource-upgrade combined. because of these 2 reasons it is maybe a good idea to play with vasari.

spacemuppet

*sorry if I made mistakes in my english, I from holland you know.... but I am trying!  :d 
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Play with Diplomacy off and locked AI, maybe?
End of quote


Do this and you'll have more fun plus learn a few things.

Just locking teams and no Pirates makes it much more manageable.

You don't suck at the game but you are bitting off quite a bit to chew.

A related question about AI levels - what exactly occurs when you level up the AI? More cash I presume?

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Oh, have you patched? The AI players in the original release were really prone to ganging up. The most recent patch fixed that for easy and normal difficulty.
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
A related question about AI levels - what exactly occurs when you level up the AI? More cash I presume?
End of quote


Easy/Normal/Hard all have the same cash level. They don't "cheat", they get the same resources the player does. The main difference is in how aggressive and smart they are. Several Hard AI's are also much more likely to gang up on a player then Easy/Normal ones are, as of 1.0.4.

Unfair AI does cheat.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
Well if your having as much trouble as it sounds then turn the difficulty down a bit. But heres a basic way to ensure survival.

build your cap factory and a crystal harvester immediately, then take care of metal and build another frigate factory while thats going on make sure u build a scout ship and a colony ship then pump out frigates and a cap ship asap. from there id say build a civic research station. you'll want one to get the various colonizations u needed to expand. from there watch what your scout ship finds. look for planet types, and more importantly were worm holes are. its generally a bad idea to expand around a worm hole at the beginning. don't worry too much about planet defense in the opening stages. worry about that more when u have good choke points to hold off at. no need to spend recourses on cannons that wont get used often. that should put u in a pretty good position. I wouldn't worry bout missions until after u get urself situated first.

from there out what happens soly depend on what you allow, just make sure you advance on the tech tree but NOT at the sacrifice of your fleet. make sure u use all the trade posts u can and ensure u have more than a couple worlds have manufacturing capabilities. Also upgrade a new colony with civic infrastructure AS SOON as you can after acquiring. no need to lose money due to under development. just stay on your toes and make sure that u micro manage your fleet as much as needed. A good mix is also advised.

these few tips always work for me and i am by far not a pro. I just lay his game at my leisure and such, but these tips should work. If they don't then im not sure what to tell u. but it sounds like u a turtle....don't turtle. trust me i don't care how many cannons u have they wont do u any good against missiles and some bombers. planet defenses are only meant to bolster ur fleet when defending. hold off the enemy until help arrives. not turn the enemy back as soon as they arrive. good luck hope these help =)
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
A related question about AI levels - what exactly occurs when you level up the AI? More cash I presume?Easy/Normal/Hard all have the same cash level. They don't "cheat", they get the same resources the player does. The main difference is in how aggressive and smart they are. Several Hard AI's are also much more likely to gang up on a player then Easy/Normal ones are, as of 1.0.4.Unfair AI does cheat.
End of quote


Thanks Tridus!  :) 
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
Adding to what Lurker said, build a cap ship facility, get a cap ship, and max out your fleet supply with cheap frigates. While doing that, build research centers necessary to get trade routes set up, and take a planet.

You'll probably have enough resources to increase your fleet cap and start researching more advanced ships.

Another general tip, if you don't care about the softer points of diplomacy, try putting heavy defenses around planets at choke points to access your little empire. It may not do much later in the game, but it is helpful when you're building up, and it can allow your planet to survive until your fleet gets back from making life miserable for a different AI. :)
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
If it is your first time playing turn off pirates. The computer can and will set up a bounty on you and attack at the same time as the pirates. Took me 2 games to figure out how to use pirates correctly and then I just turned them off because they are annoying.

Other than that i always play on hard vs many ffa opponents and I never had any real problem. The computer still tends to gang up sometimes but it shouldn't something you are unable to counter. You should be able to see them coming easily enough.