Japanese AI

[Knaust]

Playing Campaign 41B, Japanese AI. Time is Sept 42 and the Japs didn't take Borneo and Java till now.
It looks like the Jap Ai is a bit laggy.

Anyone suggesting a scenario with a good Jap AI?

[Saso]

Ciao,

I have played only two short scenarios (more tutorial) against AI but I have noticed that it makes the same moves (more or less).
After the first time you'll know how it moves.

Said this, I don't believe you'll find a good opponent agaist AI (regardless of scenario), therefore I have resolved to play in PBEM.

[wild_Willie2]

Only play the jap AI on very hard and don't try to hard to beat it......
 
I lost the SRA only once to the AI (my first AI game[8|]) and since then I have always managed to hold on to the most important SRA bases (Singapore, java and EVEN the philipines).
 
Once you send some medium bomber groups and plenty of supply to java you basicall won the game....
 
If you want to have fun, send 2 CV's worth of SBD's, TMF's and F4's to java. You can see the KB impale itself against them when it does it's 2 monthly cruise through the SRA....

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: wild_Willie2

Only play the jap AI on very hard and don't try to hard to beat it......

Essentially Correct. The AI is a learning tool, but the game is too big and too detailed for it to really be much of a long-term opponant. If you think about it closely, you'll actually be amazed it can conduct a reasonably effective "Conquest of the Indies" considering the multiple forces and unit types it has to coordinate.

But once you master the mechanics of the game, beating on the AI is like beating up your little brother. Sometimes satisfying..., but not much of a challange. That's when you look for a PBEM opponant and start learning the game all over. With AE coming out this Summer, at least you will have a chance to start your PBEM on a more level playing field---as much will be new to everyone.

[Knaust]

I know...but it's amazing that the Jap AI didn't conquer Java and Borneo with all its oil resources (Sept 42)

[The Gnome]

I agree the coding of AI for a game this size would be difficult, but I still believe there is a lot of room for improvements without inhuman feats of computer science.

I think a lot people who play exclusively by email cringe at these threads since they don't want to see any resources put towards AI as doing so would curtail development in other parts of the game. I would probably have the same reaction if I was in the same but, unfortunately I don't play by email.

[bradfordkay]

The AI doesn't do a very good job of giving its invasion fleets air cover, so a decent sized air force can stop it cold. By the time it gets around to invading Java, it typically has lost so many transports that it has a hard time sustaining a full invasion. My last two games against the AI it has landed a susbtantial number of troops at Merak, only to leave them with little to no supply.

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: wild_Willie2

Only play the jap AI on very hard and don't try to hard to beat it......

This is good advice whichever AI you play against. The fact is that WitP is a game, and if play it AS a game then the AI doesn't have a prayer. But if you want to have fun, it's better to operate within the rough parameters of an historical simulation. In particular that means you should never utilize your role as "God" to knit forces together in clearly unhistorical ways (such as the aforementioned delivery of US carrier aircraft to the DEI). That doesn't mean you should restrict yourself to purely historical actions, but anything far outside of those should be seriously thought through.

Of course, the REAL question to every AI-game player is, "am I having fun"? So if you get your jollies from annihilating the AI, then go right ahead. But if "fun" means "facing a challenge", then you MUST operate with handicaps of some sort.

[panda124c]

Lots of alcohol, so as to dumb yourself down to the AI's level. [:D]

[madgamer2]

ORIGINAL: Knaust

Playing Campaign 41B, Japanese AI. Time is Sept 42 and the Japs didn't take Borneo and Java till now.
It looks like the Jap Ai is a bit laggy.

Anyone suggesting a scenario with a good Jap AI?

I have been told that if you play the allies in the long game against the computer and attack as they did in the real war and in the same basic time frame the computer will play a good game against you because its the unusual lind of human moves the the AI does not deal with that give it problems.

Madgamer

[madgamer2]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

ORIGINAL: wild_Willie2

Only play the jap AI on very hard and don't try to hard to beat it......

Essentially Correct. The AI is a learning tool, but the game is too big and too detailed for it to really be much of a long-term opponant. If you think about it closely, you'll actually be amazed it can conduct a reasonably effective "Conquest of the Indies" considering the multiple forces and unit types it has to coordinate.

But once you master the mechanics of the game, beating on the AI is like beating up your little brother. Sometimes satisfying..., but not much of a challange. That's when you look for a PBEM opponant and start learning the game all over. With AE coming out this Summer, at least you will have a chance to start your PBEM on a more level playing field---as much will be new to everyone.

I must be the biggest retard going. I bought the game a few days after it was released and have played it off and on from then till today and have not made it past the first year. The game I am playing now it the best I have managed so far. I can't even understand how one keeps the PI or gets planes to Java or holds Singapore .....so few brain cells so little time. When AE hits the PC I will have to start all over again and I am not sure if I am up to it as just playing the computer Jap AI is at my brain level and I think AE will be deaper with more things to do that I do not understand but try to do them anyway......well I am retired and have lots of time....

Madgamer

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: madgamer
I must be the biggest retard going. I bought the game a few days after it was released and have played it off and on from then till today and have not made it past the first year. The game I am playing now it the best I have managed so far. I can't even understand how one keeps the PI or gets planes to Java or holds Singapore .....so few brain cells so little time. When AE hits the PC I will have to start all over again and I am not sure if I am up to it as just playing the computer Jap AI is at my brain level and I think AE will be deaper with more things to do that I do not understand but try to do them anyway......well I am retired and have lots of time....

Madgamer

You may just be listening to the wrong examples. You don't need to hold the PI or Singapore to beat the AI (though if you take advantage of the AI's foibles it's certainly possible). Actually the real weakness of the AI shows up AFTER it conquers the SRA---it simply has great difficulty trying to decide what to do next. I think you've been expecting too much and not playing long enough to give yourself a chance to go on the offensive. Next time you start, commit yourself to playing until at least 1/44 and plan accordingly. You'll have a better time.

[John Lansford]

In my campaign the AI has abandoned nearly all its outer possessions, other than a few atolls that I am easily bypassing.  I just retook Kiriwina and Vella Lavella in early 1943, and the AI has done little in response.  It's still sending supply convoys within range of my PT's at Munda, who are having lots of fun torpedoing AK's and AP's at night...

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: pbear

Lots of alcohol, so as to dumb yourself down to the AI's level. [:D]

And since that often qualifies as "fun", then you've effectively killed two birds with one stone! [8D] Sadly, the amount of alcohol required to downgrade the human brain to AI level has an unfortunate side effect. Death.

[Knaust]

But it's just the very historic Allied strategy that I play[:)]

I didn't reinforce Java, Sumatra and Borneo, so the Jap AI can take SRA very easily.

The Jap AI sent 4 divs with heavy support for a total of 18 units against Mandalay, But I succeeded in stopping them there.

In the meanwhile I took the Shortlands with 2 US Para Bns[:D]

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: Kull
Of course, the REAL question to every AI-game player is, "am I having fun"? So if you get your jollies from annihilating the AI, then go right ahead. But if "fun" means "facing a challenge", then you MUST operate with handicaps of some sort.

I'd go a bit farther here. "If having FUN means facing a CHALLANGE", then you are ready for PBEM. Unless you get a kick out of playing with "half your Fleet tied behind your back" restrictions on yourself, even a "dull" human brain can "outthink" a collection of "if/then" statements run by a machine.

[Knaust]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

ORIGINAL: Kull
Of course, the REAL question to every AI-game player is, "am I having fun"? So if you get your jollies from annihilating the AI, then go right ahead. But if "fun" means "facing a challenge", then you MUST operate with handicaps of some sort.

I'd go a bit farther here. "If having FUN means facing a CHALLANGE", then you are ready for PBEM. Unless you get a kick out of playing with "half your Fleet tied behind your back" restrictions on yourself, even a "dull" human brain can "outthink" a collection of "if/then" statements run by a machine.

sure...but why in this collection of "if/then" is the simple statement "the Jap AI takes SRA in the first months of campaign" absolutely lacking?[:D]

[bradfordkay]

"IF Batavia is allied base, AND Japanese control Palembacng, then troops are to be routed to Merak." Of course, it doesn't think: "IF allied bombers are destroying shipping headed to/at Merak then heavy air cover will be provided to convoys headed to Merak"

The AI does try to capture the SRA, it just doesn't understand how to go about doing it in the face of heavy opposition.

[Knaust]

What is heavy opposition?...In Batavia and Soerabaja Allied troops are only those there at the start of campaign[:D]

[Gem35]

Huddle up all those ABDA forces at Soerbaja(sp) and after they fill out their TOEs and you add a marine division you can kick some tail.
Of course this is all easy against the AI.
I play against the AI for training, practicing amphib attacks and building up key bases. All of this is in preparation for my first pbem.
Do I have to admit it's been almost 4 years of practice now?[;)]