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Model 9th cleans up most of the rear and makes some advances. Arnim's XXXIX PzC has pressed out of the swamp and is providing a strong flank. I have 6 mech divisions in the area that should provide some headaches...

Listen I can understand the AI isn't ready yet as the game is only at ALPHA stage. Seems like people are picking the AI apart as if its a finished product. I'm sure the Alpha testers will be reporting in how the AI can be improved.

I get this is an AAR giving us an idea on how the game looks and plays to a point.

Lets just enjoy the AAR without picking holes in a game that hasn't even hit Beta yet.

ORIGINAL: wodin

Listen I can understand the AI isn't ready yet as the game is only at ALPHA stage. Seems like people are picking the AI apart as if its a finished product. I'm sure the Alpha testers will be reporting in how the AI can be improved.

I get this is an AAR giving us an idea on how the game looks and plays to a point.

Lets just enjoy the AAR without picking holes in a game that hasn't even hit Beta yet.

Lets just enjoy the AAR without picking holes in a game that hasn't even hit Beta yet.

This is exactly the time to pick holes before things cannot be altered. I'm looking forward to this game too but showing too much deference with mistakes and the like is the wrong way to go. So far I'm enjoying the AAR warts and all

ORIGINAL: wodin

...I'm sure the Alpha testers will be reporting in how the AI can be improved.

...

Yes we are much more aware of what the AI is doing than people who are only reading the AAR here. The intention is to make the AI as good as we can given that the game will be released this year and no AI will ever be perfect.

Kliest's 1st PzA went thru hard fighting but reached the banks of the river Don...

The AI went brain dead around Rostov...

Well Gary found an AI bug already. He asked me to replay the Soviet AI for turn 4. It looks a little different. I still got hit hard (lost 175 AFV's), but its pluging the holes better. So I have to redo the turn 5 moves. I'll keep you posted...The joy of the alpha tester, redoing moves...lol...

I've just gotten computer access back (haven't seen PyleDriver's handicraft in days and the suspense was killing me).

First, a quick note on the AI...from what I have seen in the AARs and around the forum, I am extremely happy with the AI, occassional apparent lapses or not. I am very happy that it doesn't take all of its units and pile them up somewhere on an objective and let you surround it and batter it to death. It appears to be acting in a rationale fashion, taking chances in one sector and hoping that Pyle Driver doesn't find its weak spots. It appears to be playing the attrition game very well knowing that it will eventually outpace German production IF it can hold on and delay Pyle Driver. It appears to be offering just what we want...an AI that keeps you guessing, makes some mistakes, and some brilliant plays. Just as we all hope to be doing soon. If I was concerned about the AI at all, it would be in the small things, like the "4=16" Soviet Infantry corps that should have advanced one more hex to capture the rail line leading to OREL from the northeast.

2nd, A quick question for Pyle Driver (before you had to re-do starting at turn 4), had the soviet counterattack at OREL "worsened" the supply situation for some of your units in that area by cutting the rail junction in OREL. Could holding OREL make it easier for the soviets to withdraw some troops from the potential pocket.

3rd (and this question probably belongs in another post) but I will ask anyway, how is the AI doing as the "offensive player". Is there a way for someone to do an AAR say as the soviets in 41 or the Germans in 44 and see how the AI does when it switches from defense to offense? Seeing how that works would be awesome.

Thanks for the AARs, screenshots, postings....they are addictive!

Sorry for the delay in the AAR, as posted we had alot of things going on with AI improvement. Still not there but its getting better...5th turn rewind...9th army still cleared the rear and pushed to the upper Volga...

4th army joined with 2nd PzA to form a pocket...

Hoth moved his XXIV PzC west joining with XXXV corps....

Kliest gains a bridgehead across the Don...

Your wondering where the improvement came... Rostov, they hit me hard, and filled the gaps. The once strong 15th PzD is down to 25 AFV's. It will take some time now before the city is mine...

Isn't the 15th Panzer division supposed to be in N.Africa right now as part of the Afrika Korps?

Opp's my mistake it's the 13th PzD, darn wife was on my back and I was in a hurry, sorry...lol...

(BAR) Check out this breakout by the AI its outstanding...Never saw that in WIR, huh...Hit me hard, escaped, and moved north protecting its flank...

(BAR) Kliest's 1st PzA wasn't hit with counters, the weak left flak (The Huns) was. After air recon it seems the Soviets plan to contest the crossing of the Don...

(BAR) Some OKH plans, LIX corps (4 divisions) once it clears the pocket will move south (via rail) and attach to 4th army. I have 2 divisions ready for transport now...4th army later will move onto 4th PzA's right and support their flank to the east, as they move north...

What hit 13th Panzer that hard, that Cavalry Corps and the lone Rifle division?

Also: what are the odds that there is indeed, as the screenshots seem to indicate, more or less nothing preventing your Panzer formations from overrunning that 60x60 mile air field?

Everything hit 13th PzD...Airfields as Hq's auto withdrawl when enemy units become adjacent and theres no groud units. There is attrition when this happens, however you dont lose the unit...