Fun and/or Unique AI Combos

[Kraiz]

Hi everyone.  Been a long-time member around, but do more lurking than posting.  Recently got back into the game when I noticed increased activity on the post-7.000 beta patch notes page on the wiki, and have been enjoying a lot of the changes.

I thought a thread like this existed, but after a search I was unable to find something similar.  If I'm bringing up a topic that's already been covered--apologies.

So, with the Dual-AI Type feature, I've been having a lot of fun thinking up combinations to try.

So, post some of the more fun, challenging, weird, or interesting AI Combinations.

A handful that I've enjoyed recently:

Mad Bomber + Turtle:  Turtle defense with Mad Bomber waves = quite alot of pain.  With the new Salvage/Reprisal wave system, it turns the game into a much more intense back-and-forth struggle as losing fleets is sometimes inevitable.

Retaliatory + Bouncer:  Lots of extra guard posts with the retaliation from the Retaliatory makes this one, again, a much more dynamic game.

Those are two of the ones I've enjoyed playing with lately.  I'm looking for some sugestions though, so post some of yours!

[Peter Ebbesen]

I have little experience with different AI personalities due to only playing the game for a short time, but Keith was kind enough to suggest Special Forces Captain/Bouncer and Mad Bomber/Reservist to me for a challenging newbie game on 9/9, and trying them out I find them quite fun. The special abilities of the dual natures really help them out where they need it. The SFC gets a lot of special forces guard posts and the Mad Bomber has heavy attacks without defensive weaknesses, and pours a large strategic reserve into any planet it really likes.

[Aklyon]

Vengeful/Bouncer makes for a very offended AI. Dual Vengeful/Bouncers makes for very clean galactic neutering but very defense-worrying effects. (or very un-worrying, depending on your defensive power)

Exotic gives you more exos for free, instead of waves. This may or maynot be terrible for you. (Vicious Exotic on the other hand will just try to Murderusoon if you give it a chance, as much as I've attempted on actual difficulty levels)

[Diazo]

A rather nasty one that the RNG got me with is pairing One-Way Door Master and Alarmist.

What's that? An Alarm post on most worlds that will alarm if an adjacent world has its command post destroyed? Let's trap all you ships in the system so you have to make suicide runs to destroy them with a Black Hole Machine.

I ended up saying screw it and just tanking the freed forces on my defences.

Also meant my usual strategy of taking apart a system with starship heavy raids was not an option either so it's actually been quite an unusual game for me.


Another run I have not run into, but would be nasty paired with almost anything is the Core.

Anyone feel up to fighting a Core/Spire Hammer? Or how about a Core/Starfleet Commander?

D.

[The Hunter]

Special Forces Captain/Alarmist, with Hunter 10 AI Plot. Hilarity.

[tadrinth]

I believe I remember that Mad Bomber's 2x wave size multiplier gets applied to Vicious Exotic's exo waves.  Not sure, but I would guess it also boosts the extra wave units from Heroic or Spire Hammer.  That's more !!fun!! than fun, though. 

Speed Racer seems like an amusing mod for Artillerist or Special Forces Captain. 

Grav Driller + Attritioner would be so annoying. 

I'm not sure exactly what bonus unlocks Vorpal gets, but I have a feeling it would induce rather serious paranoia when combined with Warp Jumper. 

Fortress King + Fortress Baron?  Everyone likes killing Fortresses, right?  Hope you brought Space Planes.

Raid Engine + One-Way Doormaster is the classic painful combo. 

I started a game at one point vs a Neinzul Nester+ Neinzul Viral Enthusiast/ Neinzul Youngster+ Neinzul Cluster Bomber, with Preservation Wardens, Roaming Enclaves, and Hybrids.  It seemed like a good idea at the time. 

[Tridus]

Fortress King + Fortress Baron?  Everyone likes killing Fortresses, right?  Hope you brought Space Planes.

It's a lot more insulting to the AI if you do it with fighters and protector starships.

[MaxAstro]

Vicious Exotic + The Core is a fun way to die.

Also, Warp Jumper + Technologist Raider.

[Lord Of Nothing]

Special Forces Captain/Reservist. Hope you like response forces...

[Toranth]

Special Forces Captain/Reservist. Hope you like response forces...

Reservist also combos really nasty with Artillerist - The Reserve spawns, and can shoot at you instantly from anywhere in the system.
Turtle/Bouncer can make a mean combo.  One game, I ended up with ~80 Mk IV Guardposts in a single system.  It was absolutely insane.
Mad Bomber combined with any of the Exo-AIs: Vengeful, Exotic, or especially Vicious Exotic, since the multiplier gets applied to those.