zolobolo wrote:Here is an example where AI needs to attack both tactically and strategically but does not engage
See system: akham
1. Player has a single scout and Oupost in the system
2. AI has sent a destroyer there after having lost their whole fleet with all of the combat ships (so far perfect: avoid direct confrontation with my main fleet and attack undefended systems)
3. But the AI does not attack
Even worse: by taking out the Outpost, the player would have his invasion fleet removed from the AI system as due to the sparse system setup, the range would be broken. Not attacking in this case is a huge issue for the AI
Generally though the AI does not need to consider such complex range/threat evaluation models.
Simply make sure that they attack all undefended systems with Scouts, planets and especially Outpost with small forces in them, and all the rest will fall into their place.
The player would still be able to try and bait and switch the AI, but would require a large force in reserve for that, which would defeat the purpose if the AI just retreats when confronted by an overwhelming force (which it is mostly already doing just fine)
Please find the save for analysis attached (this case is probably the same as reported a couple of times before: when AI fleet does not attack despite having the advantage: might be a battle evaluation miscalculation)
Sicked around this scenario where the AI is passive to see what happens in the long run.
After 50 Turns or so, some considerable amount of reinforcements arrive and the AI actually attacks!
See screen below just before the arrival of the Destroyer - on the next turn they attack
This it really seems like the AI is either:
1. Playing a strategy which includes building up a specific force before doing anything else and thus ignoring low-hanging fruits
2. The threat evaluation of my Scout+Outpost is way of (this seems highly unlikely given the sheer force that was patiently building up next to my scout and Outpost + it should then result in the AI never engaging anything). Maybe the evolution is only off when Shipyard/outpost is next to the planet? Maybe the AI thinks these stations to be Starbases?