[Freeciv-Dev] Re: AI can build railway-system

["Ross W. Wetmore" <rwetmore@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Actually, for those that know any history using enemy railroads is
a favorite military pastime. First happened in the American Civil War
i.e. about the time railroads appeared.

The movie "Von Ryan's Express", for those that absorb such things
only through popular TV, is a more recent example. Note, the Germans
did not build all the railway track from Berlin to Stalingrad.

The AI should be taught to build railroads more sparingly, and to
fortify, or at least station units near key connecting points to exert
ZOC. Also they should not not build or should pillage railroads near 
enemy territory and when retreating. This would restore some balance 
vs humans. Some of this is non-trivial though.

Changing the rules to fix problems like this is not really a productive
solution though.

Cheers,
RossW
=====

At 06:59 PM 01/11/25 -0500, Mike Jing wrote:
>Reinier Post <rp@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>On Sun, Nov 25, 2001 at 03:26:14PM -0500, Mike Jing wrote:
>> > "Per I. Mathisen" <Per.Inge.Mathisen@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> > >
>> > >Hmmm. It might be dumb to change the rules just to make the AI better,
>> > >perhaps, but what about making it so that rail within range of a 
>>hostile
>> > >city only gives movement bonus as if it were a road? That way
>> > >lightning take-over of an empire becomes a lot harder.
>> >
>> > I like this idea.  It is sort of like in Civ3, where road/rail doesn't 
>>work
>> > for you at all in hostile territory, but less restrictive.
>> >
>> > Mike
>>
>>As I said before, it's unrealistic, and also, I like the fact that
>>building railroads is a two-edged sword.  That makes it a strategic
>>decision whether and where to build them.
>
>On the contrary, it is very realistic because it is highly unlikely that the 
>enemy would let you use their railroad system BEFORE you have taken over 
>their territory.  Roads, maybe they can't do much about that.  But 
>railroads?  No way!
>
>Mike
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