AI Emp Guardians and Carriers

[brokndremes]

Hello,

     I've been playing a 7/7 120 planet conquest recently, aiming to take everything with FS and golems. It's definitely led to some crazy battles, but I've noticed that the AI is making very poor use of the emp guardians it's been generating. Since the EMPS only detonate when they travel through a wormhole, and the massive ship buildup (~35-50k ships) has them shoving their dozens of emp guardians into carriers, and leaving all my defenses not-paralyzed when they decide to attack. Frankly, this is the only reason I've survived a few of the waves. I'm not sure if this behavior is different on higher difficulties, but it would really make turtling more...interesting if the AI were to stop putting emps in carriers, or even chain emp guardians when they attack to keep paralysis up as long as possible. Though if that ends up happening, a plot to disable emps might be nice too.

The best thing I can think of is just not to allow emps in carriers. Having them able to detonate from inside a carrier just seems cruel and overpowered, as it would be very difficult to pick them off on the way.

[Kahuna]

We just talked about starships in Carriers http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,16368.0.html

[...] the massive ship buildup (~35-50k ships) has them shoving their dozens of emp guardians into carriers, and leaving all my defenses not-paralyzed when they decide to attack. Frankly, this is the only reason I've survived a few of the waves. [...]

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Because there are no Guardians in waves. Unless you're playing against the Vanguard AI of course.

[...] the massive ship buildup (~35-50k ships)

Do you mean threat/threat fleet or a CPA?

CPAs used to include Guardians if too many ships were deployed. The AI would "combine" those ships into Guardians so that there are less ships but the same amount of firepower to reduce lag.

[Hearteater]

Thought: EMP Guardians trigger when released from Carriers?
Follow-up Thought: Apparently I hate myself.

[Kahuna]

That would honestly go to the same class with a Carrier deploying a Mark V PSS that one shots your Command Station.

[Qatu]

Yeah really, if EMP guardians ever get nastier in any kind of way (perhaps even if they don't?) I hope there will be a lobby option to disable them.

[Toranth]

Yeah really, if EMP guardians ever get nastier in any kind of way (perhaps even if they don't?) I hope there will be a lobby option to disable them.

It may be getting to the point where a list of disabled ship types needs to exist, like the "disabledaitypes.txt" config file that already exists.  It probably wouldn't work for base types, but at least those players that want to could tweak the bonus ships.