Each country have a specified AI file. This file guides the country in specific directions. From 1.06 on, you can also switch AI files using events. New is also the fact that all AI information is now saved to the save file.

Areas of expansion

We want some countries to expand in certain parts of the world. This must be set in the AI file, if not the country will not colonise. You can specify continents (continent = { }) and/or more specific regions (region = { }) or areas (area = { }). A list of valid continents, regions and areas can be found in Appendix A.

We define how many provinces the country should try to colonize at the same time with the expansion statement. If we do not want the country to colonize at all we set expansion = 0.

Type of expansion

We define if the country should rely on trading posts, or try to place colonies (tradingpost =), if it should focus on its neighbouring areas (neighbour = ) or away from others (enemies =).

Politics and religion

We also define how focused a country should be on sending traders (traders =), if they should use embargoes to control their trade (monopoly = ), their likelyhood for waging wars (war = ) and their ferocity when first at war (ferocity =).

On the matter or religion we define if the country should go counterreformed catholics if they can (counterreform = ).

War

The Ai defines which other countries the country should try to conquer (i.e. who do they attack first) with the combat-statement. The weighting of different gathering-points (base = / front = ) are set, along with modifiers for evaluation of plans for conquer and garrisoning.

User country flags

From 1.06 on you can define user country flags in the AI file or through events. These flags can be turned on and off by events, and used for triggers. The saved to the save file, together with all the AI information (new in 1.06)

Flags are defined in the AI file like this:

# Flags
flags = {
    myflag1 = yes
    myflag2 = no
}
					

The trigger 'flag = myflag1' will now be true, while 'flag = myflag2' is false. You can use events to turn flags on (setflag) or off (clrflag).

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This is the default file, used if no other file is selected:

#
# Europa Universalis.
#
#
# Default AI preferences used by all countries unless otherwise stated.
# 
#
# Johan Andersson 21-12-98
#
#
# Modified by Henrik Fåhraeus 30-09-01

#
# No preferred areas at all. Default AI does not colonize.
#
continent = { }
region = { }

# The amount of provinces we try to colonize at the same time
expansion = 0

# % of the time we prefer to establish a tradingpost if both are good.
tradingpost = 20

# Bonus for areas to establish colonies adjacent to previous ones.
neighbour = 50

# Bonus/Penalty for establish colonies adjacent to other countries.
enemies = -50

# 100 = max trader rate, lesser means slower focus on sending a trader.
traders = 100

# 100 = Total monopolist, will refuse trade as much as possible.
monopoly = 25

# 100 = Total warmonger, 0 = absolute pacifist
war = 10
ferocity = no

#if possible we WILL go counter reform
counterreform = no

#Which countries to conquer if possible. (to guide nation historically)
combat = { }

#How important is it to gather troops close to base
base = 0.1
#How important is it to be as close to target position when gathering 
troops.
front = 5.0

#Evaluation factors for conquer plans
conquer = 
{
	# multiply enemy province value 
	enemy = 5.0 
	# multiplying supply factor 
	supply = 0.1 
	# factor for distance to not owner provinces 
	distance = 0.5 
	# factor for owned provines 
	owner = 2.0 
	# Multiplier for provinces not in supply. 
	notsupply = 1.0 
	# Multiplying the base constant for conquer. 
	base = 1.0 
}

# Modifiers for garrison plans
garrison = {
	fortress = 1.0 
	strategic = 3.0 
	size = 1.0 
	supply = 2.0 
	war = 5.0 
}