AI unforced losses

[tbachus]

Hey all, has anyone else noticed the AI losing aircraft that had nothing to do with your own actions? I've been playing Northern Fury (awesome, by the way), and in the scenario I am currently playing the AI Soviet player somehow managed to lose an entire regiment of SU27s and 5 Backfires without me ever seeing them. I can understand the odd aircraft running out of fuel or even a maintenance failure, but this seems excessive. I've noticed these types of losses in other scenarios too, but not to the same extent. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!
Tim B

[SeaQueen]

I can understand the odd aircraft running out of fuel or even a maintenance failure, but this seems excessive. I've noticed these types of losses in other scenarios too, but not to the same extent. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!

To what do you attribute those losses?

The art of scenario design rests in constructing reasonable and robust plans that the AI can execute realistically. If aircraft are running out of gas it suggests there is a shortcoming in the plan. I have noticed in my own scenarios that sometimes on very long distance strike missions (e.g. the sort flown by BACKFIRE and BLACKJACK bombers) it seems to be a little bit overly optimistic about the range of the aircraft, resulting in aircraft crashing unnecessarily. I've fixed the problem by choosing a lighter bomb load, effectively trading ordinance for range. Depending on what the scenario laydown looks like, that, in turn, can be compensated for by increasing the number of bombers in the package.

[Gunner98]

and in the scenario I am currently playing

Which scenario? That does sound like a fuel issue.

B

[tbachus]

Gunner98, this is the scenario where the Vinson TG is relieving that of the Enterprise TG. I think it is Changing of the Guard. If the Flankers were ferrying over to Iceland from Andoya, which is about 1000 NM if I recall correctly, they should have plenty of range if on Ferry mission. That might not be the case if they are carrying combat loads. I'm not certain where the Backfires would have been coming from. So far I've only seen fighter sweeps from Keflavik and the associated recon and jammer support. I don't think my ELINT S-3 would have missed those Down Beat radars if they had been snooping around. I also failed to mention in my first post that there were a pair of SU-24s that also were lost by the AI, probably due to fuel also.
Tim B

[Gunner98]

OK

I'll take a look. One of the problems on Iceland is a shortage of adequate runways, some may be running out of fuel in the landing ques. That's an easy fix now with doctrine settings but I'll need to dig a little deeper.

Thanks.

[tbachus]

Thanks for checking, Gunner. Overall these scenarios are fantastic, I've logged many, many enjoyable hours on these and only on number 11.

[fatgreta1066]

Tim are you playing them in order?

[tbachus]

Hi Fatgreta, yes I am playing in order. I have played the 2 Caribbean Fury scenarios too.
-Tim