Crafty Spire AI Type Bug?

[Wingflier]

I recently started a game with the "red" AI Type, "Crafty Spire".  From what I remember of these guys, they have Spire mega units on most of their planets, and also send them in waves as well.

When the game began, there were lots of Spire units I had to deal with, but I've played for about 3 hours now, and I haven't encountered a single Spire ship since the beginning of the game (first seed, most likely).  This is extremely odd, and I'm beginning to wonder if it's bugged out somehow.  Usually you see the mega Spire units constantly, but 3 hours in I haven't seen 1 in a wave or on a planet.

The only place I see them is on the AI Homeworld right now, and they were probably seeded there at the start.

Is something wrong?

If someone can confirm this is a bug I'll put it in Mantis.

[keith.lamothe]

Actually, looking at the code, I think it only spawns the spirecraft during mapgen.  No new ones.

Can certainly change that   What would be reasonable?  Or, at least, what would be fun?

[Wingflier]

Well it's not exactly hard when you only have to encounter them once?  I mean I think I've seen a total of maybe 10 Spirecraft the entire game, and I've visited over 20 planets and been hit by 10+ waves.  I would barely consider that a "Medium" AI type in terms of difficulty.  Most of the Spirecraft I encountered I took out with my champion and a full squad of MK1 Fleetships.

What does everyone else think?

LOLinb4 mass spam MKIV Martyrs...careful what you wish for!

[Hearteater]

I approve: Martyrs in every wave!

Actually, I bet a Shield Bearer in a wave would be very painful.

[Histidine]

Allow it to use a Spirecraft instead of a guardian during reinforcements, or a starship for waves. Also let it buy Spirecraft for its special forces.

[keith.lamothe]

Well it's not exactly hard when you only have to encounter them once?

No argument here, I'm just thinking y'all can come up with a better first guess for balancing its ongoing-way-of-getting-more-spirecraft.  I could do it, but you might not like the results.

[Wingflier]

Well it's not exactly hard when you only have to encounter them once?

No argument here, I'm just thinking y'all can come up with a better first guess for balancing its ongoing-way-of-getting-more-spirecraft.  I could do it, but you might not like the results.

Okay, let's be clear...the reason I PICKED IT was so that I wouldn't like the results.

I don't like the results of Raid Engines on a vast number of AI Planets.  I don't like the results of the AI only having MKV units. 

If I'm playing a red difficulty, it's not because I'm intending to like the results.  It's because I'm a masochist

Though you're right, we could spend some time figuring out ideas to make it more interesting.

[keith.lamothe]

Okay, let's be clear...the reason I PICKED IT was so that I wouldn't like the results.

Well, yes, what's unpleasant is in the eye of the beholder but I figured you'd like to avoid outcomes where it was obviously weak or roflstomping you in 30 minutes   I could probably do better than that, just a little busy right now.

[_K_]

Since it's a red AI type, i'd suggest letting it add have a distinct budget for spire toys so they dont drain the main budget. Spirecraft comes in addition to everything else, not as a replacement.
For reinforcing, dont forget to make be some cap to ensure systems dont get overly defended over time.

[Fluffiest]

Spirecraft reinforcements, yes please. Spirecraft showing up in CPAs, raid engine waves, and counterattack waves, also fine. Spirecraft in normal waves would make me nervous but I guess they're alright if this AI type stays red rather than being bumped down to Hard. But whatever you do please please please keep the Spire Shield Bearers out of the special forces.

[Kahuna]

Well that's strange.. when I played vs 10 difficulty Craft Spire I was attacked by about 10 MarkIV Spire Craft ships in the first 20 minutes. All I had to do was send a fighter to an adjacent planet to my homeworld and the AI sent a brutal Spire Craft attack. But that was long time ago.