Q about the AI

[hawk66]

Hi,

I'm currently thinking about buying War in the Pacific and my only concern is the AI. (I do rarely game online or by PBEM)

I've learned from some threads and reviews that some people think the AI is sufficient to play with, while other think this is not the case (apart for learning the game).

I can accepting that the strategic AI has some flaws, that's not the issue. Is the strategic AI totally scripted or is the AI capable of making some dynamic decisions on this level at least?

Any feedback is appreciated

[pompack]

ORIGINAL: hawk66

Hi,

I'm currently thinking about buying War in the Pacific and my only concern is the AI. (I do rarely game online or by PBEM)

I've learned from some threads and reviews that some people think the AI is sufficient to play with, while other think this is not the case (apart for learning the game).

I can accepting that the strategic AI has some flaws, that's not the issue. Is the strategic AI totally scripted or is the AI capable of making some dynamic decisions on this level at least?

Any feedback is appreciated

I played the AI since WitP was released (still do) and enjoyed it and learned a lot (learned a few bad lessons too, but that's another story). With the amount I play, that is probably about $0.03 per hour or less. I now play PBEM as well but I feel that I more than got my money's worth just from the AI.

[ADavidB]

ORIGINAL: hawk66

Hi,

I'm currently thinking about buying War in the Pacific and my only concern is the AI. (I do rarely game online or by PBEM)

I've learned from some threads and reviews that some people think the AI is sufficient to play with, while other think this is not the case (apart for learning the game).

I can accepting that the strategic AI has some flaws, that's not the issue. Is the strategic AI totally scripted or is the AI capable of making some dynamic decisions on this level at least?

Any feedback is appreciated

The AI plays a good, agressive game, sets traps, will hammer your mistakes and provides a great way to learn the game. The AI also goes after the "money" attacks and thus makes most of the historical moves. The AI also doesn't "learn" from game-to-game, so once you eventually learn to anticipate the moves of the AI you can counter them to an extent. Never-the-less it does give good value for the money.

Dave Baranyi

[DJAndrews]

As with the other replies, I get a lot of fun playing against the AI. However, you have to be willing to use a more or less conventional stragegy because the AI doesn't adapt well to "creative" attacks. In addition, I sometimes refrain from pouncing on obvious blunders by the AI (such as sending in an unescorted fleet of supply ships to a remnant garrison on one of the Philipine Islands in May 42).

I also find it useful to switch to a head-to-head mode once every week or two weeks, in order to adjust the AI's strategy a little and turn around some of the unescorted ships that are sailing around seeking to become targets.

[hawk66]

thanks guys, that doesn't sound bad at all to me [:)]

[Banquet]

When I play the AI in this, or any other game, if I see it doing something stupid I try not to punish it for it's mistake if possible.

I.e, if it keeps trying to sail transports too close to an airbase I've upgraded and have lots of airplanes at.. and the transports keep getting sunk.. if I can see it's going to keep on doing it, I'll stand my planes down once in a while to let them through (figuring I've sunk enough - and in reality they'd have diverted)

It's not perfect, but as long as you don't deliberately try to find loopholes in the AI, and are willing to allow it some mistakes without totally going in for the kill.. it gives an enjoyable game. I certainly wouldn't be put off buying the game (I only ever play AI)

[wild_Willie2]

Hi,

I played the AI a lot for half a year and it is great for learning the game and having fun. But if you want to enjoy this game FULLY you really need to go PBEM after a few months of having on training wheels (the AI).

As a veteran WITP player there is really not much challenge in playing the AI (except if you want to conquer the entire map)

Once you go PBEM, and have had the joy of having to mentally calculate al kinds of possible scenario’s, schemes and plans to attack and defend against an intelligent human opponent. Then seeing your plan unfold, just the way you planned it, waiting for that return turn, checking your mail every 5 minutes (I think every PBEM player knows this feeling) for a new turn, and when it finally arrives, seeing your opponents carrier getting SLAMMED by a torpedo launched by your carefully experience nursed KATE’s there is really NO going back into to playing the AI.

Playing the AI is fun, but going PBEM is almost orgasmic…….

[pad152]

I've played against the AI from the begining both as Allied and Japan.

1. AI as Japan does a good job for the first six months of the war.

2. AI as Allied, the AI throws way it's forces away too early in war.

3. I'm now playing a game now against the AI Japan with a edited campaign, I gave Japan more ships, airgroups, and more/better pilots. It's 4/5/42 and so far nothing the allies have can stand up to the Japanese, I'm about even with Japan on ship loses, but the air and ground war is going Japan's way.

Like many others here I've played the game so much against the AI it has become predictiable, just like playing against the same person. The AI is as good if not better than most games considering the scope and scale of the game. Then there is always the editor, you can't edit the AI, but you change just about anything else![;)]

Because the game tries to be historical, everybody already knows the weakness of Japan (pilots, oil) and it's easy to exploit these.

Bottom Line: There is no other game like this on the market.

[Titanwarrior89]

I play the AI between my pbem turns and still enjoy it. I would have never bought the game if it did not have some ai worth playing against. It does! Then when you learn the game, do both pbem and the ai.

Money well spent[:D]

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: Titanwarrior89

Money well spent[:D]

Concur! You shouldn't keep from buying this game because of what some people say about the AI. And you shouldn't miss PBEM gaming eventually; it's a totally different ballgame to playing the AI, and great fun!