Hi Rifraf. Ya I've messed with sensor ranges. I have a wide spread of sensor ranges across my hole fleet. I don't think it really helped the AI. Only thing that it did help was the artillery ships with their long range torpedo. If you want a better AI the only way that I have had any success is to improve the AI's build list.
Here is a sample of mine for my custom mod. DO NOT COPY this into your game! I have a lot of custom ship names and this will crash your game! This is only for example. The many thing to do is to keep the AI making things. Instead of having a line like this:
// Syntax: "ODF name", number to build, base to build at, max number from this line, min tech level
"fdestroy", 4,0, 4, -5, // Defiant 32 second build time
"fresear", 1,0, -1, 2, // basic research 120s
Where the AI will build all four destroyers before starting the fresear. Do this instead:
"fdestroy", 1,0, 4, -5, // Defiant 32s
"fresear", 1,0, -1, 2, // basic research 120s
"fdestroy", 3,0, 4, -5, // Defiant 32s
This way all four destroyers will finish at the same time as the freseas and the AI can then start cruiser production. The best part is the AI can build cruisers 120 seconds sooner.
This is my FEDERATION OFFENCE LIST.AIP
// Load up the basic structures...
#include "aipdef.h"
// This aip needs to play by the rules
int checkTechnologyAvailable = 1;
Way_Better_Build_List_Element the_build_list[MAX_ELEMENTS] =
{
//--------------------------------------------------------------------
// Syntax: "ODF name", number to build, base to build at, max number from this line, min tech level
//
// Phase I. Base & Yard
//
"fbase", 1,0, -1, 1, // starbase 100s
"fconst", 1,0, -1, 0, // construction ship 17s
"fmining", 1,1, -1, 0, // 1 mining stations 50s
"forbital", 1,1, -1, 0, // 1 orbital station 50s
"ffreight", 2,0, -1, 0, // two freighters 13s
"fconst", 1,0, -1, 0, // 2 construction ship 17s
"fturret", 2,1, 4, -3, // basic mining defense 25s
"fyard", 1,0, -1, 0, // basic shipyard 25s
"fscout", 1,0, -1, 0, // scout 14s
"fdestroy", 2,0, 4, -5, // Defiant 32s
//
// Phase II. Research
//
"fresear", 1,0, -1, 2, // basic research 120s
"fintrepid", 2,0, 4, -2, // intrepid 13s
"forbital", 1,1, -1, 0, // 2 orbital station 50s
"fdestroy2", 2,0, 4, -2, // Saber 15s
"fmining", 1,2, -1, 0, // 2 mining station 50s
"fcruise3", 2,0, -1, -3, // norway 21s
"ffreight", 2,0, -1, 0, // mining freighters 13s
"fcolony", 1,0, 2, 0, // colony ship 25s
"fyard", 1,0, -1, 0, // 2 basic shipyard 25s
"fedpod4", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Antimatter mines) 40s
"fturret", 2,2, 4, -3, // mining defense 25s
"fcruise1", 2,0, 2, -2, // Akira 26s
"fedpod2", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Quick Repair) 80s
"fnova", 2,0, -1, -4, // Nova 26s
"fcruise3", 2,0, 2, -2, // norway 21s
"fedpod5", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Tachyon Detection Grid)
"fcruise1", 2,0, -1, -3, // Akira 26s
"ftrading", 1,0, -1, 0, // trading station 50s
//
// Phase III. Advanced Shipyard
//
"fyard2", 1,0, -1, 3, // advanced shipyard 100s
"fneworleans", 2,0, -1, -4, // New Orleans 24s
"fcruise1", 2,0, -1, -3, // Akira 26s
"fgalaxy", 1,0, -1, -3, // Galaxy 34s
"fexcel2", 2,0, -1, -4, // Excelsior 25s
"fgalaxy", 2,0, -1, 0, // Galaxy 34s
"fachilles", 2,0, -1, 0, // Achilles 24s
"forbital", 1,3, 2, 0, // 3 orbital processing 50s
"fmining", 1,3, 2, 0, // 3 mining station 50s
"ffreight", 2,0, -1, 0, // mining freighters 13s
"fedpod16", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Shield Enhancer) 160s
"fgalaxy", 2,0, -1, -4, // Galaxy 34s
"farcadia", 1,0, -1, -4, // Arcadia 24s
"fspecial", 1,0, -1, 0, // Nebula 35s
"fambassador", 2,0, -1, 0, // Ambassador 28s
"fgalaxy", 1,0, -1, -3, // Galaxy 34s
"ffrigate", 1,0, -1, -4, // Achilles 32s
"fspecial", 1,0, -1, 0, // Nebula 35s
//
// Phase IV. Advanced Research
//
"fconst", 1,0, -1, 0, // construction ship 17s
"fresear2", 1,0, -1, 4, // advanced research station 150s
"ffrigate", 1,0, -1, -4, // Achilles 32s
"fspecial", 1,0, -1, 0, // Nebula 35s
"fturret2", 1,1, -1, 0, // torpedo turret 30s
"fcruise2", 2,0, -1, -4, // Steamrunner 20s
"ftrading", 1,0, -1, 0, // another trading station 50s
"fturret2", 1,1, -1, 0, // torpedo turret 30s
"fcruise2", 2,0, -1, -4, // Steamrunner 20s
"fturret2", 1,1, -1, 0, // torpedo turret 30s
"fcargo", 2,0, -1, 0, // cargo ships 20s
"fturret2", 2,2, -1, 0, // torpedo turret 30s
"fedpod7", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Shield Disruptor) 140s
"fturret2", 2,0, -1, 0, // torpedo turret 30s
"ffrigate", 1,0, -1, -4, // Achilles 32s
"fturret2", 2,2, -1, 0, // torpedo turret 30s
//
// Phase V. Ship Upgrade and Endgame
//
"fupgrade", 1,0, -1, 5, // ship upgrade station 150s
"fassault", 2,0, -1, 0, // Asgard 33s
"fprometheus", 1,0, -1, 0, // Prometheus 52s
"fbattle", 1,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fsrepair", 2,0, -1, 0, // repair ship 16s
"fbattle", 1,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fbattle", 1,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fedpod1", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Corbomite Reflector) 160s
"ffrigate", 1,0, -1, 0, // Achilles 32s
"fbattle", 1,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fedpod11", 1,0, -1, 0, // (weapon upgrade level 2) 120s
"fbattle", 2,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fcruise2", 2,0, -1, 0, // Steamrunner 20s
"fcentury", 2,0, -1, 0, // Century 45s
"ffrigate", 1,0, -1, 0, // Achilles 32s
"fproteus", 2,0, -1, 0, // Proteus 55s
"fedpod12", 1,0, -1, 0, // (shield upgrade level 2) 120s
"fdawnstar", 1,0, -1, 0, // Dawnstar 75s
"fsuperbl", 1,0, -1, 0, // superweapon 375s
"fdawnstar", 1,0, -1, 0, // Dawnstar 75s
"fedpod14", 1,0, -1, 0, // (engine upgrade level 2) 120s
"fspecial", 1,0, -1, 0, // Nebula 35s
"fbattle", 2,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fcruise2", 2,0, -1, 0, // Steamrunner 20s
"fbattle", 2,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fsrepair", 1,0, -1, 0, // repair ship 16s
"fyard2", 1,0, -1, 0, // 2 advanced shipyard 100s
"fbase", 1,2, -1, 0, // starbase 100s
"fedpod15", 1,0, -1, 0, // (life support upgrade level 2) 120s
"fedpod8", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Engineering Team) 140s
"fbattle", 4,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fedpod6", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Gemini Effect) 140s
"fedpod21", 1,0, -1, 0, // (weapon upgrade level 3) 240s
"fbattle", 2,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fedpod9", 1,0, -1, 0, // (Point Defense Phaser) 120s
"fbattle", 2,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fcentury", 2,0, -1, 0, // Century 45s
"fedpod22", 1,0, -1, 0, // (shield upgrade level 3) 240s
"fbattle", 4,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
"fedpod24", 1,0, -1, 0, // (engine upgrade level 3) 240s
"fproteus", 2,0, -1, 0, // Proteus 55s
"fdawnstar", 2,0, -1, 0, // Dawnstar 75s
"fedpod13", 1,0, -1, 0, // (sensor upgrade level 2) 120s
"fdawnstar", 2,0, -1, 0, // Dawnstar 75s
"fedpod23", 1,0, -1, 0, // (sensor upgrade level 3) 240s
"ftitan", 2,0, -1, 0, // Titan 125s
"fedpod25", 1,0, -1, 0, // (life support upgrade level 3) 240s
"fbase", 1,3, -1, 0, // starbase 100s
"fbattle", 100,0, -1, 0, // Sovereign 40s
};