State of the AI

[MCabido]

Hi all.

I have recently discovered this game and FoG:Empires. I was willing to buy it in order to play it as an independent game and integrated with Empires too. The problem is that I have seen people claiming it would unbalance Empires in favor of the human player. Is it so? How is the AI in this game? Does it really present a challenge to the human player?

[Athos1660]

AI is very good, challenging and fun.

Over time, like any AI, you'll learn how to defeat it (as MP players learn how to defeat human players). Then you can play MP.

So some day you might win all the battles of FoGE, playing them in FoG2 against the AI. On this day, you might prefer resolving them automatically in FoGE while keeping on playing FoG2 in MP (or SP).

Up to you.

FoG2 is a great game.

[MCabido]

It has been said on the steam forum that you can set imported battles from FoGE to use highest difficulty settings, giving the computer a strength bonus. I reproduce it here:

"Yes, in the FOG2 Advanced Settings you can set exported Empires games to use the FOG2 difficulty settings. This will tweak the AI's Empires>FOG2 unit conversion ratios to give them somewhat more troops on higher difficulty settings. (By default FOG2 difficulty settings are not used for exported Empires battles)."

Is this "troops bonus" enough to prevent a player from winning every battle? Also, what about the level of AI in FoGE?

[Ludendorf]

Trust me, if you're playing on Deity, the AI will give you problems. I don't care if you're Hannibal or Alexander reborn; the Deity level AI armies are not to be messed around with. And the conversion engine will reflect the match up; if you're hopelessly outclassed in FOG: Empires, you're not going to find a situation that is any more forgiving in FOG II. You obviously have more tactical control, meaning that if you are a good FOG II player, you can hope to get a better result and maybe even an upset victory now and then. But on the other hand, if you're playing on Suicidal in Empires and Deity level in FoG II, then good luck. I'd almost rather take the autoresolve than tangle with a FoG:E army that has been further strengthened with Deity's buffs.

[MCabido]

Well, I'm willing to give it a try anyway. FoGE, with its decadence system seems less a "conquer all" experience than Paradox games and that is what drove me always fro EU.

[kronenblatt]

Well, I'm willing to give it a try anyway. FoGE, with its decadence system seems less a "conquer all" experience than Paradox games and that is what drove me always fro EU.

That's what I like with FoGE too. And (shameless promotion, I know...!) you can always try my Remote Regions mod to further add to that aspect.


And for EU4 (admittedly v1.12.2) there are two mods that I've made: Twelve Vultures (746BC-476AD) and The Rome That Did Not Fall (395-973AD). Not to everyone's taste, since it adds other mechanics and complexity that not focuses on conquests and map painting, but that was the whole idea and my vision, so to speak.

But now I've become addicted to FoG2: that amazing game and this wonderful community.

[MCabido]

Took a look at your mod. Very good idea. I have exactly the same view. EU has a very "historical accuracy" based discourse, but then the gameplay feels like most RTS take the map experience. Doesn't feel like a nation building game. Also, the original EU map is very inaccurate. What about FoGE? Is the map more accurate, historically? Are there any map mods?

[kronenblatt]

Took a look at your mod. Very good idea. I have exactly the same view. EU has a very "historical accuracy" based discourse, but then the gameplay feels like most RTS take the map experience. Doesn't feel like a nation building game. Also, the original EU map is very inaccurate. What about FoGE? Is the map more accurate, historically? Are there any map mods?

Don't know about map mods, but I've come across Pocus et al from my old AGEOD days (AJE) and I believe historical accuracy is quite good. What could be improved, I've come to understand from another thread, is that FoGE when exporting battles to FoG2 uses generic units, not utilizing the vast resources available for unit diversity in the FoG2 army lists. But there may be mods developed trying to remedy that.

[MCabido]

The conversion system is convoluted. A developer has posted that in the steam forum:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/101139 ... 2631378916

Since I don't know the game, I can't talk about diversity when converting, but it surely makes a lot of adaptations to fit FoGE parameters, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, if it works as intended.

[roguedjack]

About the AI, I'd like to add there is an AI mod for Fog2 "Rise Of AI". I don't claim it to be better than the original game AI, but it does play differently. Just consider it another solo opponent you can play with.

[MCabido]

Well, variety is always welcome. Once you get used with one AI way of reacting, having another AI to surprise you is a nice option.