So I wanted to test and see if the AI would exploit PQ bonuses and settle planets of less than PQ 15. To do this I created a new political party called the Ecologists who got a +100% PQ bonus and a massive (+10) bonus to sensors and speed (so I could zip around the map and see what the AI was doing)
Much to my dismay the AI didn't pick Ecologists and none of thier planets were double PQ (although mine were! Even Earth was double value)
I was just about to give up when an espionage report came in (I was dumping all cash into espionage so I could look at the bonuses) - "Netro Mancer and his Ecologists are about to lose control of the senate" Whaaaat! So the AI *DID* correctly choose the best political party, but didn't get any of the bonuses - no better planets, no fast ships, etc.
To check this theory I created a different party called the Warmongers with huge bonuses to ships attack / defense / hitpoints / speed. Same story, only this time Lord Kona and his Warmongers were going to lose the senate. Using espionage I checked all of the races percentages and none of them got any of the bonuses from the new party.
Sooo I'm wondering if there is a bug (or feature?) where the AI doesn't get the bonuses of it's political party.
PS - both tests were on tiny galaxy with AI set to Genius
PSS - the races did seem to start with some kind of bonuses (some had Survey Ships with 64 hps and some had them with 68 hitpoints at the very start). I'm thinking they purchase abilities like players do in addition to the political party?
The AI races do choose abilities like the players do - and the number of points they get is related directly to intelligence level. ISTR that Genius gets 14.