How much effect does difficulty have on the minor factions?

[Buttons840]

The tool tips for each minor faction states that where applicable the difficulty from the first AI will be used.  So to which minor factions is the difficulty applicable, and how much effect does it really have?

[x4000]

It does not affect the trader or devourer to my recollection. But it does affect how many marauders spawn and how frequently, how vicious the dyson sphere is, etc. Actually, with the trader I think it increases the chance that the ai will buy stuff from the trader as it moves around. It's all in that vein.

[Trezamere]

So wait with the dyson sphere does that make him more passive on higher difficulties I guess?  Cause if he was more aggressive it would make it easier.

[Buttons840]

I was wondering the same.  I presume the human colony rebels (whatever?) are influenced by the difficulty and they make the game easier since they only help you.

It's not as though having a higher difficulty will result in a net gain in "easiness," because the AI will gain more from the higher difficulty then any allies like the rebels or Dyson sphere would.

Also, the Dyson sphere spawns 1 Gatling ever 20 seconds regardless of what the difficulty level is, so I assume AI difficulty only effects the Gatlings personality, or has no effect at all.

[x4000]

Actually, I misspoke -- I think the Dyson is unaffected by the difficulty.  I was speaking from memory there.