Can AI utilize the mods?

There are some fun mods in Civilization. For instance, I do enjoy the mod that removes the xp cap for fights with barbarians. A mod I have not tried yet but probably will is the mod that increases the range for gatling gun and its successors and lower their power a bit not not make them OP.

However, I am a bit reluctant to use them. Mainly because I don't know if the AI will utilize them or not. If they don't I get an unfair advantage.

So my question is simply if the AI will take mods into account. Let's say that I create a mod that sets the swordsman's strength to 1. Would that mean that the AI would refrain from building them?

civilization-5 civilization-5-brave-new-world

Best Answer

Your question is actually two-fold. Will the AI make use of modded capabilities such as increased range? Yes, it will. The AI has access to exactly the same units you have access to, so it will be use those modded capabilities.

Will the AI build units, which are normally good, but made completely useless with a mod? That's something no one knows, because unless you are a modder yourself, how are you going to test it? A mod like this would never be released.

The AI can operate on two different directives:

1) Evaluate unit strength and choose units based on that. In this case, the AI wouldn't build a 1 strength swordsman. This is an advanced and thus expensive method of creating an AI.

2) Have fixed unit choices after a certain technology is reached. I.e. after researching iron owrking, build swordsman. In this case, the AI would build 1-strength swordsmen, even though they are useless. This is MUCH easier and cheaper to program, so many AIs would use this method and require extensive modification for mods.

Considering the default AI makes use of range 2 archers, which have less strength than melee units, throughout the game and the AI also uses gatling guns, I see no reason why they should stop making gatling guns later in the game even with reduced strength, no matter whether it's a Method 1 or 2 AI.

However, if you go for modding, I'd recommend you choose the Vox Populi mod, instead of a poorly balanced range increase, which hasn't been updated in four years. The folks from the VP-team have spent years honing, updating and balancing Civ 5.