AI in Decision in the Ukraine

[erichswafford]

I'm playing Decision in the Ukraine vs the Soviet AI, but the Russians thus far seem very passive. As in - they don't do anything. It's now turn 6 and they've yet to attack anywhere (I did pull all of my units back behind the Dneiper and eliminated the bridgehead at Kanev on Turn 1).

Is this normal? It's currently muddy so I don't expect any activity for now, but the AI didn't attack even during the first 2 clear turns!

I wonder if I should maybe play this Solo as both sides. It's just faster to use the AI of course and I figured the Soviets would have such overwhelming force available that even the AI could make a pretty good go of it.

[DrewBlack]

Hi

What level of AI where you playing against? Do you have the percentages.

Drew

[erichswafford]

I'm just playing with "Standard" difficulty. I thought difficulty had to do with adjusting relative strength - not by improving the AI itself.

I wonder if the AI is refusing to attack because it's waiting to get its railheads closer to the front? Presumably once its supply situation is straightened out, it would then attack?

I don't know, but it's Nov 19 and the AI has yet to launch a single attack. Historically, the Soviets had already liberated Kiev and Balck's XLVIII PzK was struggling to retake Zhitomir. But in my game, the Russians have yet to move past their start lines.

I will try to go in and change their supply advantage to see if I can assuage the AI's fears of going on the offensive.

[carlkay58]

Any scenario which has the AI being the offensive side should give a 20% boost to the AI. So if you have 100% all the way down, give the AI 120% for everything. It has to do with the calculations that the AI uses in order to determine where and how to attack. It likes overwhelming odds.

[erichswafford]

I'm trying it with 200% on everything except morale and fortifications to see if I can goad the AI into attacking...

[swkuh]

Uhhh... think "morale" is the critical factor. I'd try Soviets at 200, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100 if any change to improve AI's attack attitude...

[DrewBlack]

Hi
Id go with AI having at least 108-109 Morale and yours at about 96-97 leave the other lines at 100 each... see how it goes from there.

Im interested in this, Im seeing the same in 43-45 campaign with axis AI but these levels seem to make it more aggressive.

Drew

[caliJP]

I have ran into the same playing GC41-45 against German AI. With normal settings, I stopped the AI at the Dnepr, and the AI just went into it's shell. I did another with 120 morale and it crossed the Dnepr in the North but not the South. It seems that when faced with a wall, the AI is incapable of developing coordinated attacks, pierce the line, and pocket. So it just freezes. I'd recommend at least 120 morale.
The AI also retreats massively when you punch a deep hole in its line, and then it's in open terrain and easy to pocket more which leads to a snowball effect.

In a nutshell, playing the AI is a good warm up, but it is not capable of complex combined operations like a human.

[erichswafford]

I set the Morale to 120, and the AI actually did something a lot smarter than the Russians did IRL, IMHO.

Instead of lunging past Kiev to Zhitomir, at the very end of their supply lines - and setting themselves up for a riposte by Balck's XLVIII PzK, GAIA took its time, repaired the rail lines to get its supply house in order, then unleashed this Gotterdammerung on Turn 14 after starting a more limited (spoiling? feint? What a genius!) offensive on Turn 13.

Now, I do have Balck's Korps lurking down there near Vinnitsa, but what you can't see is how on Turn 13 the AI cleverly lured away XLVII PzK (I put Manteuffel in charge, no less) with it's 3 full-strength PzD's down to the South.

So...
Turn 13: Breaches the Dneiper line around Dnepropetrovsk, luring away my strongest reserves.
Turn 14: Unleashes a 3-Front-wide offensive all up and down the line. Now, I can't just pinch off each incursion in sequence and I can't be everywhere at once.

I'm guessing that even though the AI got a late start, it will soon catch up to the historical timetable. I seriously doubt I can salvage this. My infantry divisions really got chewed up these 2 turns, and the replacements are parsimonious at best.

I love this game above all others...[&o]

[DrewBlack]

Hi
 
Morale is the key!!! 
 
Drew