Defending strategies: rules of thumb and general strategies

By ikim, in 1. AGoT General Discussion

Posted at

I am writing a flow chart for solitaire play and , while i have written what I think is a solid strategy for the attacking AI (plus other decisions the AI will take), I am having trouble writing a solid strategy for the defending AI also.

So here's my cry for help:
What are the rules of thumb for defending; what are the things a player always has to follow, when defending? Or, even better, what are the things a player should do or look for, when defending?
Please, keep in mind, that, at the state I am in, I am not considering traits like "stealth", for the AI (I will add such peculiarities when I'll have completed the basis of the AI).
Thanx
Edit: i wont tell what MY personal general strategy is, but I'm asking because I want to avoid "imposing" to the AI only MY strategy, but I'd like to have it act in the best possible way .
Posted at

Creating an AI might be possible (but difficult) if you could limit it to working only with the 2*60 cards being played, but in the general terms you seem to be asking it seems like a lost cause.

Current cards in play, current claim, opponent's claim, claim replacement effects, cards in enemy's hand, probably of incoming valar, rule by decree, opponent's current power, your current power. I realize you're not looking to cover every specific condition, but there are just far too many cards which affect this decision tree.

eg. Riverrun makes me weigh defending challenges higher than usual, IF I can defend all 3. Pyat Pree makes me weigh challenges he is in completely differently. Knowing my opponent has a scouting vessel completely changes blocking policies. If an "endless endurance" has been bounced back to the opposing player's hand, I have to weigh challenges different. The threat of a seductive promise. The knowledge I intend to play valar next turn...


Maybe I've misunderstood the scope of your decision-trees. Perhaps if you linked/posted your offensive AI, I'd have a better idea what you mean, but short of being as vague as "If gain to me balanced by gain to opponent is greater from blocking than from not blocking, then block. If gain to me balanced by gain to opponent is greater from winning than not winning, then win", I don't think I'll be of much use.