best definently let him do his best i just beat the ai on tough with 10 species on a large galatic map concoring planets one by one and i need another challeng

The AI is actually getting easier at the lower difficulties. At tough I would expect it to be somewhat harder though. I think the biggest difference is going to come from the AI building faster ships (at least for those of us who carry on in a warlike fashion). I might have to drop down a level also, or I might be ready to step up to the challenge of the increased difficulty. I'll probably play a game at the level I'm currently playing (Painful) and see if it schools me or not.

Bring it on!

The AI still gets easily crushed I think.

yeah but you're the almighty BRAD. I must have a learning disability because i struggle on normal a lot of the time

yeah but your the almighty Brad. I must have a learning disability because i struggle on normal a lot a of the time

Yes The mighty Emperor Brad all aliens fear the sound of his name.

I think people will find the lower levels a bit easier and more fun as the AI will make mistakes that can be capitalized on.  We'll be taking feedback and tweaking it. The new economic system (which won't look much different to most people but is significant under the covers) will need some play testing too.

I play on Suicidal, and I'd be thrilled if I had to go back down to Intelligent after the patch

EDIT: Be a tech whore by taking the 50% diplomacy custom racial ability and populist polital party -- and eventually getting Total Majesty tech (not hard). Also known as "Jedi" level diplomacy. I go 50% diplomacy, and 50% research.

I would almost prefer 50% diplomacy and 50% military production (I think you'd even get points left over), but the AIs don't like to buy my ships for a good enough profit (even when they are at war against a vastly superior opponent), which would make the "war profiteer" style too inneficient for the higher difficulties IMO. Most likely that's purposefully done, since the AI (prior 1.1 atleast) wouldn't know a well designed ship from a glass hammer.

I am really hoping that this is what will happen - people will be forced to drop a level or maybe even two.

I am of the opinion that the AI putting more value on ship speed will cause a lot of challenge for players who have become mechanised in their way of dealing with the game. People who put all guns on ships will see their paper tigers torn up before their eyes. People using fleets of tiny ships under majorly upgraded military starbases will watch with wonder as the AI zips straight past their protected space to take out their planets behind their influence or just comes in and destroys the offending base and then leisurely wanders round mopping up the fleeing 1/1/1 1/1/1 ships that were godly mere moments before!

This could be a lot of fun..... and I expect will generate a lot of OMG posts!

As near as I can tell, the easier settings are going to get easier and the harder settings are going to get harder. I rather like that spread as it addresses all of the gamers. Reading posts, it becomes clear that play ability is definately across the board.

Hell I never trade tech, never take +diplo bonuses, never use the good armor or evil weapons, never take ship combat bonuses, never take more than one military resources, never use influence starbases, never exploit the 2k bug and never build any galactic wonders and I'm jacking the AI up on maso.

Well, you must be doing SOMETHING right