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Yeah, I played it and was just creamed. The AI swamped me with dozens of those light vehicles ... (forgot the name, of course ...) I couldn't even stop him with AT guns. I finally built tanks, but too late ... (I played without full 1st tech level at start) Funny thing: I owned even 5 of 9 towns on the map ...[X(]

Any more mediocre players here that wish there was a step in between AI and AI+?[8|]

So does the AI play better at higher levels or just get bonuses to production and such? Thanks.

Overall i am very impressed with the AI and don't see going past normal for some time. I am learning from it and, while i prefer to make uber-units, i am getting surrounded by smaller diverse groups who are cutting my supply lines and beating me by attrition[8|]. Considering the randomness of the setup options that is no small feat.
I have still to conquer the tolkienesque scenario but i am able to survive longer, the AI uses his allies to harrass me all over the map and i can't get any momentum built up without getting cut off...making powerful armies a less viable solution.

ORIGINAL: elmo3

So does the AI play better at higher levels or just get bonuses to production and such? Thanks.

Difficult to say. There seem to be many more of them. MANY more.

LOL Westheim!!! Welcome to the club hehe [:D]
 
I mirror pretty much what TheHellPatrol said!
 
Yep, "Normal AI" for me invariably ends in attrition and my being toasted unless I'm very careful!! It's some of the best AI I've encounterd in a wargame in terms of playing a fairly logical and humanlike game. The first random scenario I played, I got cocky and ended up with some very nice combined arms units tootling along a convenient road into opfor territory. A very sexy convoy of powerful units that was, I can tell you!  Congratulating myself on what a brilliant strategist I am was a bit premature when the AI units began moving into my supply lines in numbers. Nothing big or beefy, but enough to cut off supplies and needless to say, I was wasted in short order. I didn't make that mistake again, but my caution means I'm taking several times longer to make progress.
 
I have tried AI+ on one game and it wasn't pretty. I think I'll just carry on with AI thanks! Has anyone (truthfully now!!!) beaten the game against AI++?
 
Regards,
Jim

ORIGINAL: Westheim

ORIGINAL: elmo3

So does the AI play better at higher levels or just get bonuses to production and such? Thanks.

Difficult to say. There seem to be many more of them. MANY more.

As far as I'm aware the AI gets more production. They do seem more aggressive too, which is probably a side effect of having more units to throw around.

I'm no great strategist and have found normal AI to be challenging as I learn the game. I tried AI+ in my last game and was doing great right up to the moment where I met the first AI unit. After that it all went a bit Germany 45 as I was slowly but surely pushed back and back to the gates of my capital. Great fun!

ORIGINAL: Jim_H

I got cocky and ended up with some very nice combined arms units tootling along a convenient road into opfor territory. A very sexy convoy of powerful units that was, I can tell you! Congratulating myself on what a brilliant strategist I am was a bit premature when the AI units began moving into my supply lines in numbers. Nothing big or beefy, but enough to cut off supplies and needless to say, I was wasted in short order.

Heh, same thing has happened to me. A nice fat group of 400-600 str units I made.. I can't wait to get them into battle to toast the AI's 80-150 str units.. when suddenly a few of those meek little AI units takes control of the road to my rear and my nice new army is a nice fat stationary target! It sure teaches the lesson to protect the flanks and rear. The AI seems very good at encirclement!

LOL! Yes, the AI is exceptionally good at encirclement! It is also good at exploiting the tiniest weakness in any frontline you may have and making a nice big hole in it! I've had so many situations like this, it's becoming a bit of a habit now. I create a frontline. The AI pounds it until a hole appears, or it just flanks me. I am soooooo rubbish at this game [:D] 
 
I just had one where a large town was behind a nice big fat mountain range. So, I camped a few units in the area to keep supply lines open and basically ignored that part of the map for a couple of turns. What happened? The AI marched a convoy of six or seven quite large units through a mountain pass, took the town and cut off all supply routes to my defenders. Brilliant! I was sat there with my mouth open!! Cheeky. I have to hand it to Vic, he's coded a very devious AI there!

2.1 in the manual "Tactical and Strategic Gameplay", is a very good intro on how you need to approach a campaign and the game in general. All the recommendations which spelled out what "not" to do, I was doing.....[:D]

I must say, the AI is better at the offence than on defence but it is not unbeatable even with production bonus. Though those daring armored thrusts seem daunting at first, but if you just keep them encircled and destroys them at sufficient rate you should have an much easier time. Just remember to have good numbers of artillery and aircraft to even the odds. Blowing bridges is also very good scince the AI don't seem to have repairing them very high on the ToDo list

If it is you who are on the offence you will find the AI reluctant to form strong defencive positions, they blow bridges but they do it too early, cutting of own units from supplies. You are allowed to exploit the AI's weaknesses in any way you can imagine if you give it a 100% or 250% bonus

ORIGINAL: TheHellPatrol

Overall i am very impressed with the AI and don't see going past normal for some time. I am learning from it and, while i prefer to make uber-units, i am getting surrounded by smaller diverse groups who are cutting my supply lines and beating me by attrition[8|]. Considering the randomness of the setup options that is no small feat.
I have still to conquer the tolkienesque scenario but i am able to survive longer, the AI uses his allies to harrass me all over the map and i can't get any momentum built up without getting cut off...making powerful armies a less viable solution.

It's a pretty smart AI! Tolkienesque kicked my butt on the simplest AI level. I was thinking it might need an AI-- level for me. [:D]

Now I am trying the Russian Front 41 and it is quite busy. Production and research are really neat in this game. I hope other game designers will take note of how production should be done. This is the way supplies should be. [&o]

I don't think production is quiet perfect yet....but it's certainly a lot better than many......now if we could just get this guy and Frank Hunter together.......[8D]
 
so far the Axis AI in Russia 41 is fairly underwhelming (just at AI level, my 1st scenario, done about 10 turns) - it took ages to take Minsk and Riga, & hasn't taken Kiev or Smolensk yet.  I might have to restart at a higher level for more of a challenge[:)]

Normal AI is keeping me busy. Cut off and surrounded again? [8|]
My record so far is mixed.
First game North Africa as Allies. Got creamed. Big time... [:'(]
2nd game as Axis I won easily (north africa again).
I'm a ways into Ardennes now as Axis and felt like I had been doing pretty well but now the tide is beginning to turn and I have the feeling I'm about to be obliterated in a big way. I lost 3 heavy tanks last turn with over-optimistic (well, OK... stupid [:D]) attacks into heavy woods against what looked to be weak units (pay attention to that colored recon number) [:(]. Now, after the AI's turn, 4 big armored units and some infantry are circled and out of supply [:@] and my 'loose' line in the middle is being infiltrated and supplies cut off... [X(]

This game is sucking my life away, in fact I'm late to go pick up my daughter from school right this minute because of it... [:(]

Great game Victor. Here's to you!

I beat a couple of the scenarios but have yet to win a random game, the AI is on my doorstep before I even complete exploring with no chance to expand.

ORIGINAL: Banquet

Heh, same thing has happened to me. A nice fat group of 400-600 str units I made.. I can't wait to get them into battle to toast the AI's 80-150 str units.. when suddenly a few of those meek little AI units takes control of the road to my rear and my nice new army is a nice fat stationary target! It sure teaches the lesson to protect the flanks and rear. The AI seems very good at encirclement!

I think its often a mistake to build too big units. I know its very tempting but instead the units should be evened out some to allow for you to protect your flanks(covering the whole front) and take advantage of the bonus from doing attacks from different directions.

And understanding the strenght of different units and utilize them for maximum effect is a must. I still cant beleive how crazy the tank destroyer is. I swear its the unit i hate to face off against the most in AT.

Aright if you keep talking like that about the AI you're going to almost force me to buy this game before kissmas. An Erik if you're NOT going to put this one up on the kissmas special then tell me now so I don't have to wait so long.

The standard AI is no match for PT players, at least not in the long run. Depends on starting positions, though. But the AI+ kills. It shot me here, and here ... and here, too.

I stepped back again into a game with five standard AIs on a 40x40 map, with much wood. I will teach them to suffer. I think.

Well on the back of this thread and other very positive threads, I've bought it....and I was doing so well breaking my adiction to buying the latest games from Matrix (still haven't got Hornet Leader which may well end up on my computer now they've released a demo).

RH
Just divvy up the cash and support the developer of a great game (not my accolade as yet) for a change. He did his first game for free, and the comments on this board suggest he deserves the $39.99.

It seems to me the random maps alone (and having an AI that apparently can deal with them) is worth that alone in replay value.

Actually, RH has me on ignore (I forgot, he realised I was the law and couldn't argue with me)...someone else tell him, will ya.

Actually, don't bother....I'd rather his posts didn't pollute this nice community [:D]