Okay, last time to test out the improved AI I did a death match between the major AI personalities and I.

I learned that the Terran Alliance AI is too meek at pursuing weapons based tech early on so that will need to be looked at.

I still lose, however because the Thalan rush researched to large scale building and I was too slow to keep up.

http://frogboy.impulsedriven.com/article/331922/AI_vs_Human_Death_Match_Game_1

This time, I'm going to be a lot more aggressive.

Observation: The Arceans don't expand particularly well.

Observation: Terran AI still isn't aggressively getting military techs.

The Terrans went all the way into the year 2231 without researching any weapons. Mind you they researched large-scale building and other potential military techs but in terms of actual weapons, very slow.

I took advantage of their poor research to attack them and took 2 of their worlds very quickly.  I will say I'm surprised how quickly they responded. The AI did react to my attack on them by quickly cobbling together some weapons tech (still quite pathetic) with large scale ships (not pathetic).

So the question is, when should the Terran Alliance AI start building up its military.  It has recovered well but it lost two key planets immediately.

To break the Terran Alliance's back, I have designed the Punisher:

In battle, they play a game of keep-ahead with the Terran shield techs.

This results in a bit of a stalemate. They have a lot more ships, I have a lot better ships.

They recognize this.

So I'll just do what anyone else would likely do.  Make peace, reload, and sneak attack.

Strangely, the Terrans didn't build the orbital command center which would have made it a bit tougher to take their planets. Another thing to look at for a future update.

And soo...

The answer: The dreadnought.

Ah, just figured out why the Terrans didn't have the orbital command center - I captured their planet that had it.

So combat the Dreadnought, I design a newer, more advanced ship. Still a large ship (not a huge one like the dreadnought) it has armor to combat the dreadnought's mass drivers.

It proves superior in battle by a fair amount to the Dreadnought. Defenses matter.

The problem remains is that the Terran Alliance economy has boomed. I may have waited too long to go after them as their technology is far superior to mine.

The Terrans are wearing me down. I can't believe this.

Maybe I can make peace and rebuild.

Well Yea...but I was hoping you wouldn't realize that.

The tide turns in my favor.

Ah the USS Eagle. My Level 23 mega ship.

The Terrans make a last stand with two dreadnoughts and 2 battleships against 2 "Supper Nanny" and one of the original Nannies.

The Terrans are gone.

Cultural conquest! Whohaha!