Has the AI lost it's mind?

[Mike Scholl]

You need to "tweek" the AI a bit in a patch somewhere. For the 3rd start in a row, the South (AI side) in a game has built some fleets and sailed them out to do battle with the Union Navy off Virginia. This time the dumb thing has lost over 100 "ships" in endless defeats at Union Hands. Is it getting them for "free" somehow that it doesn't care about losses? To keep building them all would certainly be wrecking the South's economy (which it doesn't seem to be doing). This is idiotic in the extreme.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

...This is idiotic in the extreme.

[:-] Is that crap really necessary?

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: elmo3

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl

...This is idiotic in the extreme.

[:-] Is that crap really necessary?

What "crap"? How else would you describe such total nonsense? The AI is behaving in a manner that should be totally contrary to it's own best interests. Such behavior is refered to as idiotic, moronic, or just plain stupid. I'm not referring to any person, just suggesting that the AI's decision tree needs some "tweeking" as it's currently doing some rediculous things.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Mike Scholl


What "crap"? How else would you describe such total nonsense? ...

Your first five sentences described the AI behavior quite clearly. Your last sentence was crap.

[Artmiser]

Depends, when I play the north I focus on my infrastructure and ground forces, that tactic did manage to smash my starting fleet.  However, the south is also doing well with land.  I have to assume the AI is getting some kind of resource gift/bonus.  Side not the one time I did get my fleet stomped, south had like 150 ships, I was at war with france.  So nut sure what kind of forces are made available to the south under that situation.
 
 

[Hard Sarge]

Hmmm, I must say, you guys get different games then I do (but, I also did not test much from the Union side)

[Artmiser]

heh I prefer the south, but I usualy start as the north to learn the rules, more forgiving. The AI does get some sort of nice money bonus I know. As north or south im always getting outspent by the ai in diplomacy

[Central Blue]

while waiting for the siege patch I have been experimenting with the economics and building of units, as well as moving around to see how strategic the AI is. Along the way...

I too have noticed that in some game starts the CSA AI is suicidal. It is very annoying to test the game economics when the south insists on invading the eastern seaboard.

I have also noticed that the AI seems to have very little interest in squares that don't have a city or fort in them. It is thus quite easy to cut the south into three sections with a a couple of divisions. I have traveled as far as Florida without every meeting resistance.

In one game start I waltzed into the Shenandoah while he was off fighting at Bull Run and he never did throw me out despite time left on the campaign clock.

I prefer to start in July.

[Artmiser]

Actually looking at the costs if the Ai is getting allot of money, for being the ai, ships are cheap for it.  100 money 30 labor and 10 iron.  Take away the money as a factor and this will explain why all the ships.
 
If you want to make the ai more challenging instead of a block of cash just give the say one free box in dilplomacy for each power.  Or even change the prices for all of the units for the ai.  If the ai is just getting lots of money then I can see how it could end up with big fleets.