Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Empires in Arms is the computer version of Australian Design Group classic board game. Empires in Arms is a seven player game of grand strategy set during the Napoleonic period of 1805-1815. The unit scale is corps level with full diplomatic options

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easterner
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Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by easterner »

In current game Spain requested access from their noble ally Prussia.

Spain was informed. "Not at this time." The Spanish stance against Aus greatly concerned Prus and I should take a hike and probably question my parents about a marriage license or lack thereof.

A rather sanctimonious view, in light of the fact the Prussian army was besieging Vienna after taking Prague and Brunn.

Why such rigidity in Diplo AI? It's "Brother Austria/Brother Prussia" nonsense has no validity when the two are at war.

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Marshall Ellis
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Marshall Ellis »

That is VERY interesting???
So Pr and Au were at war?
I'll take a look at this...
Do you happen to have a save of this?
Thank you

Marshall Ellis
Outflank Strategy War Games


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Jimmer
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Jimmer »

Marshall, from a gamer's perspective, it's important to keep Prussia and Austria from fighting each other. However, from a historical perspective, they didn't exactly get along all that well. True there were no major conflicts between them, but they each sure didn't mind when France brought them down a peg or two (or 10, in Prussia's case).
 
Gamewise, historicity and playability are worlds apart, at least in typical scenarios. Historically, France and Austria from 1805 - early 1812 were at war with Austria only twice, and then only for a couple of months at a time. Prussia did not join them in either war (although Russia did).
 
Prussia likewise was only at war ONCE (1806). Russia was ostensibly their ally early on, but Austria was still licking its wounds.
 
The era of grand coalitions didn't really get going until 1812. In the game, grand coalitions with human players start maybe as late as 1806, and then only if France is content to gobble up minor neutrals.
 
You might want to consider using different AI parameters in a single-human game from those you would use in a multi-human game that just happens to have one of them being run by the AI. Or, at least allow it as an option.
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AresMars
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by AresMars »


Marshall,

You should check this out related to AI Empires In Arms historical NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS

http://grognard.com/variants/eianat.txt

and

http://home.earthlink.net/~toadkillerdo ... rules.html

easterner
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by easterner »

Spain Allied with Prussia.

Au declared war on Spain presumably over Sp Conquest of Italy. GB got Venetia after Au fell Unstab. Fr got Naples. Sp called to Allies and Pr declared on Au. Pr was aggressive against Au and Sp eventually amphibbed into Au, burnt their fleet and Marched to Venice. Failed to defeat Garr twice. Charles kept stomping Sp army which needed rebuilding 3x. Settled for White Peace.

Last save is 1/08 with Au at war with both countries still. Need e-mail to send files if wanted.

Fr opted out of game and snoozed.

pzgndr
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by pzgndr »

You should chech this out related to AI Empires In Arms historical NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS

This would be a great option to implement as part of a major AI overhaul at some future point. Actually, it should be the default and then allow random AI "personalities" as the option. Normal could use the default percentages, whereas passive and aggressive could use decreased and increased percentages, respectively? AI difficulty settings could add some additional increases to these values. And upon any conditional surrender, the MP's personality could be randomly reset. Historically, that's about what happened, yes?
Bill Macon
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Marshall Ellis
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Marshall Ellis »

Jimmer:

The natural alliance tables default for Au-Pr to 1 BUT in earlier versions this kept them from allying together enough to make them effective so I upped this to 3 so that they stay friendly but there is still that chance that they could fight (Maybe through multiple DOWs on the same minor or answering a call???). I cannot totally eliminate this possibility.

Thank you

Marshall Ellis
Outflank Strategy War Games


pzgndr
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by pzgndr »

I upped this to 3 so that they stay friendly but there is still that chance that they could fight (Maybe through multiple DOWs on the same minor or answering a call???).

Is the AI checking the appropriate settings to stay friendly in these cases? If I forget and end up at war with an "ally" then that's my fault. I'd prefer the AI not make these careless mistakes.
I cannot totally eliminate this possibility.

And that's OK too as long as we all understand this is a random variation and not an AI shortcoming. Some variation is necessary for replayability.
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Marshall Ellis
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Marshall Ellis »

ORIGINAL: pzgndr
I upped this to 3 so that they stay friendly but there is still that chance that they could fight (Maybe through multiple DOWs on the same minor or answering a call???).

Is the AI checking the appropriate settings to stay friendly in these cases? If I forget and end up at war with an "ally" then that's my fault. I'd prefer the AI not make these careless mistakes.
I cannot totally eliminate this possibility.

And that's OK too as long as we all understand this is a random variation and not an AI shortcoming. Some variation is necessary for replayability.

It "should" be BUT this is something that I can look at to verify.
Question to all would be how often are you seeing this?


Thank you

Marshall Ellis
Outflank Strategy War Games


easterner
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by easterner »

In years of FtF games Au & Pr constantly fought, so I'm used to seeing that.

What I dislike is the passive roll the AI takes, just sitting pat waiting to win. Fr and others need be more aggressive. The AI needs to see who's in the lead and have a chance to attack them.

One interesting thing is Easy Spain Game ended 9/15, something not seen in all previous versions at higher levels that frequently ended in '09-'11 too often in ver 1.0-1.06
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Jimmer
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Jimmer »

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

Jimmer:

The natural alliance tables default for Au-Pr to 1 BUT in earlier versions this kept them from allying together enough to make them effective so I upped this to 3 so that they stay friendly but there is still that chance that they could fight (Maybe through multiple DOWs on the same minor or answering a call???). I cannot totally eliminate this possibility.

Oh, yeah, I realize that. But, it can be made more likely.

The other thing I was really getting at is maybe you could add either an option or a scenario that carries different AI "attitudes" with the other powers.
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Marshall Ellis
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Marshall Ellis »

That ability already exist in the editor in the Stance field for MPs.

Thank you

Marshall Ellis
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NeverMan
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by NeverMan »

ORIGINAL: easterner

In years of FtF games Au & Pr constantly fought, so I'm used to seeing that.

What I dislike is the passive roll the AI takes, just sitting pat waiting to win. Fr and others need be more aggressive. The AI needs to see who's in the lead and have a chance to attack them.

One interesting thing is Easy Spain Game ended 9/15, something not seen in all previous versions at higher levels that frequently ended in '09-'11 too often in ver 1.0-1.06

Pr-Au hardly ever fought in all the FtF games I played in, most people in my group and others I met always had the "German" mindset.
easterner
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by easterner »

Backstabbing diplomacy caused strange bedfellows in our games.
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Marshall Ellis
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Marshall Ellis »

FYI:

Part of our problem in the AI was the inability to think deep enough into enemy territory to build the supply lines to invade SO the AI would get frustrated (It told me so, I promise LOL) and sit. This should be much better in 1.06 than it has been in the past BUT it still needs improvement and it will be.

When I played FtF and Pr / Au fought, it usually meant pretty easy victory for France.
Thank you

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Jimmer
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by Jimmer »

ORIGINAL: easterner

Backstabbing diplomacy caused strange bedfellows in our games.
That happened to a game I was in, too.

I quit it.

If people want to play Diplomacy or Machievelli, then they should do so. I've got better things to do with my time than play a year-long game with people I can't trust even a little.
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easterner
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by easterner »

The players who destroyed themselves in ill advised fratricide invariably quit on their own.
pzgndr
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RE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do- Diplo/AI

Post by pzgndr »

When I played FtF and Pr / Au fought, it usually meant pretty easy victory for France.

Something to consider here is if you're playing France and the AI controls Prussia and Austria, then those two fighting probably would not result in a satisfying game. But if you're playing Prussia or Austria versus the AI and looking for a challenging game then having another unexpected war to contend with occassionally would be OK.

Point is there could be some additional logic introduced for AI stance in the editor to allow for different stances for human and AI. Maybe add "new" slots for the MPs, such as Human Britain and AI Britain, then different stance settings could be introduced?
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