I wrote this AI to show to people how designing a difficult AI doesn't have to be difficult. If you want the computer to attack/defend with lots of units, you're probably wasting your time experimenting with the build lists and the aip files trying to find the right combination--that's the way it was with me. The key lies in the file RTS_CFG.h, found in the Star Trek-Armada folder. The RTS_CFG file contains only one value you need concern yourself with--HARD_AI_COST_AND_SPEED_HANDICAP.

***If you already know about the HARD_AI_COST_AND_SPEED_HANDICAP, you probably have no need for this AI, but then again, you might want to check out the simple build lists.***


As you probably know, there are two things, and ONLY two things, that vary whether you select AI: Easy, AI: Medium or AI: Hard. They are:

1. How much less dilithium it costs the computer to build
2. How much faster the computer builds

The harder the AI is, the less dilithium the computer needs to build, and the faster it builds.

So, what's with the value of HARD_AI_COST_AND_SPEED_HANDICAP? This is a decimal number that is multiplied by the amount of dilithium required per ship, and the amount of time required to build a unit, when you have a HARD computer AI. (MEDIUM_AI_COST_AND_SPEED_HANDICAP will do the same thing, but the value is used when you select a medium computer AI)

So, let's look at the Soverign class ship--800 dilithium to build and 80 seconds to build. If the HARD_AI_COST_AND_SPEED_HANDICAP is set to 1.0, it costs the computer 800 dilithium to build a Soverign class ship and the ship takes 80 seconds to build--same as usual. If you set the value to 1/2 (0.5), THEN it costs the computer only 400 dilithium and 40 seconds to build a ship. A value of 2.0 will cost the computer 1600 dilithium and 160 seconds to build.

So, how high or low you set the value is a VERY EASY way to make an AI easy or hard. You just have to experiment with values. The point of this computer AI I have provided is having a simple build list, yet a handicap of .1 to make a difficult AI.

Give it a try, and enjoy!