Matrix Games Forums

Elmer is a suicidal maniac that is far superior on the attack than you. However, if you withstand his aggressive manuevers, you can usually catch the brilliant idiot with his shorts down by encircling and cutting off supply. But watch out, he will attack, attack, attack to get out of it, sometimes, but usually too weakened at that point.

Elmer is also a pro at getting pity from human scenario designers who often add additional abilities to his manuevers called PO. PO is in addition to Elmer's qualities as an AI. Humans can be so damn sneaky, and they like to help Elmer in this way.

Also Elmer will need prodding to take historical actions that give us a "this is what happened" feeling. Else Elmer may opt for something to his liking.

Elmer is not so bad, I've had good times with Elmer with no PO, but at the same time, Elmer can get confused without PO, all depending on the scenario itself. You won't know till you play the scenario.

Oh, and don't dumb down Elmer with the "weak" AI setting. Still plays fine, but attacks are not done as well since Elmer is in a "drunk" state at this setting.

:Oh, and don't dumb down Elmer with the "weak" AI setting. Still plays fine, but attacks are not done as well since Elmer is in a "drunk" state at this setting. "

I dont think there are dumb down options are there?

ORIGINAL: ballyhoo
I dont think there are dumb down options are there?

Yes, there is. In Player Options menu item, "Set Advanced Player Options", the Programmed Opponent Options allow you to set AI Intelligence and you can also set Handicap/Cheat (doesn't do much). But the AI strength does. You can change this at any time.

I know it says "Programmed Opponent", but this is not the script assist, this is Elmer's IQ level, how long Elmer takes to figure out his move/attacks.

ORIGINAL: gbaby

ORIGINAL: ballyhoo
I dont think there are dumb down options are there?

Yes, there is. In Player Options menu item, "Set Advanced Player Options", the Programmed Opponent Options allow you to set AI Intelligence and you can also set Handicap/Cheat (doesn't do much). But the AI strength does. You can change this at any time.

I know it says "Programmed Opponent", but this is not the script assist, this is Elmer's IQ level, how long Elmer takes to figure out his move/attacks.

There are also ways to program Elmer to play a certain way in the scenario events editor. If formation objectives are set in a certain way it will effect how Elmer reacts to the enemy around him.
Elmer's play is also affected by how the scenario designer sets the strategic bias in the event settings. There are 5 settings Beserk , Aggressive, Neutral, Cautious and Very Cautious. If a setting is Beserk then Elmer will more then likely advance without regard for enemy strength along the formation objective path. If the setting is very cautious then Elmer will tend to retreat along the formation's objective path if the enemy is a certain percentage stronger then him. These bias events can be triggered by other events in the scenario at certain times or even by events on who is winning or loosing.

ORIGINAL: TPOO
There are also ways to program Elmer to play a certain way in the scenario events editor. If formation objectives are set in a certain way it will effect how Elmer reacts to the enemy around him.
Elmer's play is also affected by how the scenario designer sets the strategic bias in the event settings. There are 5 settings Beserk , Aggressive, Neutral, Cautious and Very Cautious. If a setting is Beserk then Elmer will more then likely advance without regard for enemy strength along the formation objective path. If the setting is very cautious then Elmer will tend to retreat along the formation's objective path if the enemy is a certain percentage stronger then him. These bias events can be triggered by other events in the scenario at certain times or even by events on who is winning or loosing.

Thanks for the extra info. Obviously I have faced several Bezerker Elmer's as it seemed to throw caution to the wind. That is one of the joys of the game, I never really know how my Single Player session is going to go with any scenario, they are so varied. Elmer keeps me coming back for more, for sure.

Could somebody explain what happens if Directive 21 is played 2 player.

I am playing Axis versus a human opponent who set up the challenge and we are at about T 12

So far appears OK vs history but reading about the scenario being for use against Soviet AI only and not for PBEM make me worry that by the winter there will be an excess flood of Soviets built in to allow the AI to "do OK".

I am worried I have been suckered into a game the Axis cannot win in PBEM 2 player...


Does anybody have any experience of this scenario 2 player please.

Thanks

sandy

Steve can answer that better than I since he is the designer.

My understanding is this:

D21 is for the Axis player to play Solo against the AI (Elmer).

If you want a two player game, then play the Russo-German War 1941-45 by the same crew, it has a PO for both sides and is also playable as a two player game.

That is my understanding.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Sounds good, Don. Happy New Year to you!

It's been years since we put together D21 so I don't remember all the specifics. Some things were done to help the PO defend better, such as units that are in Garrison or units that can't move. The OOB is historic, there are no 'extra' units for the PO. However, sometimes the PO assistance can annoy a human, that is one reason that we advertised D21 as Human Axis Only. It was basically a one player FitE, which was a two player scenario without a PO. With the arrival of FitE2 at a different scale, we decided to make the two player version of D21, which is the Russo-German War 1941-45 [;)]

tHANK YOU FOR REPLIES SO FAR

But my real concern has not been specifically adressed

Should we keep playing Dir 21 as a 2 player PBEM and has anybody ever done this and can report what happened?

Is it correct that some events do not work properly in 2 player games?

ORIGINAL: SandyInLondon

tHANK YOU FOR REPLIES SO FAR

But my real concern has not been specifically adressed

Should we keep playing Dir 21 as a 2 player PBEM and has anybody ever done this and can report what happened?

Is it correct that some events do not work properly in 2 player games?

I think one of the biggest issues would be the added benefits the Soviets get. This has to be done to give the Programmed Opponent a fighting chance and to make the scenario a challenge. The PO can only do so much. Steve has done an excellent job making this single player scenario a challenge.