AI not defending Moscow or Leningrad

[gchristie]

Let me begin by saying that on balance I think that this is a fine game and I've been enjoying learning the game mechanics and rules. I'll add that I'm not very experienced with these types of games, so I'm not a min maxer or whiz of any kind. The several positive reviews indicating that the AI was solid on defense and offense motivated me to give this game a try.

Following the advice of other posters, I am playing a game where I control the UK and US and let the AI handle the other allied countries and the Axis. And I am playing using the default difficulties.

The issue I'm seeing is that the AI is not adequately defending Leningrad or Moscow. It is not placing any units in Leningrad at all, and the Germans are only a handful of hexes away. The Finns are not exerting pressure, but the AI has placed an army and two corps in the hexes just north of Leningrad.

In Moscow the AI has had an engineer unit building fortifications to the south and west of Moscow but it is placing no units in those fortifications. Here is a screenshot of the October 15, 1941 turn. On the next turn the soviets moved the tank positioned one hex to the north east of Moscow several hexes to the south, and the Germans on their turn moved into the industrial center adjacent to Moscow.

I understand that I can take control of the Soviets but I had hoped that the AI could competently defend the capital and priority hexes.

Is this an anomaly?

The other odd thing I've experience is that the USA declared war on the Axis during the Oct. 15, 1941 turn. Yay for the allies, but why would the USA join the fray so early?

[ILCK]

I have never seen the AI fail to defend Moscow. There is usually a raft of units there. They love to operate units so there might be a lot next turn.

Leningrad the units facing the Finns are always there but they don't deploy the same number of units to hold that city they do Moscow.

[Bmorgan077]

I agree with ILCK, the AI, as an ally or enemy has always found a way to defend Moscow, As for the US, in my current game as the axis the US declared war in October 1940, just after London fell to my panzers.

[Ironclad]

AI defending Moscow in early 43:

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: gchristie

Let me begin by saying that on balance I think that this is a fine game and I've been enjoying learning the game mechanics and rules. I'll add that I'm not very experienced with these types of games, so I'm not a min maxer or whiz of any kind. The several positive reviews indicating that the AI was solid on defense and offense motivated me to give this game a try.

Following the advice of other posters, I am playing a game where I control the UK and US and let the AI handle the other allied countries and the Axis. And I am playing using the default difficulties.

The issue I'm seeing is that the AI is not adequately defending Leningrad or Moscow. It is not placing any units in Leningrad at all, and the Germans are only a handful of hexes away. The Finns are not exerting pressure, but the AI has placed an army and two corps in the hexes just north of Leningrad.

In Moscow the AI has had an engineer unit building fortifications to the south and west of Moscow but it is placing no units in those fortifications. Here is a screenshot of the October 15, 1941 turn. On the next turn the soviets moved the tank positioned one hex to the north east of Moscow several hexes to the south, and the Germans on their turn moved into the industrial center adjacent to Moscow.

I understand that I can take control of the Soviets but I had hoped that the AI could competently defend the capital and priority hexes.

Is this an anomaly?

The other odd thing I've experience is that the USA declared war on the Axis during the Oct. 15, 1941 turn. Yay for the allies, but why would the USA join the fray so early?

Hi

Thanks for posting this and if you have a saved turn you could send me it might be useful in helping us to track down why this is.

My email is bill.runacre@furysoftware.com and if you can zip it up or send it via WeTransfer that would be great.

As to the USA, it suggests either successful diplomacy and/or that the Axis have been rather aggressive, either invading the UK or other countries that weren't historically invaded. Hopefully some of these make sense as an explanation?

Thanks

Bill

[gchristie]

Hello Bill,

I will send you the saved turn.

The Axis has not been particularly aggressive. They have conquered Yugoslavia and Greece but my Brits are pushing them back in North Africa and they did not launch Sea Lion.

I'm now in the December 20, 1941 turn and the Germans have occupied the Moscow NW hex that the Soviets left unoccupied.

[gchristie]

What is odd is that the Soviets have several land units that were ready for placement in late November, early December that the AI elected not to put on the playing board.

[BillRunacre]

Thanks for the save turn and I think I can see what the issue was, it's due to a rare bug rather than to the AI's behaviour itself.

I'll pass it on to Hubert for when he's better. If I'm right (and I think I am) then the good news is that the cause has already been fixed for the patch.