House Rules

Saarud · Post by **Saarud** » Dec 27 2007

Hi All!

I really like this game alot. However the AI usually don't put up much of a fight. So I have adopted some houserules to make it harder for myself to win the game. I'd really like to hear comments on my houserules and I would also love to hear if you use houserules yourself.

1. I don't build new buildings or infrastructure although I do repair and upgrade my already existing building/infrastructure. (The AI don't build new buildings/infrastructure and they don't even upgrade their existing ones so I still have an advantage here against the AI.)

2. I don't offer other nations any trade including units or designs (However if other nations or the World Market offers me I can accept)

With these houserules I am having alot harder to win my games. I can still manipulate the economy to gain a large advantage against AIs but I am looking for a way to create a new houserules which will limit my ability to use gamey strategies.

Lightbringer · Post by **Lightbringer** » Dec 27 2007

Not a bad start Saarud. I have used both of those "rules" before, although not always and not always both at the same time.

I can offer several other options to make the playing field more level between the AI and yourself. Mainly they involve letting your own "AI" run more of your region.

1. As you mentioned, you can still improve your economy while the AI regions are pretty bland economically. For extra toughness, do not limit your ministers at all. Let them run everything as they see fit, from unit construction and 100% initiative, to deciding what to research and how much welfare to hand out. This "rule" can get pretty boring, but it is an option.

2. Pick one aspect for the AI to run. I had quite a blast not long ago by keeping my nose almost completely out of military decisions. I ran the economy and research, even built new facilities etc., but I left initiative at 100% and let them decide unit builds and pay rates etc. The only military input I gave was to occasionally gather some reserves (nothing too involved, I just stretched a box around some random units) and send them all to a front line area that was in need of support. As can be imagined the AI promptly sent half of them back to various bridges and small towns, but it did use a few units on the front lines. Another version of this would be to run the military, but not the economy or even the military budget.

I find this method simulates running a Democracy fairly well. Sometimes the whole team is on the same page, sometimes it feels like half your own country is just another enemy to fight. LOL

-Light

tkobo · Post by **tkobo** » Dec 27 2007

I think I understand the concept, i just dont think it holds much water

But ill offer some suggestions that to me seem along the same line.

1)Get a lobotomy- after all neither the computer nor the sr2010 AI have a human brain, so using yours is "gamey"

2)Failing 1, ask the devs for an exact copy of the AI script and than only do things that the AI can do, and only in the way the AI can, and only at the times the AI can.
Of course eating, drinking,talking to your friends or mate,walking away from the game, saving the game except by autosave,taking a bathroom break,etc.. will all be against the rules now .

3)Set everything to AI, and let the computer play all sides.

4)Play an island region, and do absolutely nothing all game.In fact just walk into another room and watch tv while the game plays

5)Dont even turn the computer on or start a game, as the sr2010 AI can do niether, it would be unfair if you did either

6)Lastly have NO fun at all while playing.As having fun would also be "gamey" as this again is something niether the computer nor the program can do

Saarud · Post by **Saarud** » Dec 27 2007

Thanks Lightbringer that was plenty of good suggestions. I have also tried letting my minister take care of parts of my country without my interference, though I must confess I do like to meddle with most things.

tkobo... why are you trying to ridicule me because I like to play with houserules?

tkobo · Post by **tkobo** » Dec 27 2007

Saarud wrote:
tkobo... why are you trying to ridicule me because I like to play with houserules?

Im not.

What i am doing is showing how i feel your premise of "whats gamey" seems more than a bit overblown and lacking in logic.

I dont happen to think that building facilites even though the AI cant is "gamey".
It isnt any more "gamey" than the real world nations who build cars,aircraft carriers,hydro electric dams,nuclear power plants ,etc..doing so even though other nations in the world cant and or dont.

I dont happen to think that the ability of the AI to issue hundreds of explicit orders in a second, while it takes minutes for me to do so to be "gamey" either.
Its merely a strength the AI has, that i lack.

Like the AIs omniscient view of its territory, which i as a mere human lack.

Saarud · Post by **Saarud** » Dec 27 2007

I'm from Sweden and I am not that very good in english. If I use words that are not appropiate I'm really sorry I'm learning as I go. I always do try to be polite though.

I didn't start this thread to discuss whether it is lame or not to use houserules. I just wanted kind (do I really need to say that?) opinions on the specific houserules I use and more importantly other tips (serious ones) about what other player use for houserules.

If anyone has any serious tips I'd love to hear them. Or if you like tkobo don't like this thread the most effective way to kill it is just to be silence.

tkobo · Post by **tkobo** » Dec 27 2007

Saarud wrote: I didn't start this thread to discuss whether it is lame or not to use houserules. I just wanted kind (do I really need to say that?) opinions on the specific houserules I use and more importantly other tips (serious ones) about what other player use for houserules.

You seem to be trying VERY hard to find things to take offense too.
No where do i say or even infer its "lame" to use house rules.I happen to like house rules.
And in multi most of the people ive played with wanted some for the game.

Saarud wrote: If anyone has any serious tips I'd love to hear them. Or if you like tkobo don't like this thread the most effective way to kill it is just to be silence.

No where do i say i dont like the thread, again you seem to looking very hard to find things to take offense about.

Ill sum up again.
You stated that a certain player ability and use of was "gamey" I disagreed and gave explicit examples of why i felt it wasnt.

You do know that people can disagree with something you say on a forum right ?
And that they will do so by posting an opposing view right ?

Saarud · Post by **Saarud** » Dec 27 2007

Where did I say I took any offense to your posts? What I did say was that I would like to hear others opinion on the specific houserules I specified or give some examples of their own houserules. I find yours wasn't very serious and therefore I asked again. Ofcourse still trying to be polite.

(But I probably even messed that up because of my bad use of english

so if you took any offense I'm sorry)

Also when I used the word gamey I might have used the wrong word which I apologized for in my third post.

Please let's not argue over this. Instead I would love to hear what kinda houserules is used when MultiPlaying this game.

tkobo · Post by **tkobo** » Dec 27 2007

Common ones ive asked for and had others ask for in multi were:

1)no hostility periods at the begining of a game, so players could get setup

2)reasonable profit rules so that players didnt get insta rich by taking advantage of the trade AI

3)Honest alliances, so that players didnt form false alliances that they would use to cripple a foe at the very onset of hostilities.

Lightbringer · Post by **Lightbringer** » Dec 28 2007

One Multi rule that is commonly observed... Since there is usually a "big dog" region in every map, players often avoid playing the best region to keep things level. South Africa in the Africa map for example.

-Light