Early Invasion of Marshall Islands by Allies

[Drongo]

Its interesting that with certain public enthusiasm for modded scenarios and seeming lack of enthusiasm for the AI's state of play, no one seems yet to have started on modding a scenario tailored for an AI opponent.

During the beta, I modded a '42-45 big scenario that minimised (as much as possible) the need for the Japanese AI player to make a lot of the moves and decisions that could be exploited by a human opponent.

Effectively, I used my understanding of how the AI played to set it up in an already established defensive position from the Pacific through to SE Asia and then some changes were made to the supply situation. No extra a/c, pilot exp improvements, etc were used but it managed to give quite a good account of itself.

Hopefully some player may have at go at modding one after the next patch.

[SunDevil_MatrixForum]

Effectively, I used my understanding of how the AI played to set it up in an already established defensive position

Maybe we can start a thread in the scenario editor section forum to discuss your knowledge of how the AI played. I really would like to know more about this.

[Sneer]

Yes unfortunately
That's why I started playing as Japan looking for challenge.
By 9/42 I took Golbert Isl and build strong bases on each. hold Amboina.
Heavily guarded Lae/PM/Lunga/Buna/Dobadura/ by 5+ Divs- no chance for any aggressive movements/ 500+ bombers

In Burma I took Bangkok / Japan forces are in pices/ Indochina & Malaya invasions in progress and I doubt Japan has spare INF units to help this theater.
Yamato& Fuso sunk in Japan silly attack / KB not seen from ages. No reaction for any invasion which was out of historical timetable.

On the other hand Allies Ai is not much better as I should achieve Decisive Victory somewhere in early 2/42 [8D]

[Top Cat]

ORIGINAL: Top Cat

Hmm the AI does appear to be stymied by any ahistorical moves.

I simply parked a cruiser at Tarawa for a couple of months early in the game and the Japanese never invaded. By May 42 I've built up Tarawa into a nice B17 base and have made several landings in the Marshall islands.

The AI has not retaliated yet. Seems to be fixated on Rangoon where he's had is head handed to him on a plate.

By mid May 42 the AI has also :
- not landed in New Guinea
- not landed in Guadalcanal (or anywhere near it)
- not finished conquering Java (and numerous other bits)
- not landed near Tarakan (missing out on oil here!)
- not attempted to neutralise the Dutch Air Force which has wreaked havoc with AI AK/AP's
- had 5 Divisions + 13 misc. units clobbered at Rangoon where the AI got itself surrounded
- lost approx. 400+ planes in 3 months on the ground at Tavoy
- never flew a single plane as CAP at Tavoy!

Anyway you get the picture. At current rate I expect the Brits will be in Singapore by late 42. B17's there will cause grief to AI oil production and it's all down hill from there. Throw in what I can do with the Yanks and Aussies and the picture is very lop sided.

Hoping the AI can be tweaked a bit in a future patch or as some people have already requested the Allied reinforcements arrive later or are politically pinned to rear areas.


Cheers
Top Cat

Only playing at historical level. Thought I'd learn the ropes first. Should have started with difficuly methinks....

My Japanese AI opponent has completely collapsed in Burma. I'll take Tavoy in the next 48 hours and I'm still in May 42. Not much between me and Singapore from what I can see and I've got 4 more divisions enroute.

I know AI is a very difficult area to program but I was hoping for at least some kind of cohesion from the AI.

Cheers
Top Cat

[mongo]

ORIGINAL: Sneer

I don't really care about BB losses ( lost 4 at PH and 1 later) because you have many of them and number increases fast. Loss of Fuso and Yamato to Japan is much more harmful in my game.

I'd personally worry (and do) about Allied BB losses. As effective as CD guns are in this game, they will be invaluable later on. Cruisers and especially destroyers just can't hold up to that kind of punishment, much less put forth the damage to the enemy that BBs can.

If what the beta team says about late war (44-45) invasions being so costly holds true for most people, we could be in trouble without the old BBs to soften up beaches.

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Drongo

It all depends on whether you want to practice for an "anything goes" game against a human player or just have fun against the AI.

Sub landings to occupy islands may be considered "gamey" by some and good tactics by others. Its entirely up to you how you want to play.

I hate this tactic and consider it not only gamey but cheating. I don't like house rules but this is one house rule I insist on using (well, sometimes I forgot to tell that to my opponent on time [:D])

I call this dirty trick "sub recon", and it completely defeats the purpose of "proper" recon in the game. You lose few squads and get all names of all units in the base hex. Then why use Catalinas or Emilys for recon at all?

The house rule in my games is that ANY landing must be attempted with at least one whole unit. So if my opponent wants to risk couple of ships, and lose one whole unit to find out what I have in my base - he's free to do so, but no "sub recon" with 2 squads please.

And vs. the AI... geez, I mean AI won't call you cheat, but do you really need this kind of help vs the poor old stupid brain damaged AI? [:D][:D]

Oleg

[DrewMatrix]

Japan forces are in pices

And the moon, presumably is in Aquarius.[:)]