German AI & Barbarossa

[Drax Kramer]

After entering in 1944 in my recent 1941 scenario game, I wish AI was scripted. I am playing Japan and although I did not play well (I managed to capture Chunking though), I was more interested in 1941 German vs Soviet AI meeting.

As expected, German AI has no strategy what so ever. In two years (1941-1943), I saw no absolutely no strategy behind the German movements. it was neither all for Moscow, nor drive for Caucasus, nothing. For two years German AI was attacking here or there, looking for temporary operational advantages, but with little idea how to win.

Sometime in 1942, Soviets abandoned Leningrad and Germans promptly entered with huge army of 20 infantry that later sat there for two turns, probably for lack of supplies. The fruitless skirmishing lasted until Summer 1943 when Allies invaded France when Germans expectedly shut down the Ostfront and redeployed to Netherlands.

There were bright moments for Germans. They use their fleet and air force well against Allied shipping, but the use of air forces against huge concentrations of land forces is overdone (Allies are even worse offenders in that aspect), but the lack of any kind of plan how to win is discouraging.

I am quite aware that no AI can match humans, but I am hardly an expert player. In addition, I tend to play historically, no matter which power I play, yet, the only way AI can beat me is to either use ahistorical things like fortress in West Germany to delay my final offensive or for me to to some blunder.

I played less than ten games, none of them starting from 1940 and am already afraid that this game becomes a PBEM tool rather than game. As far as PBEM is concerned, I don't think I'll ever play 1940 scenarios, if for no other reason than because I am not interesting in playing WW2 game where German player is avoiding the contest with major powers in order to improve his chances to win.


Drax

[Joel Billings]

Thanks for your comments. We're taking notes on comments regarding the AI. When Gary has a chance to work on the AI again, we'll be sure to go through these notes and see what can be improved.

[Drax Kramer]

I started another 1941 (my favourite one) scenario, this time playing Allies. As expected, OKW pulled Rommel out of Africa (I'd really, really like that AI restrain from such acts) and went to Russia...

Summer turn was not really bad, but Autumn one was odd, from the historical point of view. Germans limited their last pre-counteroffensive turn to few tank attacks against pairs of Soviet militia. Naturally, Germans easily won, but then left only a single panzerkorps in each territory thus captured. Some armies (infantry plus artillery) went to Velikiye Luki, some to Kharkow.

Soviet autumn counterattack destroyed one and damaged another German armoured picket in territories adjacent to Moscow and thus Barbarossa ended before it really started. I already know what was going to happen in Winter 1942 with Germans concentrating away from Soviets and generally wasting time until Allies land in France.

Why is German AI so much afraid of going towards Moscow (or Caucasus) in strength? Why is German AI afraid of Soviets in general?

If I get time, I'll try to start 1941 scenario playing as Chinese with fog of war turned off, so that I could take notes about AI's strategic thinking.


Drax

[Svend Karlson]

ORIGINAL: Drax Kramer
As far as PBEM is concerned, I don't think I'll ever play 1940 scenarios, if for no other reason than because I am not interesting in playing WW2 game where German player is avoiding the contest with major powers in order to improve his chances to win.

If you are referring to the Axis autovictory gambit, then there are players willing to play without it on, including myself. In fact although I always play Axis I've never gone for autovictory, nor do I intend to.

[Drax Kramer]

ORIGINAL: Svend Karlson

ORIGINAL: Drax Kramer
As far as PBEM is concerned, I don't think I'll ever play 1940 scenarios, if for no other reason than because I am not interesting in playing WW2 game where German player is avoiding the contest with major powers in order to improve his chances to win.

If you are referring to the Axis autovictory gambit, then there are players willing to play without it on, including myself. In fact although I always play Axis I've never gone for autovictory, nor do I intend to.

I have no problems with autovictory as such. In fact, German AI plays like there's no such thing and tries to keep Soviets away until Allies land, then it hunkers down in Ruhr and waits for the clock to run out.

I prefer 1941 scenario because it is more in the spirit of WW2 and Axis aggression then 1940 where Axis players radically change German strategy. My personal opinion is that German strategy (1940 France, 1941 USSR) was optimal one and look upon operational aspects for improvement.



Drax

[Drax Kramer]

Follow up to German AI in Russia:

It was Spring 1942 turn and Germans were again in offensive. Soviets abandoned Leningrad as usual. I wonder why, since I had no problem discouraging any German plan against the region and German AI never even tried to attack it against me.

Now, first Germans sent three bombers to bomb infrastructure in Leningrad. Next move, was huge army stomping over the militia rearguards.

Why did German AI bomb the infrastructure in the region it is going to send troops to? There were plenty of Soviet controlled regions within range and without any AA defense for German bombers to attack. It was a vaste of supplies and turn that even the beginner wouldn't have done.


Drax