Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!agate!shelby!neon!Sunburn.Stanford.EDU!commons
From: commons@Sunburn.Stanford.EDU (Peter Commons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: Upgrading Strategic Conquest 2.0 to 3.0
Message-ID: <1991Jan29.224323.1061@Neon.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 29 Jan 91 22:43:23 GMT
References: <91028.224311CXT105@psuvm.psu.edu> <11938@ur-cc.UUCP> <8260@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Sender: news@Neon.Stanford.EDU (USENET News System)
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University
Lines: 28

>>The computer player now produces his pieces at exactly the same rate as you
>>at every skill level. [YAY!]
>
>This is what I really want to know about.  Has the computer's strategy really
>improved?  It used to be that at the highest level it was difficult to beat
>the computer, mostly because it was out-producing you.  Now, I have a feeling
>that the highest level will be too easy and the computer is still a wimp.
>Can anyone confirm or deny this?

The comptuer player, in StratCon 3.0, is definitely MORE difficult at the 
highest levels. This is due to three factors:

(1) The change in naval strengths (e.g. weaker carriers and stronger 
	destroyers) has improved the computer's strategy.
(2) The computer's strategy has been improved a bit.
(3) The higher the skill level, the more biased the computer's starting
	position. For example, on level 15 (I think), you start in a corner on
	a really big island with 2 or 3 very spread out cities, and the 
	computer starts on a small island in the middle with about 15 cities.
	I think level 7 is an "equal" start.




--
Peter Commons		
commons@cs.stanford.edu	
Computer Science Department, Stanford University