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[Doubler]

I never use shields either. I guess few people do.
Maybe you are the first to notice

[eolsunder]

Well the problem with shields is not that they make you invulnerable, but that the computer AI isn't strong enough to have the brains to configure their ships to bypass your shields.

mmm i guess basically that makes you invulnerable <grin>

Having powerful shields is great, but if you were playing a computer opponent that had even a tenth of the brains you do, they would be able to do ok against you. Sadly the way the game works.

enemy ship enters area, you turn on shields, enemy ship fires a couple times, doing no damage. You turn off shields when they stop firing, and return fire yourself. Since the computer AI is basic, they always do the same thing. They don't try and "fake" you out, nor do they try and take advantage of weapon setups and stuff. They also never have good ship layouts themselves, so if they do have shields, they usually have weak ones, or not enough power to both defend and attack.

Its all about the computer AI in this game. It performs badly, so what ever YOU do seems very smart. There are weapons and techniques to get through your shields, but sadly the computer will NEVER have the brains to use them. Thats why I always play without shields, its more fun.

[Borodin]

Eoulsunder, have you tried the game with the patch, to see if this affects the way the AI deals with shields? My suspicion is that the patch wouldn't actually help matters, but still...

[Eagle of Fire]

The patch only make the AI more agressive, not brighter.

Somehow, I find this even worse.

[Borodin]

You sure of this? I've heard and read conflicting opinions about this, stated with all the decisiveness of a great general facing a huge battle--from both sides. I know the patch increases aggression, but one of the game's developers told me once at E3 that it also made the AI better. I'm sure you can see where this would leave the matter somewhat up in the air.

[Eagle of Fire]

It's a matter of perception. Yes, the AI is better because it is more agressive, meaning that you will have a harder time winning because they always turn evil and declare war on your after a while for no good reason.

However, I always felt like it removed to the game because then diplomacy was going down the well big time. I never found a point in diplomacy in Ascendancy, except in the first few turns so you may build your empire. After that, you just build bigger and bigger ships, expand on your neighbors (very easily because the AI is so dumb), build some planet defense and do it again and again until you win.

I never entered a "big climatic battle" in Ascendancy ever. Perhaps it's only because the player, in that example, just waited way too long to attack. I usually can whipe out a system with only one ship, it only take a lot of time. I usually get very upset if I lose a single ship in mid game. It's always because of a stupid mistake of mine, never because of the AI intelligence.

[Borodin]

Let me ask you this: have you tried installing the patch, and then chosen to play the game on its normal (non-aggressive) setting? Just to see if the AI is any better, without the boost to anger?

[Eagle of Fire]

I never noticed a change. Either there is no change at all or the "upgrade" is so small it doesn't make a difference and doesn't really change a thing.

[Borodin]

Bah: too bad. I really liked the races, the planetary building strategies, research, dialog--just about everything, except the AI. Unfortunately, that's often the way in "soft" strategy games.

[Eagle of Fire]

I can but agree. A strategy game without a good AI it not really worth playing...