Question about the AI

[magic87966]

First: this is a great game. And I understand the AI is no replacement for a human, but PBEM is not an option right now. But I'm curious if anyone has seen similar behavior.

I am close to finishing my first game of Fall Weiss as the Axis. I gave the AI the suggested spotting/experience/mpp help. It's September 1944.

In June of 43, I was heavily engaged in Russia and the Sovs were building a lot of units that would have been difficult to handle if there was a serious threat on a second front. The US/UK forces landed in France on June 2,1943. They landed on every open beach from Dunkirk to Brest, a total of 10 in all. Without a port and in zero supply, I destroyed them all in 3 turns and filled all the empty beach hexes with Divisions, Garrisons and a few Corps. For the next 15 months, they have not landed another unit on the coast. I only have the coast covered from The Hague to Nantes. The AI has transports double stacked along the coast from Brest to Calais and just sits there. It bombs the towns and resources and mostly bombards the coastal guns but only rarely bombs units. The AI navy cruises up and down the coast so it can see the open beaches south of Nantes and east of The Hague but refuses to land just a couple of hexes away on an empty beach. Russia is a couple of turns from surrendering so I will win the game, but what was a really close fight has been a breeze for 15 months.

Is this normal? Are amphibious invasions so complex that the AI can't handle it? What's keeping the AI from landing on an empty beach adjacent to Nantes that's just a few hexes away from where their transports are sitting? Any insight would be appreciated.

I hope this is a one time issue, otherwise I don't see how I can play against the Allied AI again. Without having to conduct an invasion (excepting Sea Lion), maybe the German AI will be tougher. Thanks.

[sPzAbt653]

I agree with your points, I think only a rookie player would have difficulty defeating an Overlord under these conditions [although once or twice the computer has given me some tense moments while it is trying to get a port].
One thing I think is important that the computer does wrong is, he will land HQ's in exposed positions where they are easily eliminated. It's important to get an HQ on shore, but not if it is going straight into a front line position where it is wiped out. HQ's are expensive to replace.

I have seen the computer go after occupied coast hexes, but not all of the time. The human player can't defend everywhere but once we have played a few times we get the idea that he is only going to go for the beaches from Calais to LeHavre. I don't know if it is possible, but it might be nice if there were a script to check for German unit density and a subsequent move of the invasion to another area. For example, if there are 5 Axis units within 2 hexes of Cherbourg, cancel that and move to another landing spot that is less defended.

[nnason]

The AI does a credible job for land battles as the tactical and operational programing works. Strategically, for the naval battles, Amphib landings, and surprise strategies the AI just isn't up to it. I played a lot of games with the AI before starting my PBEM play late last year. And boy did I learn a lot of bad habits which I am still finding hard to unlearn. PBEM is the only way to really learn how to play the strategic game. And it is the only way you can try or have tried new strategies to see if they will work.

[GiveWarAchance]

In my last game, the AI did big landings in Spain & Sicily. They tried even bigger landings but my navy was able to intercept & destroy huge numbers of transports before they could land cause I was able to defeat both the Royal Navy and large US navy to make the transports vulnerable.

[nnason]

Well I have seen landings in North Africa but in my games most landings have been in France.
Your victory over Allied Navy follows my experience. If Axis contests the air and controls the sea pretty much impossible for successful Allied landings.

[magic87966]

ORIGINAL: nnason

Well I have seen landings in North Africa but in my games most landings have been in France.
Your victory over Allied Navy follows my experience. If Axis contests the air and controls the sea pretty much impossible for successful Allied landings.

The interesting thing is, I don't control the sea. I frittered away the German surface fleet convoy raiding and all my U-Boats are still raiding in the Atlantic. The Allies have complete mastery of the English Channel. That's how they can just sit there. All of my Tac/Med air is in Russia.

[magic87966]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

I agree with your points, I think only a rookie player would have difficulty defeating an Overlord under these conditions [although once or twice the computer has given me some tense moments while it is trying to get a port].
One thing I think is important that the computer does wrong is, he will land HQ's in exposed positions where they are easily eliminated. It's important to get an HQ on shore, but not if it is going straight into a front line position where it is wiped out. HQ's are expensive to replace.

I have seen the computer go after occupied coast hexes, but not all of the time. The human player can't defend everywhere but once we have played a few times we get the idea that he is only going to go for the beaches from Calais to LeHavre. I don't know if it is possible, but it might be nice if there were a script to check for German unit density and a subsequent move of the invasion to another area. For example, if there are 5 Axis units within 2 hexes of Cherbourg, cancel that and move to another landing spot that is less defended.

Landing an HQ in a dangerous position is precisely what the AI did. They landed a British HQ adjacent to 3 German infantry units and it was quickly destroyed.

The AI bombing/bombarding campaign is very puzzling. They spread their air attacks out over a number of units and never concentrated on one. And the AI fleet LOVES to bombard coastal guns (to no effect) and then just sit adjacent to the guns so that I can damage their navy on the German turn.

[GiveWarAchance]

For a more historical game as Germany, the Axis player could allow the allies to do a full Normandy landing with a port like Cherbourg left to them maybe after a brief fight on the beaches. Then you could experience the legendary Normandy battles in the bocage and at Caen. Like if you put Corps & garrison type infantry along with the Coastal guns all along that area around the bocage like historically, the allied landings will inevitably win the fight for the beaches. Then Germany could train in army and tank units for the real battle.

ORIGINAL: magic87966

The AI bombing/bombarding campaign is very puzzling. They spread their air attacks out over a number of units and never concentrated on one. And the AI fleet LOVES to bombard coastal guns (to no effect) and then just sit adjacent to the guns so that I can damage their navy on the German turn.

That is very odd. In my games, the AI has never once bombarded my coastal guns nor left a ship within coastal gun range except during the actual D-Day landings when I get a few brief shots at transports on the turn before they land. Maybe we are using different updates. Mine is on the latest update so maybe the AI was improved.