Poll: Which AI modifiers/plots do you use?

[Mánagarmr]

I generally NEVER play with the same stuff every game, as I tend to vary depending on my mood. But I selected all the ones I have played some time with.

[Kahuna]

I think Fighters might be a touch weak.  I can't recall if they got a wave multiplier boost recently, or it was just suggested they get one.  If not, it would be nice if they got a small bump so all the triangle ships are meaningful waves.

Fighters aren't weak. Bombers are a lol though.

[TechSY730]

Yes they are.  In fact, it is just barely unarguable they are weaker.  About the only case Schizo isn't weaker is when the AI has booster bonus ships (mainly Munitions) or something like Shield Bearers.  Even then, a mono wave with a sprinkle of those would be more deadly.

They are almost always weaker than the "worst case" single type waves. However, they are usually much harder than the "easiest case" single type waves. Schitzo waves are much more consistent, which unfortunatley means that they are consistently easier than the "worst case" single type waves. (though in just the right mixes, they can be even scarier, but that is rare as those would be built by sheer blind luck rather than the AI planning fleet compositions based on ship roles, which the AI does not do for schitzo waves, yet)

[keith.lamothe]

Yea, it isn't so much the baseline difficulty (schizo is usually higher there) but the peak difficulty.

It isn't the 100 waves you beat that kills you (except for econ-death-spiral situations), it's the 1 that punches through because it was all-bomber, max-time, double-wave, at-the-same-time-as-a-CPA-and-an-exo, etc.

[Hearteater]

I think Fighters might be a touch weak.  I can't recall if they got a wave multiplier boost recently, or it was just suggested they get one.  If not, it would be nice if they got a small bump so all the triangle ships are meaningful waves.

Fighters aren't weak. Bombers are a lol though.

I'm not speaking of Fighters individually, but specially in mono waves.  They really tend to be pretty tame compared to Missile Frigates or Bombers.  And since those three ship types are always present, a reasonable balance of difficulty would be cool.

[keith.lamothe]

I'm not speaking of Fighters individually, but specially in mono waves.  They really tend to be pretty tame compared to Missile Frigates or Bombers.  And since those three ship types are always present, a reasonable balance of difficulty would be cool.

I agree.  Considering their current count multiplier in waves is 1.2, what would you suggest as a next try?

[TechSY730]

I'm not speaking of Fighters individually, but specially in mono waves.  They really tend to be pretty tame compared to Missile Frigates or Bombers.  And since those three ship types are always present, a reasonable balance of difficulty would be cool.

I agree.  Considering their current count multiplier in waves is 1.2, what would you suggest as a next try?

1.35? 1.4?

Considering that Neinzul younglings get 1.5, it would be nice to keep it <1.5 for the fighter. (Though, I guess some of the "standard fighter like" younglings could go up to 1.6 or 1.75 or something, and the ones that remain threatening to defenses and/or structure can keep their current 1.5, and then I wouldn't object to standard fighters going to 1.5)

[Faulty Logic]

I would say to keep the 1.2. Fighter waves are less effective against fixed defences, but are one of the deadlier waves against mobile defence strategies.

[Hearteater]

I might consider trying 1.3 for Fighters.  I probably wouldn't go any higher than 1.4.

[zoutzakje]

I'd say buff them up to at least 1.4. I've literally never had a wave of fighters that was actually a threat, even if they came with at least a thousand on low caps. They die a lot faster than bombers and frigs and are also a lot less powerful. I'd like to see them in higher numbers in waves for sure.

[KDR_11k]

They cost 200/200 while bombers are like 800/200. Of course having the same cap makes that less clear-cut. Unlocking MkII fighters is much easier on your economy than going for MkII bombers (of course that may not matter with today's overpowered human economy).

How much actual thinking goes into the mono-wave types? Are they always random or does the AI get to pick a type depending on the expected resistance? In the latter case, should the AI's logic also get control over the use of Beachheads?

[keith.lamothe]

How much actual thinking goes into the mono-wave types? Are they always random or does the AI get to pick a type depending on the expected resistance? In the latter case, should the AI's logic also get control over the use of Beachheads?

Wave composition isn't weighted by situation or whatever, just random rolls.

[KDR_11k]

Hm, is it feasible to change that?

[Draco18s]

Hm, is it feasible to change that?

I think we'd end up with all bomber waves all the time with a side of bombers.

[TechSY730]

Hm, is it feasible to change that?

Well, now that there is an in-code mapping of ship types and "roles", it could be nice if these classifications could be used to aid determining ship type composition/ratios, especially for how to "distribute" the "points" of ships types in a schizo wave. (http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=7211) However, it could be nifty for the AI to use a little strategy in determining which type to use in a mono-wave as well.