limit Star Bases in suns

why, its such a big gravwell

black font... haha... funny.

only becaue the AI doesnt know how to destroy them. If the AI is fixed so that it can deal with SB then no problem.

Yes this is a problem, but the ai should be better than having to limit yourself just for the sake of the ai.

Uh oh...someone is complaining about the AI

Instead of limiting starbases in solar grav wells, I suggest just fully enabling the AI (in the code, not in our options panel).

As it stands, the AI never builds super weapons, and never seems to use the "ultimate" abilities of Star Bases.

I have never seen the AI use the Advent's meteor swarm ability on their star base... or the TEC big red button - and the Orkulus? Sheesh, the AI only seems to use half of it's upgrades. For that matter, it seems the AI only rarely uses the level 6 abilities on Capital Ships to boot, and when they do - it's usually in an unintelligent manner; and yes, I play on either Hard or Unfair or a mix of the two.

The AI needs to use all of the tools they have available to them!

The problem is the AI, not the limit of the number of starbases.  The AI is, unfortunately, a complete and total idiot that misuses its fleet and economy.  It's not just that it won't build superweapons or powerful abilities, it's that it doesn't know how to use any of its abilities intelligently.

The most basic mistake the AI makes is neglecting repair bays.  This is inexcusable; playing without the repair bay is like having both hands tied behind your back.  Capital ships cannot be repaired, and you're giving up a massive defensive advantage.  This should be the highest priority defensive structure, end of story.

Ive never had this issue............The AI always tries to bipass my SB's, rarely do they actually suicide attack one of my starbases. If anything I have an issue with the AI building SB's in every gravity well which does nothing but slow me down (never stops me in my tracks or paralyzes my Fleet)......I rarely lose anything but a few dozen SC during my assualt on a enemy gravity well. That and the AI has a very limited strategy. Even if its Fleet makeup is close to mine it will route soon as I smash its weak Cap and Command units. Right now Im playing a three star map against a Hard AI which is barely even holding on right now as I leap GW to GW eating away at its resources.

Also Ive noticed that the AI handles itself differently when it comes to different factions. When its TEC its a cake walk no matter how hard the AI is. When its Advent or Vasari its always a slow crawl to victory for me.

It depends, I have had for partially upgraded starbases be destroyed, albeit it was 5 of the AI attacking them at the same time and it took them half an hour, but they are capable in some situations destroying that many starbases. If it were later in the game and the starbases were fully upgraded it would not only be hard for the AI to destroy them but in most cases human players too if there are not multiple of them. I assume that you were playing the highest level AI also.

I agree that the Ai should be improved, but definitly not that they should reduce the starbase limit in star gravity wells.

Somethings you just can't face head on. Really though: If you can't destroy something, run past it.

Remember France and all their invincible defenses? Then the germans just ran past them? Bliztkreig? Same deal.

Perhaps the AI should have some better judging ability of: This will destroy me if I attack it, so lets not attack it.

Of course, that could get lame.. it is neat to see defenses holding out.. however a human player wouldn't do it.

I recently had a game where the AI's actually teamed up and they BOTH built stabases on the same planet well.  It was on a hevily defended flank possition, and both AI's had tried attacking, was repulsed, and then fortified with mines, 2 starbases and a fleet.  I was actually surprised at the teamwork the AI did.  And this was after the 1.04 patch.... those devs are up to something

Uhh.... I a game I played (1vs4 or so) the AI sent 4 MASSIVE fleets  at the same time to my max-upgraded starbase (with repair bays and stuff and even 3 caps and a 500 supply fleet) and still won O_O

Why is there so much oposition against SB's? I actually only play entrenchment now because prior to the expansion. Vanilla just seemed to miss something. I will admit the AI needs work, while it so far has just bipassed my SBs when I put them on my Star with medium sized fleets (most of which get cut down by my strikecraft and my Rear Defense Fleet). It seems to backoff when I finally establish SBs on the AI's Star. Only tradeships and a few enemy units try to slip past my SBs which rarely get by. At that point the AI seems to take a defensive stance trying to slow my advance not actually counter it. Tailing my Strike Fleet with its own trying to get me to turn around and fight a fleet that will quickly route once its lost its one or two Caps and its command units. Personally I think the AI needs to be reworked so that it uses different strategies against your tactics. I constantly see Anti Structure units in the AI's fleet but intsead of focusing them on my SB's they bipass and allow them to be taken down by my SC.  If the AI had kept its fleet outside of my SB's canopy and just launched fighters and bombers to handle my SB's Id actually have to turn my Strike Fleet around and backtrack to defend my SB's.

I agree Allegiance86.  I LOVE starbases.  I'm not sure why there are soo many posters bashing them.  The Ai don't need a bit of work, but it isn't completely helpless.  I still enjoy playing single play games.  Could things be better, sure, but let's be careful what we wish for....   Limiting something to make up for a problem with AI would hurt, rather then help this game. 

Im not bashing them, I love them, its just that the AI (hard or unfair) dosent know how to take'm down. I dont know about anybody else but when I attack a fully upgraded SB I bring in 40-50 bombers.

I notice that even when the AI uses anti structure ships they move in too close and the SB destroys them.

And with the new way u have to set up the longest trade lane, u have to sometimes put a SB with a trade port in a nutral GW. And u have to put one in the suns GW to link the trade lane to a new star system. The AI is loseing alot of income by not doing this.

The only reason I was suggesting only having one SB in the sun is so the AI doesnt lose fleet after fleet against 3. I really am looking at this from a single payer aspect (selfish of me), so I really I can just limit myself!

At the end of the day I guess I really hope that the  Devs will try and fix how the AI uses and attacks SB.

PS is it only me or was the originally Sins AI more of a challange?

then ask for the AI to be improved, hindering the player isnt going to make the AI any more interesting. People will just go back to the old ways they kept the AI at bay.

Also I have to disagree with you on the AI

While everyone talks about the AI throwing itself against SB's. I have yet to see this on a constant basis. Both Pirates and AI faction both attempt to bipass. With about 5-6 actual ships getting by and assaulting a heavily fortified position. Usually the AI is stupid enough to jump back to the star if any of those ships survive my mines and SC only to be slaughtered by my SB's and their SC. My opinion is that the AI is slightly better then it was in Vanilla. But it still needs heavy work before its an actual challenge to the Human Player. Right now the threat from the AI ingame is nothing more then threat of constant skirmishes with small to medium fleets meant to hit and run (the AI likes to hit, but rarely runs...........) Also... The AI seems to perform differently when using different factions. Vasari and TEC AI is very skitish and rarely assaults your Fleet once you go on the offensive, while Advent AI seems to always be on the offensive and will throw massive numbers against your fleets and will open up a second battle in an attempt to push you back on another front.

Limiting yourself isnt going to make the AI more of a challenge. The AI will still do very irrational tactics inface of yours.