Follow Ups:
Posted by TSI on November 01, 2000 at 15:30:57:
In Reply to: Re: AI and new weapon designs posted by Jean-René on October 31, 2000 at 23:15:48:
"Hi Eric,
Yes, I have received your mail about being a tester. Sorry that I didn't respond quickly to this post: I've been doing mostly business stuff the last couple of weeks, and coding late, so this one slipped by. So, let's see..."
Understood. I figured, seeing as you're all decent guys, that it was more likely that or a mistake - planning to reply later then forgetting- than an attempt to deliberately snub me. ;) How's the business going, by the way?
"That's a tough one. I'm not sure yet. I can't make it invent names, because they'll come out as "kzsdfjhsdjklh!" So I have 3 choices:
1. Make him use names he already has and increase numbers
2. Make him use the name of a more powerful country, and use it's designs
3. Leave the same names, but continually upgrade them
I'll have to see what comes out in play test to decide."
(Nods) That's exactly why I brought it up. 1 was basically what I had in mind. 2 might work, depending on how you model arms sales. Would they be getting the hardware directly from the country and simply switching the owner, or buying the capability to produce them? If it's the latter, the country might well rename them. Finally, 3 only makes sense if you're playing a relatively short game, though the ability to upgrade is important as a stopgap means of improving your military cheaply.
"Beats me. I don't code in patterns of actions, so it'll do what it thinks is best for the moment, based on the data it has. But it will learn by playing against you, so it depend on the kind of pressure you'll put the EHE under."
Will it also factor in the pressure other countries place on them? And will a country be limited in its ability to make new designs by the size of its economy?
"Hard to say. Not in any short period. The US would have t o be put down continually, and the other country would have to create powerful alliances... It's possible, maybe by China, but it would be hard. Playing against the US will require a more subtle style of play; I don't think you can hit head-first with the state of the world as it is now."
Obviously. :) Might it be possible to lure them into a sense of complacency while you slowly build up and smash your neighbors? And please say the US won't whine and threaten nuclear war over sending 1000 troops to Guatamala... I'm still suffering from the radiation scars that Balance of Power caused... ;)
Anyway, keep up the good work, guys. But don't work yourselves so hard that you collapse on our behalf. We've waited a few years already, an extra month won't kill us. :)
McCain 2000! We were robbed!
Eric "TSI"