[Freeciv-Dev] Re: [PATCH] aiunit.c ai_military_findvictim() cleanup (PR#1264)

[Mike Kaufman <kaufman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

just to start a semi-new thread without bugs CCed.

-mike

On Sun, Feb 24, 2002 at 03:54:31PM +0100, Petr Baudis wrote:
> Dear diary, on Sun, Feb 24, 2002 at 03:51:42AM CET, I got a letter,
> where Raahul Kumar <raahul_da_man@xxxxxxxxx> told me, that...
> > > > I was wrong in that according to Petr the AI does become a republic. 
> > > > Frankly,
> > > > I have not yet seen that in any game I have ever played. In order of 
> > > > popularity
> > > > I have seen:
> > > > 
> > > > Despotism
> > > > Monarchy
> > > > Communism
> > > 
> > > I usually check mainly AI which are able to compete with me ;-) and they 
> > > are
> > > Republic most times (or Monarchy rarely).
> > > 
> > 
> > This is bizarre. What does determine the tech path for ai nations? I'm 
> > pretty
> > sure that the nations ruleset contains techs the AI is supposed to go for.
> > Exactly how this relates to the ai tech path I do not know.
> 
> When we've no strong need for anything, defaults are taken (aitech.c:275 | 
> when
> bored i'll do some test if it's used anytime at all, it looks to me it isn't).
> The need depends on buildings we want, units we want, governments we want
> (aicity.c:141.. yes, i wouldn't expect it *there*.. oh well), and number of
> techs depending on this one (aitech.c:171).
> 
> > > > Fixing the production issue, the AI badly needs more science. That means
> > > > fixing ai_eval_governments to actually work. That means writing a
> > > > happiness manager for  the AI. Building order for improvements, that
> > > > means fixing the priority overrides for military units. Military units
> > > > should not get priority over wonders of the world or temples, or 
> > > > settlers
> > > > at times. This is a very scary list.
> > > 
> > > Cutting these out from Ross' corecleanups would be worthy. I plan do it
> > > after some more cleanups... (basically I now plan another path for that
> > > common formula, then cleaning up one other not-very-nice military function
> > > and then cleaning up parts touched by Ross' cleanup)
> > 
> > Just ask Ross to do that. He'd know the corecleanups better than anyone 
> > else.
> 
> I'm not sure whether he's willing to. Ross? ;)
> 
> > > > I believe that there is one quick fix solution. Come up with a minimal
> > > > diplomacy model to allow the AI to trade techs. That will stop the AI
> > > > from being so badly behind in technology.
> > > 
> > > If we are going to do it, we should to it properly. No quick hacks and
> > > quick fixes, please.
> > > 
> > 
> > The AI trading techs with other countries would not be easy. I do not feel
> > like trying to work out when the ai should pay tribute, when it should 
> > kowtow
> > to its neighours etc. Have a look at the lack of diplomacy code. It's a
> > tremendous mess.
> 
> The lack of some code is a mess?
> 
> > > And, then I won't be able to win against AI! :) (I'm relatively bad 
> > > freeciv
> > > player)
> > > 
> > 
> > Yes you would. You'd just have to trade techs as well. In fact this would
> > allow a trader style of play. You research techs that Civ 1 does not have, 
> > in
> > order to gain a tech that Civ 2 does not have. You then trade that tech to
> > Civ 3, and you are now 3 techs ahead, with a 2 tech lead on the AI civs.
> > 
> > It might mean an alternative to war. 
> 
> Oh well, but I would lose anyway ;-).
> 
> -- 
> 
>                               Petr "Pasky" Baudis
> 
> * elinks maintainer                * IPv6 guy (XS26 co-coordinator)
> * IRCnet operator                  * FreeCiv AI hacker
> .
> No one can feel as helpless as the owner of a sick goldfish.
> .
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