ahistorical Japanese AI tactics

[brisd]

I have been playing the new scenario, 19, as the Allies vs AI, set to Hard. I have been getting creamed in air-to-air and naval combat, which is both historical and fine considering the AI setting of hard. What is troubling me is two matters.

#1 It is now August 1, 1942 and the Japanese have held both Gili Gili and Lunga for about 10 weeks. Both bases are level 2 airbases but neither has ever had a fighter unit based there. My aircraft are slaughtering its AP's and warships at GG and the AI doesn't send one measly fighter to defend the base. Meanwhile I am hit by 120 fighters at PM so I know they have the units. Historically the Japanese would seize a base and immediately deploy aircraft there to cover their advances. That is not happening in this game. I mean, not even a float fighter unit?!

#2 Same game. It appears the AI never sends escorts with the AP's. My subs attack, never had an escort encountered with AP's.
Same with aircraft, they attack AP's and never see any escorts?

Is this coded into the game this way? I mean I expect the AI to not be able to THINK but it should have the ability to put fighters at a base with thousands of troops and to send a minimum escort for its AP's. I know I haven't sunk all the SC's and DD's.
This is my first long campaign as the Allies and I was wondering if anyone has similar experiences?

[Claudi]

Ive had some similar experiences in my long campaigns. Also ive never seen the AI use LRCAP over bases or TF's. I have more than once sunk dosens of AP's with the enemy carriers just a few hexes away.

[brisd]

Well, about two turns after I posted this, Gili Gili reached Level 4 airbase status and 1 squadron of Oscars were posted there, so that is promising. Also Vals and Zero's appeared at Lunga as well. Also the Combined Fleet sortied to attack my new base at Irau, and despite having 4 full strength USN CV's with excellent escorts and 60 fighters and 60 bombers based out of Irau, I suffered a major defeat at the AI's hands, the worse I've suffered playing it so far in all my games. North Carolina, Saratoga and Yorktown (which is barely afloat) and a few escorts were lost in exchange for maybe four hits on the IJN forces, nothing major. All I can say is OUCH, those Super IJN CV TF combo's in one hex are killer, I will remember that when I am playing as the IJN again.
So much for any hope of offensive attaction soon from me. :p

[Agua]

brisd: Sorry for the instrusion, but where did you find a new scenario at? I've looked through downloads on this site and can't find it anywhere.
Thanks in advance

[Erik Rutins]

The new Scenario #19 "South from Rabaul" is included in versions 1.10 and above. If you installed 1.10 and 1.11, you should see it in your scenario list.

Regards,

- Erik

[Agua]

Ahhh..... I installed only 1.11. So now what? SOL?

[mjk428]

Agua,

I saw in another thread that each patch has a seperate uninstall option. Theoretically you should be able to uninstall 1.11, reboot, install 1.10, reboot, reinstall 1.11.

Based on the size of the 1.10 patch compared to 1.11, there are fixes/enhancements you're missing out on. Most notably scenario #19. The OOB changes were substantial also.

Hope it works out.

[Agua]

Ughhh...... Thanks Mjk. I see no option for uninstallation of 1.11 so I suppose I'm going to have to do a complete fresh installation. Was tired when I installed the patch and I should have noticed the difference in size.

[Erik Rutins]

Agua (and anyone else in the same boat),

That's right - 1.11 is not a "comprehensive" patch. You need to install 1.00 then go to 1.10 and then to 1.11. You'll notice the 1.10 patch is around 7Mb whereas 1.11 is only around 1Mb.

Anyone having problems, make sure you installed in this order on a clean 1.00 reinstallation in an empty directory.

Regards,

- Erik

[Agua]

Thanks Mjk and Erik. My disk needed a fresh defrag anyway. The "auto update" feature isn't working (didn't work the other night either), but I just dl'd the .exe's.