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I've now made a new Easy config that is an appropriate step up from my new Very Easy config. Once again I started with the Hard config and crippled it as follows:
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1 |
I've now made a new Easy config that is an appropriate step up from my new Very Easy config. Once again I started with the Hard config and crippled it as follows:
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* Set the max mexes to 30%
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* Set the max mexes to 30%
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* Set the construction delay to 30 seconds
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* Set the construction delay to 30 seconds
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* Set the maximum comm morph to Level 4
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* Set the maximum comm morph to Level 4
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* Disabled retreat for all units
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* Disabled retreat for all units
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Otherwise, the config is exactly like Hard. All factories and all units may be in play; that includes air, striders, and superweapons. There are no limits to the type or number of units; the AI is only limited by its crippled build rate and its capped mex income. The result is an AI that fights hard but has a very slow start and never sweeps the map.
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Otherwise, the config is exactly like Hard. All factories and all units may be in play; that includes air, striders, and superweapons. There are no limits to the type or number of units; the AI is only limited by its crippled build rate and its capped mex income. The result is an AI that fights hard but has a very slow start and never sweeps the map.
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\n
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\n
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[u][b]Here's what the player experiences:[/b][/u]
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[u][b]Here's what the player experiences:[/b][/u]
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\n
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\n
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For a while, the player is mostly left alone, with only an occasional small raid which is easily turned back by light defenses (either statics or units). The AI's presence on the field is small and scattered; easy pickings for the player to mop up with a modest squad. The AI's base is very vulnerable at first, but becomes pretty well-defended before too long.
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For a while, the player is mostly left alone, with only an occasional small raid which is easily turned back by light defenses (either statics or units). The AI's presence on the field is small and scattered; easy pickings for the player to mop up with a modest squad. The AI's base is very vulnerable at first, but becomes pretty well-defended before too long.
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\n
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\n
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By about the ten minute mark the AI has enough units to mount an attack if the player hasn't made them take attrition. The attack is still easy to defend against but will take more than just light defenses. If the player hasn't done anything to reduce the AI's expansion / production / fielded forces, then somewhere between fifteen and twenty minutes the AI starts sending in heavies, including striders. If the player hasn't prepared then they will get stomped.
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By about the ten minute mark the AI has enough units to mount an attack if the player hasn't made them take attrition. The attack is still easy to defend against but will take more than just light defenses. If the player hasn't done anything to reduce the AI's expansion / production / fielded forces, then somewhere between fifteen and twenty minutes the AI starts sending in heavies, including striders. If the player hasn't prepared then they will get stomped.
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\n
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\n
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In order to win, the player needs to know how to do any ONE of the following:
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In order to win, the player needs to know how to do any ONE of the following:
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* Expand, defend expansions, and increase production
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* Expand, defend expansions, and increase production
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* Attack early and continue attacking
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* Attack early and continue attacking
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* Trade efficiently by using appropriate unit counters
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* Trade efficiently by using appropriate unit counters
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A player that doesn't do ANY of those (i.e. sits in a small, poorly-defended base while building a nuke at 10 m/s) will get steamrolled by the AI between fifteen and thirty minutes. They'll get plenty of warning that it's coming as the incursions increase in strength between five and fifteen minutes.
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A player that doesn't do ANY of those (i.e. sits in a small, poorly-defended base while building a nuke at 10 m/s) will get steamrolled by the AI between fifteen and thirty minutes. They'll get plenty of warning that it's coming as the incursions increase in strength between five and fifteen minutes.
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\n
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\n
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If the player expands, protects the expansions, and uses constructors to increase their production then they will easily outproduce the AI. They can win by spamming anything and sweeping the board, or they can porc up and make superweapons. If the player stays on a small base but makes units quickly and attacks right away they'll wipe out everything the AI has on the field, and as long as they keep it up they'll eventually crack the base. If the player is slower to attack but doesn't lose all their raiders to riots and all their skirms to raiders then they'll still be able to crush the AI before the AI can swarm the map with heavies.
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If the player expands, protects the expansions, and uses constructors to increase their production then they will easily outproduce the AI. They can win by spamming anything and sweeping the board, or they can porc up and make superweapons. If the player stays on a small base but makes units quickly and attacks right away they'll wipe out everything the AI has on the field, and as long as they keep it up they'll eventually crack the base. If the player is slower to attack but doesn't lose all their raiders to riots and all their skirms to raiders then they'll still be able to crush the AI before the AI can swarm the map with heavies.
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\n
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\n
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A player that can do any ONE of those will win, and will be fighting enough enemies that winning will be a fun experience. A player that can do two or three (even if they don't do them very well) will win quickly and easily and is ready for the next stronger AI.
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A player that can do any ONE of those will win, and will be fighting enough enemies that winning will be a fun experience. A player that can do two or three (even if they don't do them very well) will win quickly and easily and is ready for the next stronger AI.
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\n
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\n
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Testing
and
feedback
is
welcome,
see
[url=http://zero-k.
info/Forum/Post/176208#176208]this
PR[/url]
to
obtain
the
new
config.
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24 |
Testing
and
feedback
is
welcome,
see
[url=https://github.
com/ZeroK-RTS/Chobby/pull/300]this
PR[/url]
to
obtain
the
new
config.
|
Some feedback about how AIs of each difficulty should perform