AI Mk. V Unlocks

[TechSY730]

I know it is odd for me to be asking a question about a minor detail in AI War at such a busy time with the AVWW public beta, but I guess I'll ask anyways.

From what I understand, during the seeding of the AI, they are given at least 1 extra bonus ship type, along top of anything their AI type would get (if anything). In addition to that, they are given 1 (or was it 2?) Mk. V ship type.

This leads to my two questions. For their Mk. V ship type unlock, are they ONLY allowed to use the Mk. V versions of them unless they get that ship type normally later through the game?

Second, if the normal bonus ship type they got has a Mk. V version, will they be able to use that Mk. V version as well?

[x4000]

The mark V unlocks are completely unrelated to the mark I-IV items, in every sense.  I think they get 2 and that's it, but they might get a few more over time.  I don't recall adding that, though.

If an AI type has special affinity for certain types of ships, then they tend to get the mark V of those for free like they get the lower-marks for free.

[Hearteater]

So AIs get:
1) The triangle ships  (Fighter, Bomber, Missile Frigate), Mark I-IV
2) Any ship types unlocked by their AI type, Mark I-IV
3) An additional ship type, Mark I-IV
4) Additional ship types unlocked based on AIP, Mark I-IV
5) Two ships types, Mark V (does not unlock Mark I-IV if that ship type isn't unlocked by points 1-4)

Also, I recall another ship unlock happens at 200 AIP, and AIP reducers don't un-unlock the ship type, but what are the other break points for ship unlocks?

[TechSY730]

Ah, so even if a ship they got has a Mk. V version, that does not guarantee that the will be able to spawn Mk. Vs of them?

I guess that makes sense, as we humans are forced to use a similar system. (Our bonuses get up to Mk. IV, but we have to use fabricators, which are likely very different than our current bonuses, for Mk. Vs)

[x4000]

Yep, all correct.

[TechSY730]

Strange, I was sure I have seen AIs use Mk. V triangle ships regularly. Oh well, good info to have. Thanks.

[Hearteater]

My bullet list was actually more of a restatement of what it sounds like the situation is.  I don't actually know if those points are all true, but they appear to be based on the wiki and various posts.  I need to check my current game for what Mark V they have.  I know for certain they have Mk V Missile Frigates, but I thought I saw both Mk V Bombers and Fighters so I need to verify.

[Entrenched Homperson]

I've definitely seen Mark V Friggs floating around. Just putting that in there.

[Hearteater]

I'm sure they can have Mark V Frigs, but the question is, how many different Mark V ships are available in a given game to an AI?  I thought I saw all three triangle ships at Mark V on my last homeworld assault, but I could be mistaken.

[TechSY730]

This deserves some testing. I'm going to spawn a few games with full visibility and see what kinds of ships they start with at their homeworlds.

IMO, though, I think that all AI types should get Mk. V triangle ships from start.

[Hearteater]

Ok, enemy homeworld has:
AI 1: Mark V Bomber/Fighter/Missile Frigate
AI 1: Mark V Raider

AI 2: Mark V Bomber/Fighter/Missile Frigate
AI 2: Mark V Parasite, Vampire Claw

So I'm guessing it is Mark V of the triangles, PLUS 2 other Mark V.  Not sure if the MArk V has to be of a ship type they otherwise have unlocked.

[x4000]

I think that might be right, actually.  It used to not be that way, but then I think some players asked for that, and I went ahead and did it.  There was no mark V fighter for a looong time, too.

[TechSY730]

So, editing Hearteater's earlier post (hope you don't mind)

1) The triangle ships  (Fighter, Bomber, Missile Frigate), Mark I-V
2) Any ship types unlocked by their AI type, Mark I-IV
3) An additional ship type, Mark I-IV
4) Additional ship types unlocked based on AIP, Mark I-IV
5) Two ships types, Mark V (does not unlock Mark I-IV if that ship type isn't unlocked by points 1-4)

[keith.lamothe]

Yea, we had to change it so they always got mkV triangle ships because in some cases they had no mkV triangle ships eligible for AI Eye or Super-terminal spawns (once the situation was such that those were supposed to spawn MkV stuff) leading to crashes when it tried to spawn but couldn't find a type, etc.

[x4000]

Ohhhhhh... that's right, I forgot.