How to know what difficulty to pick?

[zoutzakje]

Mark IVs are perma-cloaked and are supposed to be invincible.  If they ever died, that was a bug of some sort.  I have not observed this, though.

you sure counterspies aren't supposed to be able to kill mk IV scouts either? because if they shouldn't be able to, it's a bug. Had my mk IV scout killed by one, but that was before the .50 patches so I don't know if anything has changed since then.

[Red Spot]

I had the same thing in like 3 beta's back or so, that my mk4's got killed before they could cross 3 planets.
Also havent yet had a chance to test them, but taking for granted x knows what he is talking about it probably was a minor issue with a previous beta.
I hope to be able to not only start a new game in a moment but also get an ARS, if I get there I will test them tonight.

[x4000]

It's quite possible there's a bug, I just have not seen it.  I was referring to what should be the case, not what necessarily is.

[zoutzakje]

ok, just checking ^^
I didn't worry about it in the past.... I just assumed counter spies were supposed to be able to kill it, so I just blew the thing up and continued scouting lol.

but to answer the original question...
tbh, I have no idea on what difficulty you should play, that's something every1 has to do decide for himself. my way of chosing the difficulty? well, considering that I'm a completionist I want to beat every AI on every difficulty, starting by 1 lol. writing all of them down so I keep track of where I was. I haven't been playing this game for a very long time yet.... so I've beaten about almost all lvl 1 ones and 1 lvl 5 (wanted to see the difference). This way the game will keep me entertained for a very very long time

[Wingsofdomain]

but to answer the original question...

The original question is gone long ago.... I never thought of starting a 63post long thread. I also got rediricted to the wiki (once again) so I kind of got the best answer I could get I guess. Thank you anyway for the answer.

[Invelios]

I've had my Mrk IV scouts killed by a counter-spy before, so if that is not supposed to happen then there is a bug. However, that is the only thing I have ever had kill a Mrk IV, other than that they are invincible.

[soMe_RandoM]

i went straight for 9.8-9 and i don't regret it as i found invaluable information about ai tactics from 9+, it preparing my self for double paragon with 2 hardest AI types on largest map realistic AI MODS all factions