I'm trying to figure out why adding mods makes the AI worse than garbage.
I added a few mods like NSC (Next Generation Ships) and more traditions and ascensions and stuff like that. I figure since everyone gets access to OP stuff, everything will be gravy right?
Well, it turns out even at max difficulty and max AI aggression, the AI actually is worse than vanilla. Noticeably worse. In vanilla the AI would basically never stop declaring war on me ever at max difficulty but when the game is modded, the AI doesn't really do anything. In fact, despite all the bonuses to traditions, tech, and resources, they constantly fall behind me, usually right from the beginning. Which is strange considering they get:
AI empires receive +60% naval capacity/technology/unity and +100% energy/minerals/food. NPCs receive +100% ship weapon damage and +100% hull/armour/shield.
So I figure maybe the AI doesn't know how to use the modded stuff. But when I check they are happily getting the traditions, using the OP weapons and gear on their ships, using the new edicts for their planets, and so on. So they clearly know how to use them.
My current theory is that because the mods give empires so much to do internally, the AI can't be bothered declaring war because it's spending all its time improving internally instead.
Either that or it's mentally handicapped.
Any ideas?