New Player Question About Coral Sea Scenario and AI

[dougb]

Hi,

I've decided to have a go at this game which I've actually owned for quite awhile. I started with Coral Sea as
this was a nice small scenario and I want to get to grips with the system before trying anything larger.

One thing that I've found a bit disconcerting is that in the Coral Sea scenario the Japanese AI appears not to bother with
an escort for its task force carrying the Japanese troops that are intended to invade Port Moresby. The Shoho and
its escort are nowhere to be seen in the 4-5 times I've played and the Zuikaku and Shokaku are for some reason far to
the south out of range of their surface groups. This makes it relatively easy for me to run up the small Australian
surface group and hit the Japanese transport group hard essentially ending any chance at landing at Port Moresby. In
one scenario the Japanese CVs failed to turn up the entire game and the Japanese CVs seemed intent on steaming around the
Australian cost without doing much of anything. I have however had my CVs obliterated in a couple of the scenarios.

My question is there something wrong with the AI scripts used in the scenarios that come with the game? (I've patched it with
the latest beta) Should I be looking to install other scenarios?

Thanks,

Doug

[Dili]

AI is mediocre at best specially in the campaign, but i think in this case something is probably wrong.
Might help people with more knowledge that you say what you precisely installed - version etc -and modification you have made.

[Reg]

You might like to have a look at Andy Macs updated AI scripts at the following location:

Patch 07 unofficial data scen updates

Please note the requirement to rename the files before installation (this is a limitation of the forum - only certain file types may be posted...)

[dougb]

ORIGINAL: Reg


You might like to have a look at Andy Macs updated AI scripts at the following location:

Patch 07 unofficial data scen updates

Please note the requirement to rename the files before installation (this is a limitation of the forum - only certain file types may be posted...)

Thanks guys - for the record I'm using the game patched to the latest official patch and with the latest beta applied.
No other changes. Looks from that link as if I need to patch the scenarios so that they work properly with the beta.

Doug

[dougb]

Playing after applying the patch. The Japanese surface group included a light cruiser and I thin 5 destroyers. These were in advance of the transports. This time my small Australian surface group intercepted their surface group but was only able to put major damaged on the CL. The transports got around and proceeded up the west coast of New Guinea only to be savaged by air strikes from Lexington and Yorktown. 3 transports on the bottom and most of the rest burning.

Interestingly a pretty large cap of zeros was overhead the transports and were identified as land based air group. No sign of the Japanese carriers but my F4fs have been reduced to the point that I may withdraw them to Brisbane given I've pretty much stopped any plans the Japanese had for a landing at Port Moresby. Again I've seen no sign of the Japanese carriers with the possible exception of a small half heated strike that likely came from Shoho. No idea where Zuikaku or Shokaku are but with my significantly reduced cap I'm not keen to find out.

Doug

[Yaab]

I have also noticed lack of escort for the Moresby TF, but I thought it followed the historical TF composition, and no escorts were originally included.

[dougb]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

I have also noticed lack of escort for the Moresby TF, but I thought it followed the historical TF composition, and no escorts were originally included.

They had a light cruiser and 6 destroyers accompanying the invasion force. In the scenario the escorts are a couple of hexes SW of the invasion force. They seem to have a tough time for the most part with my small Australian surface group.

The Shoho supported the Tulagi invasion and then was supposed to move westward to support the Port Moresby force. I've seen them take a pot shot a couple of times but their incoming strikes against my carriers get pretty torn up so their absence may just mean that they've retired due to lack of sufficient aircraft left on the small Shoho.

Doug