[1.01] AI ignores resources in its own territory and sends its constructors light-years away to resources it can't even see.

from GalCiv3 Forums

I discovered during a soak run that the AI on normal will build constructors almost right away once it sees a resource, but once the constructor is finished, it'll ignore the resources that are two inches away from its own start location, and will send the constructors off into space to claim resources on the very edge of its own range, often getting the constructors killed by pirates in the process. I've watched as the AI ignores a pair of Promethion sources right next to its capital for the entire freaking game. I even saw it build a constructor, send it next to the Promethion, then build a Military starbase right next to them, as if it was making extra sure it couldn't somehow claim them by accident. I was almost proud of it.

Something's screwy with its Constructor priorities, and by screwy, I mean that I think something's been accidentally reversed. They heavily favor grabbing resources that are far away, to the point of their own detriment. This is a big source of their annoying behavior, and it's making them far less effective than they could be. The AI does use the resources it claims, so by ignoring the low-hanging fruit, it's only hurting itself.

If it helps at all, the AI in question was using the following personality traits:

  • Aggressive
  • Cruel
  • Expansionist
  • Opportunist
5,438 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I've experienced something like this in 1.0. In my case the AI seemed to send constructors to places where it can mine 3 (or more) resources at the same time. Recently an enemy constructor flew straight through my territory to the other side (edge of the map) to set up a mining base! Sometimes the enemy AI even tries to build mining bases in the middle of my territory  :grin:

 

Maybe the AI tries to expand their reach as much as possible? 

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I dd a soak with my custom faction and about 50 other custom factions and all 8 in game ones with abundant minors. My traits were all different from yours. I noticed my survey ship didn't move for several turns and my scout ship didn't move at all ( I did about 25 turns on an insane map).  I noticed several factions also had ships not move. 

Back to the topic. It built a constructor for my faction and sent it waaaay off to where it could snag multiple resources even though no ships had even explored nearby. Another faction beat it to the resource, of course. So what did it do? It sent the constructor to the OTHER side of my home world instead of building on the resources closer to my planet. This wasted turns and it lost that race too. 

This was all in 1.0.

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Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I just saw my custom faction send a constructor across the map, then change it's mind once it gets there, turn back, and start mining next to its homeworld.

Yay for progress?

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top


I discovered during a soak run that the AI on normal will build constructors almost right away once it sees a resource, but once the constructor is finished, it'll ignore the resources that are two inches away from its own start location, and will send the constructors off into space to claim resources on the very edge of its own range, often getting the constructors killed by pirates in the process. I've watched as the AI ignores a pair of Promethion sources right next to its capital for the entire freaking game. I even saw it build a constructor, send it next to the Promethion, then build a Military starbase right next to them, as if it was making extra sure it couldn't somehow claim them by accident. I was almost proud of it.

Something's screwy with its Constructor priorities, and by screwy, I mean that I think something's been accidentally reversed. They heavily favor grabbing resources that are far away, to the point of their own detriment. This is a big source of their annoying behavior, and it's making them far less effective than they could be. The AI does use the resources it claims, so by ignoring the low-hanging fruit, it's only hurting itself.

If it helps at all, the AI in question was using the following personality traits:

 

    • Aggressive

 

    • Cruel

 

    • Expansionist

 

    • Opportunist

 


End of quote

 

Honestly, this is exactly how I do it. So it's playing the way a player can. 

Grab as much of the stuff on your borders that is up for grabs and then grab the stuff that is secure and snuggly in the heart of the empire. Promethian artifacts might be different so you may have something there, and if the AI NEVER grabs the stuff in the middle of its empire that is a problem too. The general idea of grabbing the border stuff first though, seems smart to me.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

The AI always does this. They send their ships to collect resources far away...then other players colonize nearby planets and they lose all the influence around those resources. The second war breaks out they lose all those outposts, and they have no backups because they didnt collect the resources in their own territory.

 

There is a lot wrong with this AI, this is one of the problems.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Please report this after obtaining the requested files: https://esupport.stardock.com/index.php?/default_import/Knowledgebase/Article/View/496/161/general-galactic-civilizations-iii-troubleshooting