Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Just watch this space next time the AI will do better.

I have a cunning plan.

Yeah. The AI just sprang it on me. Dang it!. Persistent little buggars, aren't they? Well, they can take it (them), but they can't hold it (them).

Very clever, Andy Mac. Very clever, indeed.

(A little vagueness in my words to keep those who haven't had the pleasure of the surprise in the dark.)

[:D][:D][:D][:D]

ORIGINAL: langleyCV1

The AI seems to sent jap bombers out without an escort far too often in my eyes is anybody else seeing this!

MJT

Yeah. This is why the Dutch airforce was kicking ass until the western Borneo bases fell. Only very recently have Zeroes had the range to fly over Java... but that doesn't deter the flying zippo!

Is there a real point, though, to the AI assaulting bases that they've got no realistic way to hang onto for any length of time?  Canton is a good example; the AI landed a SNLF there and was more than enough to wipe out the base force, but nowhere enough to stand up to the force the Allies had available and fairly close by.  They kept it for roughly 10 days, never tried to bring in reinforcements (or evac the SNLF, which would have REALLY ticked me off), or resupply.  A few days bombardment by some cruisers, bombing by my CV's (not even all the DB's since I expected some naval intervention), and the two NZ brigades and it was all over.
 
Now, had the SNLF landed, wiped out my base force, had some way to destroy the facilities (returning Canton to its original condition, for example), and then left, simulating a raid on the base, now THAT would have been great.  It would force me to try and beef up all those isolated bases with garrisons or risk losing them with no way to 'get back' at the AI, and the AI doesn't lose anything in the process (assuming they evac successfully).

ORIGINAL: Drakken

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

I will say the AI is doing a nice job with Subs so far.

Absolutely. In fact, I like the fact that the AI is more unpredictable and aggressive than in WITP. Surprise is a very nice element.

Now, if it could protect all its amphibious landing TFs with escorts or accompany them with SCTFs, even if it means slowing down the juggernaut schedule a bit, everything would be nigh-on perfect. [&o]

Yeah, aggressiveness and unpredictability... that's definetely something new in AE.
You have to screen not only the invasion TFs, but own "safe" ports as well!
I my test game against AI it sprinted from Singapore with 2 CLs & 4 DDs to attack... waters around Saigon [X(]
The day before cruisers were attacked by my Betties, but sinking one of them and 2 DDs didn't stop AI from obeying the GC's orders.
Next day:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Saigon at 60,73, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AO Notoro, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Kaga Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
xAK Kaiko Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Eihuku Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Mikasa Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Aso Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Hakka Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAKL Haguro Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kaika Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kaishi Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakusan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 2
DD Vampire
DD Express

That's somehow confusing and... I like it, even if I lost several merchants [:D]

It may indeed surprise you, but I'm sure the Russians at Balaclava were surprised by the Light Brigade charging at them as well.

The Light Brigade pulled it off (they did reach the Russian batteries after all!) and these cruisers pulled it off, in that at least they sunk something. 

But still...  it may be magnificent, but is it war?

If the AI continues to be this aggressive in 1942, though, mounting losses both in transport and warships may cause a full collapse of the game by mid-43.  It's only January 1942 in my game, but already I've sunk three CA's and numerous DD's, for two Dutch CL's, some Dutch DD's and Houston.  The AI's invasion of Canton lost it a SNLF, and it's currently conducting yet another overextended invasion at xxxxx that I intend to break up very, very soon.  Landings at Menado, Macassar and Tarakan are also being conducted too, but they're barely supported.  The one LCU at Tarakan is already running low on supplies and is having trouble against the garrison and CD units stationed there; no resupply has been attempted even though there's plenty of ships at Jolo.
 
(New invasion site hidden so as to not spoil the surprise for others; let's just say it's a popular location in the SWPac region...)

The AI is throwing haymakers at me like a drunk. Sometimes even a drunk gets a punch in. I've been able to hold down the fort, so to speak, but damn if they don't have me scrambling to assemble SAGs every turn! FUN FUN FUN 

I agree that the AI is aggressive and is taking losses in securing bases but as Andy and Erik have pointed out they need to be aggressive to take the non reinforced bases in the first four months as a human player would. The only difference is a human would react better to unexpected encounters and have a reserve ready to reinforce/resupply a contested area. Hopefully once the AI does its expansion, it settles into a defensive build mode and secure its losses. This would make a good game and early losses would be offset by the rapid expansion of bases slowing the humans ability to respond and attack.

I plan on taking on scenario 2 in the next go around to give the AI a better chance and still allow me to use cunning attacks to prep for PBEM. This of course after some more learning curve and the first patch [:D]

Keep in mind that you guys haven't seen the AI through 1945 whereas we have. We'll see how it goes "in the wild" but we have some confidence. [8D] Andy is watching and tweaking where it seems appropriate as well.

I am scratching my head how to stop IJ AI in 8 Dec scenario, late February. After losing Canton I. (I have INF regiment prepping to take it back), Baker I., Tulagi, Luganville, Efate, Milne Bay and Koumac, I am spread quite thin. Only substantial reinforcement I have gotten to SW Pacific is AUS 16th Brigade, which I think I have to ship to Noumea to keep at least that. Rest of the AUS 6th Div is on their way...from Aden...so looong way to go still.
 
Lack of APs is really really annoying! [8D]

Most people discuss the Japanese AI, but how does the Allied AI fair in the medium to long term? I'm playing a Jap grand campaign now and am wondering whether I should expect it to adopt an offensive posture by mid 1942/3.

Subs it seems to do ok with, but those unescorted amphibs are liable to make the end game very boring. not much fun to steamroll into Japan because the AI lost all its combat units in 1942 due to unescorted amphibs.

If the AI is going after places like Koumac, I'd let them do so as long as it doesn't try and build up the base.  IIRC Koumac was hard to improve enough to put multiengine bombers on, and it would be very easy to interdict shipping going there from Noumea.  Efate and Luginville are another matter, but having Suva and Noumea nearby would make it simpler to retake those two as long as the forces are available.  There are three NZ brigades on Suva that can be used, and plenty of infantry in Hawaii if you use them judiciously.
 
If the AI pushes too fast, though, all those bases are just little unimproved islands that can't protect themselves and are outside the range of anywhere that could support them.  It's one reason I don't bother building up a base until I'm determined to keep it, and turn off all airbase construction in places I expect to lose (like the PI and DEI); you're just doing the AI's work for it in those areas.

I am keeping an eye on the saves I recieve and trying to watch how things move around.
 
The new AI files 'seem' to be a lot better in my tests but the proof will be when you get them.
 
The more feedback I get the better.
 
 

I guess my only question is do folks think the AI is giving them a reasonable game ? - we only promised no worse than stock - from what I am reading and seeing people seem to think its better which is good but there seems to be real concern that its going beyond history?

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

I guess my only question is do folks think the AI is giving them a reasonable game ? - we only promised no worse than stock - from what I am reading and seeing people seem to think its better which is good but there seems to be real concern that its going beyond history?

Its way better than stock, and its advancing quite far and keeping me on my toes - but it's also suffering huge losses, often from moves I think are crazy. It makes me worry about the end game.

Admittedly thats a long way off. I just hope that this "damn the torpedoes" stage of the game comes to an end while there is still an IJN...

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

I guess my only question is do folks think the AI is giving them a reasonable game ? - we only promised no worse than stock - from what I am reading and seeing people seem to think its better which is good but there seems to be real concern thats its almost to aggressive ?

IHMO, at the core it is definitely giving me a reasonable game compared to the straight-jacket AI in WITP.

My only worry, which may be totally unfounded, is that the current AI, by being too aggressive too early, is spreading out his forces too fast on conquering small, isolated bases with no immediate value (like going as far as Rabaul on December 10th, 1941, while having just started invading the Philippines and Malaya).

This, added to the lack of escorts for Amphi TFs, could lead to the Japanese AI overextending himself much too soon.

Yup its an issue but the AI needs to stirke while the allies are weak or it may never manage it !!!
 
I will keep playing with it to try and get more cover

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Yup its an issue but the AI needs to stirke while the allies are weak or it may never manage it !!!

I will keep playing with it to try and get more cover

I think the AI also has to take a big risk/unexpected attack to catch a human player off guard. It just isin't possible otherwise.