[ROTP] AI evaluation of spores vs antidotes

[Ray F]

Note: Unless the AI has special logic for a tech, the research value for any tech is its tech level. Then this level is modified by situationally based on existing techs already known (T+80 is less valuable if you already have T+60) and their potential use (or lack of use) against enemy empires. This means that a maximum value tech should evaluate to around 50.

The goal, of course, is for the AI to eventually have special logic for each type of this. This post describes the logic I am now having the AI use to determine the value of Biological Weapon and Antidote techs.

Posted here for any input from the MOO1 experts in here.


Evaluating a new Bioweapon technology (spores).

1. Find the maximum antidote value of every empire you are at war with (if none, use 0)
2. Find the avg dmg the new bioweapon would do vs that antidote (p.139 of OSG)
3. Find the avg dmg your existing bioweapon would do vs that antidote
4. Take the difference and multiply it by 25.0 to get an approximate new tech level
(max: upgrading from None to Bio Terminator vs. No Antidote = 50)

Evaluating a new Antidote technology.

1. Find the maximum bioweapon damage of every empire you are at war with (if none, use 0)
2. Find the avg dmg that weapon would do against your current antidote level
3. Find the avg dmg that weapon would do against the antidote level you are evaluating
4. Take the difference and multiply by 30.0.
(max: upgrading from None to Universal Antidote vs Bio Terminator = 50)

[Psillycyber]

Note: Unless the AI has special logic for a tech, the research value for any tech is its tech level. Then this level is modified by situationally based on existing techs already known (T+80 is less valuable if you already have T+60) and their potential use (or lack of use) against enemy empires. This means that a maximum value tech should evaluate to around 50.

The goal, of course, is for the AI to eventually have special logic for each type of this. This post describes the logic I am now having the AI use to determine the value of Biological Weapon and Antidote techs.

Posted here for any input from the MOO1 experts in here.


Evaluating a new Bioweapon technology (spores).

1. Find the maximum antidote value of every empire you are at war with (if none, use 0)
2. Find the avg dmg the new bioweapon would do vs that antidote (p.139 of OSG)
3. Find the avg dmg your existing bioweapon would do vs that antidote
4. Take the difference and multiply it by 25.0 to get an approximate new tech level
(max: upgrading from None to Bio Terminator vs. No Antidote = 50)

Evaluating a new Antidote technology (spores).

1. Find the maximum bioweapon damage of every empire you are at war with (if none, use 0)
2. Find the avg dmg that weapon would do against your current antidote level
3. Find the avg dmg that weapon would do against the antidote level you are evaluating
4. Take the difference and multiply by 30.0.
(max: upgrading from None to Universal Antidote vs Bio Terminator = 50)

Looks pretty good to me. Personally, if I see that an AI has bioterminator, i wouldn't even bother researching any antidote tech because what's the difference between thousands of enemy fighters doing 3 spore damage per bomb vs. 1 spore damage per bomb? Likewise, when considering researching bioweapon techs, usually all I care about is satisficing. So for example, if the AI has biotoxin antidote, and I have doom virus, I would not bother researching bioterminator just for the extra spore damage per spore bomb. I would be better off plowing my BCs into more doom virus bombers rather than researching the new bioterminator tech.

That said, I'm not certain that my usual decision procedure is optimal. (In fact, I suspect your decision procedure is better because mine does not take into account the possibility that the enemy will get better antidote/weapon techs in the meantime, whereas your decision procedure puts some weight on that possibility indirectly by valuing better antidote weapon techs even if the existing ones are satisficing).

[Ray F]

Obviously there are always going to be more intricate decisions to be made. :D

My main goal so far is for the AI to not do anything stupid, like thinking Doom Viruses are worth researching when its enemy already has an antidote tech. This is a level of AI that is not even in the current game.