What countries do you let AI control?

[rarothl]

I asked this question on a different site & didn't get much of a response.
I usually like to set a few countries as AI controlled.
At the intermediate level are there certain countries that you find are best not to let the AI control?
I have found that Italy doesn't play very well AI controlled.
What about you? I'm getting ready to try the allies. Are there any allied countries that I can let the computer handle. I'm thinking that China would be in that category.

[lwarmonger]

I do not let the AI control anything... allied and axis strategy is fairly comprehensive. Each nation should have its role to play in your overall strategy, and it is very difficult to get the AI to do that.

[Kaukopartio]

I still have rather limited experience in this version of the game (150 hours or so), which means I'm still trying out new things, which reflects to what I might assign the AI to do. So, for example in my latest AI game I wanted to try some things with the USSR and China and left the western allies to the AI. It's a very quick-paced game that way when you don't have any overseas empires to manage. Also, it helps you understand how the AI does things when you can see its moves without the Fog of War.

If I wanted to ease the burden on the Axis side, I would most likely leave Japan to the AI. In a sense that would be rather reflective of reality; the Japanese did not run their plans through German or Italian high commands. Well, neither did Italy and it performed at least as poorly if not worse than the AI in the game in the early years of the war, so there's that.

[lwarmonger]

I'm not saying the AI is terrible... for a game like this it does pretty well. However, if the goal is to improve your multiplayer game, then it is important to consider overall strategy, and for that, every country except China is important I think (and china isnt only because it merely needs to survive).

[rarothl]

Thank you for your replies.[:)] I was not thinking of a multiplayer game. I'm trying to get the hang of the game and so I was playing myself vs the AI. I was just wondering if there are some countries on your side that would be best to handle yourself and those that the AI could handle. In my early analysis it seems that the AI does not handle Italy very well. I was hoping that more experienced players could help with their thoughts.

[amandkm]

OK, I see your question. India and China are good candidates for Computer control. China the most, really, as it has to only focus on one theater, and is on the defensive there, so the amount of options it has are most limited.

India has more options (help west or east? Research or diplomacy?) But is a smaller factor in the balance than the Big 3, and setting it to AI will not hurt you as much as having an AI USSR do something crazy.

[Xsillione]

The full experience is controlling everything, but you can have some interesting fun with limited controls. The most important, that the AI and you cannot properly cooperate, so if you share front, you will not be on the same page, that will cause extra difficulties (in some case also add historic realities.)

Axis:
You can play as Japan, and let the two European for the AI, just be prepared, they in most case, they will lose, so you will have to have a historical case of defeat, or do some extra work to help out them, probably with a strike on the SU, or at least doing enough damage to the US/UK to weaken their option in Europe.

Or reverse, and let Japan handle the pacific, while also being mostly independent as Germany/Italy, or even just Germany, and represent Italian blunders by letting them controlled by the AI.

Allies:
An old way to do it in some tabletop would be UK/US in one team/player, and Poland/France/SU in other, so these groups will give you a nice separate run, with some communication issues in France, that happened IRL too. In these case India and China would be AI too. A China only run can be done too, but would be a bit boring probably, unless you can beat the AI properly and than try some help for the rest.

[ThunderLizard11]

Just China IMHO. Others too complicated unless you're okay with subpar results.