Fighter intercept bugged 1.05 latest beta

[KenchiSulla]

Might have been a problem the last 2 beta patches.. Ground support is working ok but my fighters flatout refuse to intercept supply runs by the axis..

See pics for details

[KenchiSulla]

Looks promising, doesn't it! [8D]

[KenchiSulla]

Aaaaaaw.. no points

No supply runs intercepted at all the last two runs and I had fighters in range every single time...

[heliodorus04]

A) FREE RECON! Thanks!
B) While I agree there's probably a bug, in our game, it's a re-balancing of that turn where you shot down 83 of 83 Ju52s...
C) How can you read that map with all those town names!

How would one know if the weather is the problem?
I'm just curious to trouble-shoot it.

It's happening to me in my game as Soviet, as well.

[Helpless]

Was it a day or night mission? If day, is it possible to get a save before attack?

[Helpless]

Btw, it could be related to the recent change when intercepts are heavily reduced if flight goes just over enemy hexes.

[Gremell]

Hi Pavel,

I posted this in the general forum, but I thought I should post it here as well given the nature of this discussion.

I’ve noticed that since I installed patch 1.05.42 beta Soviet fighters no longer adequately defend against German attacks. (I’m playing the Germans against the Soviet AI). As a consequence, unescorted Soviet bombers are being slaughtered.

Have a look at this screengrab from Turn 208 in the campaign game. The Soviets lost 73 bombers against 71 attacking German fighters. Not one Soviet fighter escorted the bombers, even though there were heaps of Soviet fighters available at the nearby airbases around Cherepovets.

It was the same with the other battles in that area. In another unescorted slaughter, the Soviets lost 59 bombers.

This only started happening from patch 1.05.42 beta.

Let me know if you want me to send you a savegame.

[Helpless]

Hi Simon,

It sounds as a bit different issue. If you have a save and can provide steps to reproduce, it would be very helpful.

Thanks

[Gremell]

Sure Pavel. What email address should I use for the savegame?

[Helpless]

You may attach it to the message. Zip and upload as picture.

Or send it to 2by3@2by3games.com.

[Gremell]

Hi Pavel.

Attached is my savegame from the end of turn 208 in the campaign game.

I'm playing against the Soviet AI.

To replicate the lack of Soviet fighter interception, continue the game into turn 209 and use the bomb unit function against the Soviets. You'll also see the same lack of Soviet fighter interception when the Luftwaffe provides ground support for land attacks.

It happens all over the front, but the effect is most dramatic in the north where the bulk of both air forces is located.

[Helpless]

Thanks. Will take a look.

[KenchiSulla]

Pavel, I don't have a save game as it is a server based game. Helio is my opponent and he didn't mention he was flying night missions but he could confirm it..

It seems to be unique to supply runs...

[Helpless]

Hi Pavel.

Attached is my savegame from the end of turn 208 in the campaign game.

I'm playing against the Soviet AI.

To replicate the lack of Soviet fighter interception, continue the game into turn 209 and use the bomb unit function against the Soviets. You'll also see the same lack of Soviet fighter interception when the Luftwaffe provides ground support for land attacks.

It happens all over the front, but the effect is most dramatic in the north where the bulk of both air forces is located.

I took a look into the save. The problem is in the way AI handles air resources:
- Air bases attached to non-Air HQs
- Air bases located too far away from the front (especially those with fighters)
- Air commands have uneven distribution of the various plane types. For example, in your screenshot 13th Air army has 0 fighters available.
...

After slight adjustment I had no problem with Soviet interceptions.

[Helpless]

It seems to be unique to supply runs...

New intercept requirements suggest that range from the fighter base to the interception hex should be less then path over the enemy (poe) hex rating.
POE is incremented:
For the target hex:
Either
+ 3 If target hex is adjacent to the enemy unit rating or target hex controlled by enemy
or
+ 2 If target hex is adjacent to enemy hex (no unit)

for the path
either
+ 2 for every hex enemy hex strike flight is crossing
or
+ 1 for every isolated hex strike flight is crossing

Based on your screenshot POE could be very low (target hex is not near the front line), it means that marked base will have no chance to intercept particular flight.

In general I like the addition and the way it is done, but it looks a bit too restrictive to my taste. I'll discuss it with Gary.

[gingerbread]

"for the path
either
+ 2 for every hex enemy hex strike flight is crossing
or
+ 1 for every isolated hex strike flight is crossing"

Shouldn't this be an AND condition?

Example:

In the '42 scenario at start. The Axis isolates the units north of Smolensk-Vyazma by capturing 89,45. The Soviets in their turn fly Airdrop from 106,49 to drop in 90,47. The path first crosses 10 enemy hexes and then 1 isolated. With either-or as condition, total poe is +1.

[heliodorus04]

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

Pavel, I don't have a save game as it is a server based game. Helio is my opponent and he didn't mention he was flying night missions but he could confirm it..

It seems to be unique to supply runs...

NOT night missions.
Also, most of the flight path was entirely over friendly terrain. Only a few hexes (5 or 6 hexes) were over ground that was not mine at turn start, and of those, I believe 4 of the 5 were mine at the time of the supply flight.

[Helpless]

Shouldn't this be an AND condition?

Example:

In the '42 scenario at start. The Axis isolates the units north of Smolensk-Vyazma by capturing 89,45. The Soviets in their turn fly Airdrop from 106,49 to drop in 90,47. The path first crosses 10 enemy hexes and then 1 isolated. With either-or as condition, total poe is +1.

Condition is for each hex. In your example POE=10x2+1

[KenchiSulla]

The gameplay effect is that it will be near impossible to intercept supply flights. I don't think the soviets were capable of intercepting behind enemy lines very well so in that regard it is ok.

It will be very easy for axis to run supply missions unescorted now which is abusable ofcourse..

[gingerbread]

It also depends on if hexes that are pending friendly control are 'enemy' or not for the purpose of poe.