7/7 game with next to no knowledge used... won.

[keith.lamothe]

If it is only around difficulty 7 or so, isn't that a sign that the various per difficulty multipliers (wave and defense ones in particular) need some adjusting, instead of some grand new set of mechanics?

I'm bouncing between windows pretty fast over here (concocting very mean new AI feature, though you're probably safe from seeing it in a release for a while), was someone advocating new mechanics for the 7 thing?  I'm just aiming at reducing any gratuitous niceness on the game's part.

[Faulty Logic]

concocting very mean new AI feature

Ooh. Special forces H/Ks (maybe as a plot)?

though you're probably safe from seeing it in a release for a while

Awww.

[Wingflier]

I'm bouncing between windows pretty fast over here (concocting very mean new AI feature, though you're probably safe from seeing it in a release for a while), was someone advocating new mechanics for the 7 thing?  I'm just aiming at reducing any gratuitous niceness on the game's part.

Keith, I love you when you the AI brutal

[TechSY730]

If it is only around difficulty 7 or so, isn't that a sign that the various per difficulty multipliers (wave and defense ones in particular) need some adjusting, instead of some grand new set of mechanics?

I'm bouncing between windows pretty fast over here (concocting very mean new AI feature, though you're probably safe from seeing it in a release for a while), was someone advocating new mechanics for the 7 thing?  I'm just aiming at reducing any gratuitous niceness on the game's part.

No, but I was just putting in my support that no new mechanics or behaviors are really need to be added to fix the "7 difficulty problem".

Now, new mechanics and/or behaviors can help shore up other balance concerns, but not needed for the one about 7 being too easy.

[zoutzakje]

7/7 does seem easier than usual I have to say. Playing a 50 planet game against Sledge Hammer and Viscious Raider. 2 and a half hours in, owning 10 planets, using no superweapons so far and I'm nearly ready for homeworld assaults. I've been incredibly lucky with the RNG, but still, 7/7 is supposed to be more of a challenge.'
Also, I've been gone for a while and missed a few patches.... But what happened to the huge pile of SF ships I would normally see? They'd help a lot in slowing me down but I see nothing. Like literally nothing.
Not sure if I'd be able to beat the game with spending just 500 knowledge, but I can definitely see it being a possibility now.

[keith.lamothe]

But what happened to the huge pile of SF ships I would normally see? They'd help a lot in slowing me down but I see nothing. Like literally nothing.

SF is still in there.  Quantities have been adjusted somewhat but still there.  It's possible you've been on planets they wanted to defend long enough to clean them out and/or that your memories are based on higher difficulties.

[chemical_art]

I wonder if the H/K needs a foil.

A unit that would slaughter in fleet battles, but crash against defenses.

And the AI would use it for AI HW defense and maybe SF.

It would be stronger then a guardian, and should never have to attack.

This way, assaults on AI HW would be more dangerous on the defense side, without the limitations of attrition that inevitably follows core posts.

[keith.lamothe]

I wonder if the H/K needs a foil.

You and your dastardly plans to slaughter humanity.

[Oralordos]

I wonder if the H/K needs a foil.

You and your dastardly plans to slaughter humanity.

Pot, meet kettle. 

[zoutzakje]

But what happened to the huge pile of SF ships I would normally see? They'd help a lot in slowing me down but I see nothing. Like literally nothing.

SF is still in there.  Quantities have been adjusted somewhat but still there.  It's possible you've been on planets they wanted to defend long enough to clean them out and/or that your memories are based on higher difficulties.

possible, but unlikely. I remember what 7/7 used to look like at 300+ AIP. Lots of SF ships bugging you at most annoying times. Your fleet VS full SF force meant you had no choice but to retreat or fall back to martyrs/lightning warheads. Ok so SF has been tuned down a bit you say, and I'm playing on ultra low caps now instead of low caps. But still, they should at least put up a fight right? It's true that I occasionally see a few SF ships popping up here and there. But they come in numbers of 4-5 ships and then nothing. I took the botnet, freed the dyson sphere, captured 3 ARS, several golems and a star ship fabricator and the AI practically gave it away to me. The only things bugging me are the few tackle drone launchers here and there (annoying little buggers in the hands of the AI I must say).
Also, I've scouted all 50 planets in my galaxy right now and none of the AI numbers are high enough to suspect a SF blob. Strategic reserves put up a bigger fight so far.
I might be too soon to judge since it's been a while since I played. I will finish this 7/7 game and then try a 9/9 game to see the difference before I get back on the subject. But if SF is still supposed to have a lot of ships that fly around as a big giant blob and protect important stuff, then I have the feeling that something is off.

[TechSY730]

Do you have a save of this SF seeming to just not groupng up as far as you can see for some reason?

[zoutzakje]

Do you have a save of this SF seeming to just not groupng up as far as you can see for some reason?

sure thing, got one from right afer I scouted the last planet. Only "high" numbers you see are on core/homeworlds (ultra low caps). Planet called Spirit has a few SF ships camped at a wormhole but the amount is silly really. My captures have cut the AI empire in half, so SF forces not being able to get everywere would make sense. But then we'd still have to see high ship counts somewhere right?

[chemical_art]

Brain storming my new craft idea.

 current name is AI crowd control.

A cruel parity of the Human Rights starship.

 complete with shields and engine damage and paralyis.

 Design to completely shut down Mobile forces only heavy defenses or swarmers can overwhelm the AI's version of crowd control. 

 thoughts?

[Cinth]

Brain storming my new craft idea.

 current name is AI crowd control.

A cruel parity of the Human Rights starship.

 complete with shields and engine damage and paralyis.

 Design to completely shut down Mobile forces only heavy defenses or swarmers can overwhelm the AI's version of crowd control. 

 thoughts?

So an AI version of a Riot III?

[keith.lamothe]

Human Rights starship

One of the more amusing typos of recent memory.