Mixed feelings about AI game

[Mock726]

20/20 hindsight is a huge problem in games like this. Everybody knows where the Japanese are going to invade because those are the places they have to take and hold to get the oil and protect their supply lines. Not a lot of options for them. A drive into the Aleutians and Western Canada is not a war winning strategy, no oil known in Alaska at the time.

From watching progress in and reviewing saves from the Computer vs Computer games I ran the Japanese AI seems to do a good job mimicking historic Japanese plans both in the early war offense and the later war defensive phase. The Allied AI does a good job losing stuff and places early on and makes at least some attempt to counter attack in '42 to early '44, but not very effectively. For some reason the Allied AI after mid 1944 has stopped offensive operations and by early 1945 all Allied warships are in harbor in California or India. Would have been nice if the manual mentioned the AI plays Japan for the whole war but the Allies for only the first two-thirds.

Currently playing against the Japanese AI in Dec '44 starting from an October 1944 save from a Comp vs Comp game. The Japanese central pacific defenses are very well manned, Kido Butai is in the Indian Ocean (with an 11 CV task force) looking for the British fleet (hiding in Colombo). Even with the bountiful supply of ships and planes and stuff it will be a challenge to get from here to Tokyo Bay. So the AI can give you an interesting game but it has its limitations.

[HansBolter]

The AI is the BEST opponent hands down.

It is always ready to play when I want to.

It never pesters me for a turn when I don't feel like playing.

It doesn't saddle me with a feeling of obligation to execute a turn or more every day.

It doesn't demand House Rules.

And most of all, it doesn't quit when it's bid for auto victory fails.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

The AI is the BEST opponent hands down.

It is always ready to play when I want to.

It never pesters me for a turn when I don't feel like playing.

It doesn't saddle me with a feeling of obligation to execute a turn or more every day.

It doesn't demand House Rules.

And most of all, it doesn't quit when it's bid for auto victory fails.

You left some others out.

1. It never attempts to cheat, unlike some humans whose cheating attempts have been exposed on the forum.

2. It knows the game mechanics so it never demands a redo when ignorance of the rules prompts some humans to demand a redo when they oops.

Alfred

[12doze12]

Currently playing against the Japanese AI in Dec '44 starting from an October 1944 save from a Comp vs Comp game. The Japanese central pacific defenses are very well manned, Kido Butai is in the Indian Ocean (with an 11 CV task force) looking for the British fleet (hiding in Colombo). Even with the bountiful supply of ships and planes and stuff it will be a challenge to get from here to Tokyo Bay. So the AI can give you an interesting game but it has its limitations.

I'm just starting my first proper full campaign but that sounds really interesting, how do you set up a comp vs comp all the way to 1944 or another date?

[Nomad]

There is an option on the main screen to select "Both Computer." Set the pointer for that, and then select your scenario and go. When you are ready to start playing, press the F9 key and it should stop at the next end of turn.
You will then need to set which side is going to be controlled by the computer and set the pointer for that.

[12doze12]

I wasn't very clear with my question, my bad. I'm aware of the CPU vs CPU mode and jumping in to play but was wondering if there is an easy way to set the game to stop auto playing at a specific turn or date. I guess the answer is no though.

[Mock726]

The game just keeps running until you hit <F9>. You can influence how fast the game plays by turning on combat animations, slows it down quite a bit. Just don't turn on anything that requires you to click a button for the game to proceed to the next event. With everything turned off on my computer it advances maybe two months game time per hour real time.

Also beware the game does not always pay full attention to some things, like organization and command structure. I spent the first game month in my Oct '44 game moving US headquarters from San Francisco and and Pearl to where they should have been already. A lot of shuffling units around and pulling ships out of the battle line to send them to the dry docks for overdue repairs. It does do a fine job of demonstrating the chaos of war though [:D]. And simulates the endless headaches of every new commander trying to figure out what their predecessor was thinking (or drinking).

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Mock726
20/20 hindsight is a huge problem in games like this. Everybody knows where the Japanese are going to invade because those are the places they have to take and hold to get the oil and protect their supply lines. Not a lot of options for them. A drive into the Aleutians and Western Canada is not a war winning strategy, no oil known in Alaska at the time.

It is not a problem if you view AI as a partner not opponent for the initial period. A partner in playing out this initial period close to some version of reality that is. With lack of info, chaos and incompetence on Allied side included.
You are perfectly able to stop Japan AI dead at Palembang / Moulmein because you know certain things and can concentrate assets effectively. But should you?

[RangerJoe]

I usually can wipe out the AI Japanese on Luzon . . . [8D]

[ny59giants]

You also need to run either 2 or 3 day turns to prevent you from micro-manage each turn. Allow the AI to surprise you with some moves.

Download Andy Mac's Ironman Nasty scenarios. I haven't played vs the AI for many, many year and the AI has done some stuff that I was not even slightly expecting. I could mention what some of them are, but do not want to take away any pleasures other players have gone though. [;)]

[Alpha77]

My PBM opponent is on vacation so I play AI at the moment I let the "AI" have the named bases (except Port Blair but it might fall in the next days) and the "AI" did not get better...seems bollox the list [:D]

[Mikawa]

Try revenge of the Doriners iron man. Allied AI. It is loaded with lots allied surprises. I’m playing historical and it’s brutal.