Cheating AI on high difficulties?

It doesn't seem to cheat from my limited experience. If it is cheating then it needs to cheat a lot more since Nightmare AI are not particularly nightmarish most of the time.

it starts with 4x the gold you start and gets twice the xp and gold. (Unless that was changed recently, haven't checked since 2A or B )

In previous version, the ai did cheat, sort of.  If I remember correctly the ai gets a bonus to experience, gol, hp, and many other stats depending on it's level.  Normal had no bonus easy had a negative bonus, and hard and nightmare had a positive bonus (0%, -15%, +15% and +30%, respectively), if I recall correctly.  In 2D, the AI seems particularly bad.  It seems much worse than in 2C, which is unfortunate considering the issues we are experincing leading to solo versus ai games.

You know have me wondering TBO.  I should get some work done, but if no one checks before I get back, I'll look in the data files later tonight.

Like Trig mentioned, Hard and Nightmare AI's get a boost to a variety of things. Essentially making them 'cheat'.

Also, we're aware the AI has taken a bit of a nose-dive(the team has been focusing on bugs recently) and we plan to make another push on the AI before the game is finished.

Please make sure you VARY the A.I. experience. Providing a tough opponent (preferably who plays by the same rules you do i.e. no cheating) is one thing, but making the A.I. phenomenally difficult at all times every time is another. And would suck.

Juggle & mask patterns, randomize tactics, etc. etc. . Difficulty and fun are not necessarily the same thing...

Tyo, as mentioned in another thread, it would be great to see hard and nightmare demigods work in pairs and teams.  This is one of those improvements to ai that may limit the need for cheating while increasing difficulty and making the experience more similar to a decent online team.

Good observation.

Good idea to make them work in teams. 2 fitting demigods could even "buy" these skills which are the best to harmonize with the other demigod's skills.

I would caution against relying solely upon teamwork for A.I. challenge however, as this will avail a *single* computer opponent not at all. I imagine (and hope) that the instance in the single player campaign of confronting a lone Demigod - one on one - would not be unusual.

The AI should definitely be improved beside the teambuilding-thing. For example the AI has abseloutely no chance against a player playing the rook.