Training against bots

[Gezzer]

Hi, I'm a long time M.U.L.E lover, had it on my Atari 800 (the good one with the 4 joystick ports), and I was pretty good at it too. So when I heard about this version I had to try it.

I've played a number of training games against the bots and I have to say your game is designed to really favor the bots and doesn't feel anything like the original game.
For example the only "benefit" events (when in last place) I've received while playing have been either money when I had lots, or acid rain that increased my food when the store had tons and decreased my and only my energy production below what I needed for my turn. As well when every I've been trying to corner the market and the bots switch to whatever I've been producing they get 2-3 times the production I get. Then to add insult to injury, if I have a lot of mining and I'm behind I get constant earth quakes that seem to reduce my output a lot more then the bots. But I think that the one that really gets me is the fact when I get more money then the bots there's never any land auctions.
All these things are happening when I'm in last place. I thought the game was supposed to have good events or nothing for the last place player. All the events seem to be triggered by whatever I'm trying to do and to penalize me for it. Sure the bots shouldn't be as good as a human player so they need a bit of help, but considering that they do pretty much everything what seems to be instantly and always catch the wampus it's a bit much that the whole game is designed to benefit them at every turn and penalize me even when I'm behind.

I've noticed a few thread titles about having different levels of bots that could be selected, and that would be great. Or even have a difficulty selector. As it stands I'm not going to even try an on-line match, because I have no idea how any of the other players can even counter the bot favoritism I've seen. Either the're super 200 IQ players or I suck. And I know I don't suck that bad because I never saw game play like this in the original.
Sorry, but I'm going back to my emulator version where I actually can win against the bots. TY anyway.

[beeman]

Hi, Gezzer.

I'm glad you've found MULE again! I hope you decide to stick it out.

I can explain how the events work (shouldn't be too different from c64 really. c64 was less forgiving in some ways, such as bad events on turn 1, multiple plot loss, etc.)

well, there are GLOBAL EVENTS at the end of production, and there are PLAYER EVENTS which can occur during a players turn...

• GLOBAL EVENTS:  some effect everybody (good or bad), and bad events like pests or radiation only happen to the leader in first position.
• PLAYER EVENTS: Bad events happen to 1st or 2nd only. Good events  can happen to 2nd, 3rd, or 4th position. 4th does not get the most good events, however wins in a tie for anything such as auctions and land grants.

The bots are a little different here, but you'll get used to them. That's just for practice, though. Game should be played with 4 humans that's what it's all about!

[Rhodan]

I've noticed a few thread titles about having different levels of bots that could be selected, and that would be great. Or even have a difficulty selector. As it stands I'm not going to even try an on-line match, because I have no idea how any of the other players can even counter the bot favoritism I've seen. Either the're super 200 IQ players or I suck. And I know I don't suck that bad because I never saw game play like this in the original.
Sorry, but I'm going back to my emulator version where I actually can win against the bots. TY anyway.

Some people just need to be told the hard cold facts.

The A.I is incredibly stupid, far worse then the original atari or C64 versions and if they are to hard for you to beat causing you to keep from playing this game how its meant to be with four human players then yes you need to stick with the emulator.

If you do decide to stick it out then welcome aboard and get ready for a steep learning curve when you play your first non-bot game.
 

[beeman]

I agree the bots are quite stupid compared to humans, but a first-timer to this version of mule might need some practice to get the feel of things.

You won't be winning many tournaments if you can't beat the bots, though.