What are the Iconian refuge doing in your games?

from GalCiv3 Forums

Since the first 6.2 beta, games on gifted or normal, it seems the Iconians are lagging way behind in terms of technology and development.  Well, normal is way too easy for me and gifted gave me problems with the Krynn before the last patch iteration, so maybe I'm just too strong for this level (and there were bugs in their tech tree)... But I keep giving them research tech in my games, and yet, it's as if they don't developp.  I'm miles ahead of them, ahead of the other races too, particularly the Thalans, but not so much ahead of the other races early on.  See the Drengin, on normal, early on, they have ships & fleets that are closely matched to my own.   Only at a later stage can I developp better tech and beat them with no sweat, otherwise, I need more ships&troops to stand a chance (wich isn't a problem at normal).

 

So, in your games, how does it go?  Especially with the latest 6.2 (.97.7) are they ever a powerhouse? are they evenly matched?

4,502 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Last weekend they didn't do much but make a big money pile to swim around in. In my stream last night they were the second largest military in the game. 

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

In both cases that problem is now fixed, according to Brad. The Iconians and several other AI were sitting around not expanding. I even posted pics and a ticket with an uploaded game. Todays 'official' patch will fix it. 

 

Start a new game and lets hear. I am going to wait to gold release in the event they patch it up some more. 

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Iluana you stream the game? What utube channel?

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

twitch.tv/Illauna - I lost the video from yesterday I didn't realize my archive setting was changed to not auto archive

I did some how to plays - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGBtzjeQ2-0&list=PLQ6cMI_FhPVWWNtKaP_HNeKf8Uaqq-Pj5

I was not feeling well when I made those so some of my choices are "questionable" near the 4th video. Seriously don't straight out buy a sensor ship. 

 

I'm considering doing more streaming. I haven't decided on a day, might be Monday since it's not a World of Warcraft raid night. 

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'm new to streaming so my Youtube channel is needs a little work. I would like to do two more streams before release but we'll see. Tuesday and Wednesday are WoW raid nights although we are just doing Normal Blackrock Foundary runs so I might be able to step out. The heroic runs I have to be on hand since I'm one of the better geared healers/dps of our raid group. 

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I started a new game yesterday and 30 turns in all the AIs are swimming in cash, they all went from their initial 5000 to roughly 20,000 credits over that period. I don't understand what's changed to make the AIs so filthy rich suddenly. I'm playing on tough difficulty in case that matters, they might have changed the bonuses the AIs get at that level? However, despite hoarding all this miraculous cash they receive (somehow making nearly 1,000 credits per turn on turn 1), the AIs seem to be expanding fine, so at least there's that good news.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I think this is normal (currently)  on tough (genius ai) they get a pretty hefty bonus and early on they dont have anything to spend it on (well I could spend it). Once the colonization phase is over you should see them starting to spend that reserve. It may take in account how many threats are near them. After the stream last night the YOR was off in the middle of nowhere so they might have been pooling their money because they were safe. 

I also don't know all the things the AI can spend it's money on. They may start spending as they meet each other and tech trading. 

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Again I started a new game sunday night, and another one today.

First game was on normal, second was on gifted.

 

Iconians expand very fast, but then they don't seem to research anything.  I was miles ahead of them in research.  I gave them many techs, trying to jump start them, but it didn't work. 

In my first game, on normal, I conquered the entire galaxy letting them alone, having their planets flip one by one (that benevolent trait where all colonies&starbases flip to your side... wow! :D ), 'til the last one flipped to me and I won a conquest victory.  But they never expanded beyond initial colonization.  And weird thing is the Drengin seemed very passive, not attacking me at all after the initial waves were repelled.  They even ran in front of my ships instead of trying to softening me up.


Today, another game on gifted, similar thing.  They barely advanced in research, in fact, I had to jump start them again to get a few techs to trade later on.

Eventually, the Altarians declared war to me and they surrendered all their planets to me.  About 1/5th of the map.  Then Iridium did the same.  So I'm not at about 2/5, Altarians (ally) is at 2/5 while Krynn and Yor share the last 1/5.  Turn 247.

I'm not sure it is wise for the AI to suddenly decide to surrender with so many planets.  It seems to me the Altarians will always developp unchecked, unless I counter them (and their carriers are tough to beat early on... something to remember if I play them again :P )