[Freeciv-Dev] (PR#20503) AI & caravans

["Alexander Sayenko" <sayenko@xxxxxxxxx>]

<URL: http://bugs.freeciv.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=20503 >

Hi to all

I am wondering, why does AI attack Caravans? The trade routes work
perfetcly regardless of the fact whether you are in the state of war or
not. Thus, it is a little bit stupid that the AI attacks a Caravan thus
preventing himself from taking benefits. It seems the AI algorithm just
checks whether it has a possibility to kill a unit without taking into
account meta-level unit type.

Based on this there are several ideas I would like to propose:

- Limited or very small profit from the trade routes when you are in the
state of war with a nation you trade with. You will be interested in
keeping peace and AI actions would not look so stupid from the economical
point of view.

- Random AI attacks on Caravans when you are in the state of war. In other
words, AI may decide randomly whether it will attack a Caravan or not.

- Money bonus for killing a Caravan. In ancient time, caravans were
attacked not because somebody hated someone, but rather because a Caravan
was carrying goods and money. Thus, it is quite natural that if you kill a
Caravan, you get some money (it may be constant, say 10 units, or depend
on a home city). Then, AI actions would not be so stupid at all.  It can
decide whether to let a Caravan in (constant trade bonus) or kill it
(instant money bonus).

Sincerely,
Alexander Sayenko