Context of the Issue: I’m encountering an issue in Age of Empires IV when playing on the Black Forest map at Hard AI difficulty. The problem occurs when the AI’s computational demands trigger GPU failsafes, causing the game to crash. This happens especially when I’ve cornered the AI and restricted its resources.
What I’ve Observed:
- The AI struggles under resource constraints when I’ve locked down all the choke points, limiting its access to gold, stone, and food due to restricted building space.
- The crashes seem to happen just as I’m preparing to deliver the killing blow. It appears that the AI’s intense recalculations under pressure are causing my GPU to offload.
Steps I’ve Taken:
- System Setup:
- My GPU is an RTX 3060 with 12GB VRAM, set to a power limit of 120%.
- PCIe settings are currently on Auto, and thermals are stable with no signs of overheating.
- AI Strategies:
- I’ve limited the AI’s population to mostly villagers, as they can’t access high-risk gold or unavailable stone, and their food supply is constrained by limited space.
- Their desperation has led to more frequent recalculations, likely increasing computational strain on my system.
- Game Conditions:
- The crashes specifically occur on the Black Forest map, which is heavy on choke points. This design seems to exacerbate the AI’s pathfinding and resource optimization challenges.
Insights and Suggestions:
- The AI’s behavior in situations where it’s heavily constrained might benefit from optimization. For example, instead of endlessly recalculating, the AI could recognize when it’s in a losing position and scale back its demands on system resources.
- Maps like Black Forest, with their tight chokepoints and restricted build space, appear to amplify these issues. Perhaps the AI could use simplified decision-making or just resign processes in such scenarios to avoid overloading hardware.