Stop using my designs!

from GalCiv3 Forums

I'm sorry to ask this, I should probably know the answer by now, but it has only lately started to bother me.

 

1) I hate when the AI uses my ship designs, I mean, when the AI uses the designs I am using in a given current game.  I like my designs, within a game, to be unique to my faction.  How can I prevent other factions from using my designs?  My current understanding is that if I am using, say, Terran ships, then any other faction using Terran style ships may use my designs?  Yes or no?  

 

2) If I am using Terran ships, and the AI is using Iconian, can they still use my Terran designs?  I've noticed that even though I'm playing with the Terran ships, my (few) Yor designs are available to me as well.  So if, for any given game, I am the only faction assigned Terran ships, will only I have the option of using my Terran designs?

 

3) If I want to beef up enemy ships, do I need to start a game using each different ship style, and play it through for techs while designing ships as I go?  With the other options being downloading designs and/or using the console command to gain techs so I can design ships on turn 1?

 

One of the sub issues is that I save designs as 'templates' (in quotes to indicate I name them templates) with no equipped parts because I might need to start building a ship at different tech points in different games, and the capacity is not always the same at these points - rather than recreate the ship from scratch, I have the templates popping up as soon as the hull size is learned.  And over time I can modify the templates.  But I've seen some AI factions with "Star Cruiser Template 7" ships, or some such name, flying around, which hurts immersion.   How would you deal with this?

 

 

 

 

41,816 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I am a little cnfused on this issue. I notice in my current game where I am Terran I see some of my iconian designs pop up in my shipyard window, which surprised me.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

There is a game option to show all designs deselect it and you will only see Terran

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Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

1. No

2. No

3. No

 

When you are designing your own ships, you can use whatever hull style that you want. When you save your templates, it will become available to all other AI factions playing as long as they have the tech to build your templates. if you do not want any other factions to use your designs, make sure to use techs that they cannot access with their tech tree.

 

It is a poor game design that is easy to manipulate, so I am not a fan of it.

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks for the info.

 

I finally made a super star destroyer I like, and want it to be unique to my empire.  I'm going to be pissed when I see the AI using it.  Hopefully the AI doesn't max out the Hyperion Shrinker.  I always go for fully Dense, plus all the mass reduction techs, plus maxing the Shrinker, so maybe most of my warship designs won't be usable the AI.

 

On the other hand, maybe I'll start designing more ships accessible to the AI.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I deal with this issue as well.

1) Save your designs as templates.

2) After a game, go into your design folder and delete all of your designs that are not a template (unique naming systems for templates is advised)

 

3) In a new game, the AI will not use any of your designs. They only use designs that have equipment, not raw templates and they don't use designs you created in the current game.

 

Its extra work, but its how to avoid the issue. I could be mistaken on this, but its worked for me 100% of the time thus far. The downside of this, is the AI could really benefit from using some of our ship designs/loadouts, but it isn't worth it.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

How certain are you that the AI will not use designs that lack parts?  I am 100% sure I saw the AI using my ship named "Star Explorer Template 7" (or maybe Star Cruiser Template 7), and 98% certain that ship had zero parts.  But is possible I left a part there by mistake when I saved it. 

 

I reverse made that particular template - I had the ship, then stripped it down to save it as a template.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'm pretty certain. I have about 750+ templates and I've never seen the AI use one unless it had components.

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Well, that's certainly a large enough sample size for me!

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I don't mid it so much .. whats good for the goose .. well you know.  The Ai will will never build a sensor boat but if you are going to use them then not let the AIs?   I have noticed thet the AI has never used any of my ships that required resources, don't know why

Reply #10 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Despite reading that the AI were programmed to use our designs back when it was first implemented I was a bit miffed the first time I saw one doing so. Now, I actually like that they do. I rationalize it by thinking it was one of their spies that stole my design (roll playing until we actually get espionage into our game) and that at least I know one civ will have at least one decently designed ship for me to go up against, constructors, scouts, colony ships and transports not withstanding... :) We know that the AI aren't that great in designing ships, though they have gotten a lot better, but this way they get a little extra help now and then. It's all good in my book.

Reply #11 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Not exactly the same issue, but is there a way to permanently delete all the default ships? And how do I delete every ship design I have made during a game at the end of a game? I really hate how ever time I invent a new tech some 10 to 40 new ship designs clutter my starbase UI. I'd rather have no designs at all and redo them each game. @gauntlet03 I see you say "go into your designs folder" but where is that? Can I safely just delte EVERYTHING in that folder?

Reply #12 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Hey there! Your design folder is under My Documents/GC3 Designs

Something very similar to that.

Reply #14 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

  This is a bit gamey but you can get the AI to stop using your designs pretty easily.  Always go for the minaturization specialisation and fill your ships to the brim.  Then never trade the techs and the enemy won't be able to build your designs.  The AI seems to place a really low priority on minaturization when IMHO it's the best (by far over the industry bonus and slightly preferable over the effectiveness bonus).