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Also, if you play "historically" against the AI, sometimes the game plays out in a more historically plausible way than in PBEM -- at least for a while. Don't get me wrong, I love the nail-biting challenge of a human opponent; there's nothing like PBEM. But PBEMers are sometimes far more aggressive than the historical commanders were, and the pace of PBEM play can be much faster than the historical pace.

[:D] OK , I admit it. Some of us play the AI cause no one else will play with us![8|] Except Marky. [8|] [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D] 

ORIGINAL: Grotius

Also, if you play "historically" against the AI, sometimes the game plays out in a more historically plausible way than in PBEM -- at least for a while. Don't get me wrong, I love the nail-biting challenge of a human opponent; there's nothing like PBEM. But PBEMers are sometimes far more aggressive than the historical commanders were, and the pace of PBEM play can be much faster than the historical pace.

That pretty much sums up my opinion. Too often in PBEM, my opponents have done things not because they are historically plausible but because the game allows it.

I pretty much play PBEM now (3 games going), but played war games for almost 40 years. A question for the primary AI players, what scenario do you play and are there any more challenging than others??  I might guess that PBEM players start on 12/7/41, but I think the AI would do better with a later scenario.

ORIGINAL: Splinterhead
That pretty much sums up my opinion. Too often in PBEM, my opponents have done things not because they are historically plausible but because the game allows it.

Definately a problem..., and if truth be known, probably the primary motivation for all the "house rules" discussions that usually preceed the start of such an endevour. Both sides are "feeling out" a stranger to see if he's someone they want to spend a lot of time with. My personal preference would be more for a "description" in the original posting. Something like "Historically minded gamer seeking like minded opponant". Or "I like to play fast and loose, anything goes---need another wild and wooly fellow for a slug-fest".

Mike, I started my first (and only) PBEM last February after having played against the AI since WITP's initial release. Having a preference for a historically viable game, I had my reservations about PBEM for years.

However, I did exactly what you suggest here by posting an ad stating my preferences and found a like minded opponent. I had even posted that it would be a slow paced game and found an opponent within a day, IIRC.

I still play around against the AI, but it always seems to bog down. That's one of the parts of the AE that I'm looking forward to. I'll have something new to play agaisnt the AI while Chez and I finish our CHS game.

AI is good to learn some things, but I have a great Pbem-Buddy and won't try it against the AI anymore.
Everybody should try it against a human oppenent.

Everybody should try it against a human oppenent.

Everybody who can.
The advocates for PBEM often forget that not everybody has a chance to play PBEM. For a variety of reasons. One being technical limitiations. And there are others ...

While I'm a PBEM'er now, I still have a grand campaign running against the AI that I fire up occasionally, especially when I am travelling.
 
I believe that the largest block of players in all games (except MMO's obviously) play only against the AI.  The poll results do not surprise me at all.

Well, it sure surprised me; the way some WitP players talk about its AI, I thought only newbie's played against it.

I only play against the ai with CHS mod. I also like the idea to play against human player it would be quite interessting and "a little bit" more challenging.
But a game would persistent for long time...months or maybe longer (gand campange). I`m not sure e.g. if i can play maybe in 4 months.So there is a uncertainty and I don`t like to be the one which abandon the game. I think that I have a certain responsibility for my counterpart after starting a game.
That`s the reason why i play only against the ai.

Omat

I only play the AI if I get really, really, really bored wating on a turn, and then it only lasts until I get a turn in my email box.

Only way I will spend more money on the Admirals edition is with the promise of a vastly improved AI

At the tactical level the AI is not horrible, but at the stratigic level it completly falls apart.

A few examples are that the Japanese AI will fail to take Wake Island and never try again
They will take a few bases in the DEI and then stop
They will sometimes never take Singapore
They will skirmish in Burma but never push hard
They will never perform carrier raids on India, or Aus or Midway etc

The Allied AI is even worse since it spends so much of the game on the offensive

Another problem just as bad is the AI does not understand the concept of repairing its ships
When one gets damaged it will constantly re-send them back on to fight and never keep them in port
It also fails to recognize air superiority and will constantly run cargo TFs into areas where the bottom of the sea is lined with sunken ships
It never forms dedicated Sub hunter/killer groups


It really just needs alot of tweaking and re-working
WitP is a fantastic game and one of Matrix best efforts
But with my work life I just do not have the time or patience for PBEM
Not having to work with a partner suits my life alot better
I can play 30 turns over 4 hours and then not play for 10 days
Cant do that with PBEM

So for me it is 90% of the time playing against the AI
The new game interests me alot but only if the AI gets a significant re-working