List of AI Struggles: Can't ___ to save its arse.

Sten Sture · September 5, 2000, 16:35

The poor AI. It has had years to improve its civing, but still manages to demonstrate a severe learning disability.

As a possible addition to the Apoly GL, here is a start on a list of things the AI just can't figure out. This could get lengthy. My initial intention with this list is to use it as a resource for providing strategies that will help the human civer confound the dimwitted AI.

The AI can't use Defensive Terrain in the Field to save its arse.

The AI can't Move Ships from A to C if B is in the way to save its arse.

The AI can't Coordinate Group Attacks to save its arse.

The AI can't use Defensive Terrain for Cities to save its arse.

The AI can't optimize its Government Choice to save its arse.

The AI can't use the Tech Tree to save its arse.

The AI can't Modify Terrain to save its arse.

The AI can't Set up a Choke Point to save its arse.

The AI can't Connect Two Bodies of Water to save its arse.

The AI can't Use Two Connected Bodies of Water to save its arse.

The AI can't Pillage Transportation Routes to save its arse.

The AI can't Help but Railroad Every Square to save its arse.

The AI can't Avoid a Choke Point to save its arse.

The AI can't Figure out Combat Odds to save its arse.

The AI can't Spend Cash to save its arse.

The AI can't Rush Build Wonders to save its arse.

The AI can't Use Rockets to save its arse.

The AI can't Use Trade Units to save its arse.

The AI can't WLT_D to save its arse.

The AI can't Set Tax Rates to save its arse.

The AI can't Bribe Barbarians to save its arse.

The AI can't Count SDI Distance to save its arse.

The AI can't Use a Compass at the Poles to save its arse.

The AI can't Stop Building Defensive Units to save its arse.

The AI can't Work Trade Terrain to save its arse.

Okay, I'll stop there for now. Examples of all of this stuff are easy enough to see and should probably be included in a final GL version if everybody thinks this sort of thing might be helpful.

September 5, 2000, 18:25

The ai can't escort transports to save its arse

tonic · September 5, 2000, 19:46

The AI can't pop a hut right next to it TSIA.

Scouse Gits · September 5, 2000, 20:23

Don't stop guys - this is just what we need!

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SG (2)
[This message has been edited by Scouse Gits (edited September 05, 2000).]

Ribannah · September 5, 2000, 20:43

I'm guessing maybe it gets the railroad for free, just like irrigation kinda grows on the AI's land. Maybe that's why

* The AI doesn't know what to do with Settlers TSIA

Also:

* The AI doesn't know how to upgrade its military TSIA
* The AI doesn't know that there's nothing beyond the pole TSIA
* The AI doesn't know when to build an Aquaduct or a Sewer System TSIA
* The AI doesn't know what farmland is TSIA
* The AI doesn't know about the special-terrain pattern TSIA
* The AI doesn't know that a damaged unit can still beat a Barb Leader TSIA
* The AI doesn't know when to surrender TSIA

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If you have no feet, don't walk on fire

tonic · September 5, 2000, 21:06

quote:

Originally posted by Ribannah on 09-05-2000 08:43 PM
* The AI doesn't know what to do with Settlers TSIA

But it seems to know how to terraform eg forests to plains (OCC16)

quote:

* The AI doesn't know when to build an Aquaduct or a Sewer System TSIA

But how to explain the presence of AI cities larger than 8 and larger than 12?

quote:

* The AI doesn't know what farmland is TSIA

I have seen farmland around AI cities though.

Maybe you need to qualify the statements a bit for clarity?

Sten Sture · September 5, 2000, 21:31

tonic -

Lets see if I can elaborate on those...

Can't always figure out to build a Supermarket when all its terrain is farmlanded TSIA. (I see this one all of the time)

Can't always figure out it needs a aquaduct or a sewer to grow TSIA (random builds)

Can't figure out when to leave a Forest alone in any goverment above Republic TSIA. (can be changed in the rules.txt)

Good Adds! LMAO

SandMonkey · September 5, 2000, 21:36

quote:

But how to explain the presence of AI cities larger than 8 and larger than 12?

I think he's referring to when you see those AI cities that are sitting with tons of irrigated grassland around the city, and yet, even after 100's or even thousands of years, the AI has neglaected to put an aquaduct in this city... This is especially true for capitols.

mindseye · September 5, 2000, 22:07

The AI cannot stop attacking a Coastal Fortress TSIA.

Scouse Gits · September 6, 2000, 05:12

quote:

Originally posted by mindseye on 09-05-2000 10:07 PM

The AI cannot stop attacking a Coastal Fortress TSIA.

I have some recollection of reading (I think in a patch read-me file) that this problem had been specifically remedied - am I dreaming (was it FreeCiv?)

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Scouse Git[1]

"CARTAGO DELENDA EST" - Cato the Censor
"The Great Library must be built!"

Laertes · September 6, 2000, 05:41

The AI can barely remember to use spies/diplos to "Investigate City" to save its arse.

Bohlen · September 6, 2000, 10:38

Just my $0.02 worth...

* The AI can't build a fast enough spaceship TSIA.
* The AI can't keep an alliance for the duration of an entire game TSIA.
* The AI can't sell city improvements TSIA.
* The AI can't determine which Wonders are most crucial TSIA.
* The AI can't sell city improvements TSIA.
* The AI can't incrementally rushbuy units TSIA.
* The AI can't defend itself from air attacks TSIA.
* The AI can't effectively use cruise missiles TSIA.

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Proud Warrior of the O.W.L. Alliance

DaveV · September 6, 2000, 10:44

... can't resist paying tribute TSIA.
... can't turn down a peace treaty TSIA.
... can't finish off a "pathetic" human player TSIA.

Ribannah · September 6, 2000, 13:21

Tonic, sometimes the AI builds an aquaduct when its city is at size 3, and like SandMonkey says, at other times a city with +10 food never builds one. Like I said: it doesn't know WHEN, while it does know how.
Some AI tribes do better than others though, like the Aztecs. That's why I usually send my caravans to their cities when they're around.

I've never seen farmland around AI cities but I'll take your word for it that it can happen. But giving them the tech certainly doesn't give them the idea.

Btw I never leave a forest alone either TSMA (they will become grassland or hills) ...

Oh yeah,

* The AI builds too many Structurals TSIA

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If you have no feet, don't walk on fire

jpk · September 6, 2000, 14:48

In my last game the Greek AI civilization farmed virtually every square around its cities. None of them had supermarkets, though.

Ribannah · September 6, 2000, 22:19

Hmm, yes, I saw some in the OCC#17 scenario. Probably because I gave them the tech real early and they just grew on them

But they didn't have many aquaducts when we landed in 1716. Had some supermarkets though, but still no 'duct in cities with fertile land for up to size 30.

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If you have no feet, don't walk on fire

Scouse Gits · September 7, 2000, 05:41

How about

The AI can't use submarines or carriers to save it's arse!

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Scouse Git[1]

"CARTAGO DELENDA EST" - Cato the Censor
"The Great Library must be built!"

Laertes · September 7, 2000, 06:39

The AI cannot get a helicopter into a home city to restore to save its arse

Dienstag · September 8, 2000, 00:09

The AI cannot make a Super Science City TSIA.

The AI cannot avoid signing "secret" anti-human-player alliances TSIA.

The AI doesn't realize that building that city one square over would have given access to two whales TSIA.

The AI doesn't respect my territory TSIA.

*what's WLT_D?*

tonic · September 8, 2000, 00:27

quote:

Originally posted by Dienstag on 09-08-2000 12:09 AM
*what's WLT_D?*

We Love The x Day

where x is the Leader depending on the government type: see the acronym thread in civ2 general/community: http://apolyton.net/forums/Forum1/HTML/001313.html

Dienstag · September 8, 2000, 00:43

thanks

one more:

The AI can't upgrade its throneroom TSIA.

September 8, 2000, 17:48

There's one really obvious one you've missed... Let's see if anyone gets it by the end of today.

Sir Hawkeye · September 8, 2000, 19:43

The AI can't resist triggering a hideous apocalypse once it has nukes TSIA
The AI can't properly use nukes at all TSIA

WW79 Scenario

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-Rale Hawkeye
-Rale Hawkeye
"Dammit, where is the 'shoot messenger' button?"

Ribannah · September 8, 2000, 20:23

SilverDragon, how about this one?

* The AI can't save & reload the game TSIA!

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If you have no feet, don't walk on fire

Chainsaw · September 9, 2000, 09:02

Uh... what does all this "arse" and TSIA stuff mean...?

Sten Sture · September 9, 2000, 13:33

Chainsaw -

TSIA is short for "To Save Its Arse."
Arse is the Brit slang for Buttocks, or Ass.
...to save its arse or ass is a colloquial phrase implying stupidity. Another way of saying it might be "could not ____ even if it's life depended on it."

Maybe one of the other Deutchlanders can give you the German equivalent.

Scouse Gits · September 11, 2000, 10:16

The AI loves to get its byte into our maps, but can't use the map to find its arse with both hands

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Scouse Git[1]

"CARTAGO DELENDA EST" - Cato the Censor
"The Great Library must be built!"

September 11, 2000, 11:24

Nope. None of you got it.
THE AI CAN'T WIN THE GAME TO SAVE ITS ARSE

Ribannah · September 11, 2000, 15:33

LOL - and if it had two arses, it would stack them undefended ...

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If you have no feet, don't walk on fire

Simpson II · September 11, 2000, 16:34

SilverDragon,

Oh, but the AI did win in my last game! OK, so I decided to OCC after founding my first city in a few hundred AD on a normal size map at Deity, but it's SS definitely would have arrived all of 2 years before mine! (if I hadn't been wiped out by a dozen bombers

) Perhaps I will not give it spaceflight next time..

Er, on topic

The AI can't wipe out a human player with one city and no walls TSIA.
The AI can't launch a SS first TSIA.
The AI can't avoid being hostile TSIA.
The AI can't set up trade-routes with a city producing 100 arrows/turn TSIA.
The AI can't build frotresses outside of a pre-arranged pattern TSIA.
The AI can't offload fast units from a boat onto a square next to a city TSIA.