What about the AI's 'Other Matters'?

[Orelius]

One of the main justifications as to why the AI doesn't simply get out its flamethrower and burn you inside your foxhole is that in the beginning, you're extremely weak and the AI is busy dealing with other matters.  It doesn't feel the need to spend that many resources or effort to deal with you because you're not a threat and it has bigger fish to fry.

What if those bigger fish were inside the current galaxy?  As in, the other force has a tangible presence and territory in the galaxy and is actively fighting the AI for control?  For instance, they could still fighting against some zenith remnants, or a spire colony, a neinzul hivemind, etc.

I think it'd be pretty cool if forcing the AI to redirect its resources to dealing with us would actually have a significant impact on the health of the AI empire.  If we force the AI to send a mothership after us, that's one less mothership they can use to deal with spire dreadnoughts.  If we end up amassing enough resources to hassle the AI and spook it, it should really make the AI hurt, instead of the AI completely rising to the challenge regardless of what you do. 

[Pumpkin]

What if those bigger fish were inside the current galaxy?  As in, the other force has a tangible presence and territory in the galaxy and is actively fighting the AI for control?  For instance, they could still fighting against some zenith remnants, or a spire colony, a neinzul hivemind, etc.

Actually, in AI War Classic, we know who and where the AI is fighting. The answer is in... Ah, spoiler...

Spoiler for Hiden:

The answer is in the Fallen Spire and the Exodian Blade "campaigns": the Core is the "sibling" of the Exile and it's fighting the Spire Empire, who caused their exile a long time ago. Yep, the Core wasn't built by humans; rather "empowered" by their fleet control technology developed during their civil war.

[PokerChen]

We could build in a mechanics that permits players to begin interacting with the other enemies of the AI empire, by expanding the Fallen Spire sub-space signal communications lore.

Like, request aid, or request extraction if you don't see yourself winning the game by brute force.

[x4000]

That's actually not the chief thing the AI was doing, although those guys certainly didn't help.  The real thing that had the AI SO very tied up is not publicly revealed yet.

In this game, having the other forces be a part of this galaxy and dealing with the AI is definitely on my list of possibly-maybes.

[Captain Jack]

That's actually not the chief thing the AI was doing, although those guys certainly didn't help.  The real thing that had the AI SO very tied up is not publicly revealed yet.

In this game, having the other forces be a part of this galaxy and dealing with the AI is definitely on my list of possibly-maybes.

Are you planning nebula/other bonus type things? (Also, when you have a chance could you look at my email?)

[x4000]

I'm not sure about those (nebula/other bonus type things).  They don't represent part of the core experience to me, so it really depends on whether or not they can be added quickly and reasonably, or if they should be made more core via a larger mechanic relating to them, or if they should be part of a stretch goal.  Originally we had years to build all this stuff in AI War Classic, but I doubt people want to wait that long for a refined version in AI War II.

Sorry about not getting to your other email yet; I have such a crazy backlog.  I'm dropping communications-related balls all over the place because of that.

[Steelpoint]

In before the "other matter" is eldritch horror seeking to overrun the universe, turns out the AI was trying to save everyone in the first place.

Nonetheless I'm curious into how this other matter would be integrated into AI War 2, if it even is displayed in game.

[TheVampire100]

It's Thoraxians. They are the only other faction I know of that is expanding it's reach with persistent demeanor and attacks everything on sight. They would also be the only worthy opponent (except Spire) to keep the AI busy for a long time.

I'm pretty sure they aren't but they or maybe some kind of similiar race would fit.

Wait a minute... Oh god no, don't tell me it's the Obscura?

[Captain Jack]

I'm not sure about those (nebula/other bonus type things).  They don't represent part of the core experience to me, so it really depends on whether or not they can be added quickly and reasonably, or if they should be made more core via a larger mechanic relating to them, or if they should be part of a stretch goal.  Originally we had years to build all this stuff in AI War Classic, but I doubt people want to wait that long for a refined version in AI War II.

(Actually I was suggesting that we avoid having visitors from that end of the conflict. Nebulas aren't going to be in AIW2, and the only place this kind of spoiler belongs is nebula-style scenarios.)

Sorry about not getting to your other email yet; I have such a crazy backlog.  I'm dropping communications-related balls all over the place because of that.

Haha no problem. Get to it on your own time.

In before the "other matter" is eldritch horror seeking to overrun the universe, turns out the AI was trying to save everyone in the first place.

*takes notes*

It's Thoraxians. They are the only other faction I know of that is expanding it's reach with persistent demeanor and attacks everything on sight. They would also be the only worthy opponent (except Spire) to keep the AI busy for a long time.

Note for xpac 2: bug war.

Wait a minute... Oh god no, don't tell me it's the Obscura?

>D

[TheVampire100]

I think this time we should get the full lore. It's very tiresome this cat and mouse game where we ask and try out theories and you give onyl vague hints if this is correct.
It's cool if you have all the cool lore in your head but at soem point you simply HAVE to put it in any game and I think AI War 2 would finally be the perfect game to do so.