AI Difficulties

Mind 1: Sleepwalking

DIFFICULTY: This Mind is active when the in-game difficulty is set to VERY EASY
Sleepwalking Mind builds only the bare minimum faculties to play the game.
Only very basic ships and modules will be built
True random scouting, sends all combat capable ships out to fight without regard to tactics
Ships will stop to fire and not strafe or use advanced tactics
Does not care for fleet building, sends ships out individually until they find a target
It will expand bases only if it is unoccupied

DIFFICULTY: This Mind of the AI is active when the in-game difficulty is set to EASY
Aware Mind will build both one Shipbay for repairing and one for building
It will still restrict its ship and module capabilities to basics, but will expand to a couple more classes as well for variety
Ships will still be sent out randomly, but will now start strafing targets
If a target has been detected, ships will prioritize that target until they are low
Low HP ships will be considered crippled and attempt to return to base
The triage dedicated Shipbay will accept the earliest wounded returned ship, cycling their healing until all wounded ships are repaired

DIFFICULTY: This Mind of the AI is active when the in-game difficulty is set to NORMAL
Competent Mind uses the SectorMesh to determine scouting
It will start using the Fleet mechanic that players use to coordinate specific fleets and ships within those fleets, instead of at-random construction
Each Fleet will report back its current condition and change operation status based on condition
It will coordinate Fleets to attack a single target

DIFFICULTY: This Mind of the AI is active when the in-game difficulty is set to HARD
This mind uses the SectorMesh to determine scouting
It will actively read situations and change Doctrines using the ACU in order to decide on what to do
It also continues to use the Fleet mechanic and improve on the complexity of its ships and fleets

DIFFICULTY: This Mind of the AI is active when the in-game difficulty is set to VERY HARD
This mind uses the SectorMesh to determine scouting

DIFFICULTY: This Mind of the AI is active when the in-game difficulty is set to IMPOSSIBLE
This mind uses the SectorMesh to determine scouting
It will attempt to psychologically manipulate enemies by baiting them into traps