Computer controlled theaters?

[gunnergoz]

It's been many moons since I played the original WIP but I seem to recall the ability to turn over control of some theaters like the CBI and Indian Ocean ops to the computer so I could focus entirely upon the US war effort. Is that capability no longer in the game? Or am I just too old and bleary eyed to see it in the manual or game menu? I don't mind being humiliated if its there and I overlooked it so please feel free to point it out if I missed it.

[jwilkerson]

We had to take out the area commands when we rewrote the AI - you're not bleary eyed (this time [:)]) it really is gone!

Hope you think the new AI processor is worth the loss!

[Scott_USN]

So far yes and as most of my games I ignore China and North Pac.

[ckk]

ORIGINAL: Scott_USN

So far yes and as most of my games I ignore China and North Pac.

I've thought of that but I wonder what the penalty for ignoring these and maybe other theaters might be?

[Avenger]

I ignore China and North Pac also. I spent 16 hours doing the first turn because I wanted to do everything right, but that turned out to be a nightmare. At some point you have to stop caring if you lose and just have fun. It is difficult to micro manage all of these units, but I am pretty sure that I will beat the AI even leaving China and North Pac idle. This is like 10x more complex than stock Witp. There is just no way that I can spend a year on the first year of the war (again).

[ckk]

ORIGINAL: Avenger

I ignore China and North Pac also. I spent 16 hours doing the first turn because I wanted to do everything right, but that turned out to be a nightmare. At some point you have to stop caring if you lose and just have fun. It is difficult to micro manage all of these units, but I am pretty sure that I will beat the AI even leaving China and North Pac idle. This is like 10x more complex than stock Witp. There is just no way that I can spend a year on the first year of the war (again).

I agree that playing the game must be fun and stimulating. In WITP I always ignored the China and Alaska/Canada theaters. IRL these theaters contibuted only nuisance value in that they tied up(along with USSR Army) much IJA manpower to protect necessary reources or poltical concerns in the case of Alaska. I just wondered if the ignoring of these theaters could be predicted in the outcome e.g. lengthening of the war's outcome or? Or is the only way to find out is to play it to the end?

[Scott_USN]

ORIGINAL: ckk

ORIGINAL: Scott_USN

So far yes and as most of my games I ignore China and North Pac.

I've thought of that but I wonder what the penalty for ignoring these and maybe other theaters might be?

I don't know in a few months we may be cussing that we left the back door open... But I doubt it

[Scott_USN]

ORIGINAL: ckk

ORIGINAL: Avenger

I ignore China and North Pac also. I spent 16 hours doing the first turn because I wanted to do everything right, but that turned out to be a nightmare. At some point you have to stop caring if you lose and just have fun. It is difficult to micro manage all of these units, but I am pretty sure that I will beat the AI even leaving China and North Pac idle. This is like 10x more complex than stock Witp. There is just no way that I can spend a year on the first year of the war (again).

I agree that playing the game must be fun and stimulating. In WITP I always ignored the China and Alaska/Canada theaters. IRL these theaters contibuted only nuisance value in that they tied up(along with USSR Army) much IJA manpower to protect necessary reources or poltical concerns in the case of Alaska. I just wondered if the ignoring of these theaters could be predicted in the outcome e.g. lengthening of the war's outcome or? Or is the only way to find out is to play it to the end?

Yep there is a time when I just say nevermind and hit the turn button. As Allied player to start (not ready for industry yet) the first year is tedious sometimes but I have long range goals so a couple of turns will not bother me and I love LOVE the new air combat it keeps me busy as Allied and isn't as uneventful with my planes being basically useless as in the WITP (not bashing just say I loved WITP too).

[Scott_USN]

 
 
Well this makes it more interesting. Not leaving Wake to sink alone

[Scott_USN]

In the older games they would just hit wake and leave and go home with a destroyed SNLF dead or win, now it has been a few days and they will just not quit.

[gunnergoz]

OK, I can live with it if the AI is that much improved.  I've not had time to get into AE yet but I will soon enough.  I'm glad that the priority was on the improved AI, that is what truly matters to us solo players.

[bjfagan]

I would like to see the AI theater control return for at least the British and Chinese forces. There is enough detail and micro management with just the US already, but then to have to worry about India and China too... I think this will be overload for many players, IMO. The turns will definitely be very long and if you try to leave those areas alone you will just give the Japanese a big advantage.

[steveh11Matrix]

Since the reason the ai controlled theatre option was removed was because it clashed heavily with the needs of the new ai scripts - mainly because there were so many cross-theatre moves and units, iirc - I don't suppose we'll see it back. I'm concerned that it's going to make the game unplayable (for MY poor overloaded brain, anyway) but the only way to find out is to play...

Steve.

[LeeChard]

I always let the AI handle CBI too but I think once I get a plan in place it won't be all that much more to handle the land war. I won't need to study every thing every turn after all a division of troops can't appear out of nowhere like an undetected fleet.
Even if you only pay a little attention you'll probably play as well or better than the AI.
Besides I think playing with those British ships and planes will make it all worthwhile.

[Peter Fisla]

I realized yesterday by starting the full campaign as allies it's going to be a lot of work to take care of China properly...I will do it like you guys leave China the way it is. I will possibly move some troops around to find better defensive positions for them but otherwise it's just too much to handle. With WitP I would always leave this area under friendly AI control, I have to say I miss this feature big time in AE. I will see if having China being mostly passive will balance things out a bit. However if the cost of strategic AI is to better have operational/tactical AI well then so be it, my point of view.

[vinnie71]

Actually though the Chinese theatre is much bigger now, its also simpler to operate because most of the indipendent divisions have been organised in corps.

BTW I miss the Chinese tank regiment!

What I miss is the ability to bring together the various air groups. Many have been broken down into their component units and is almost impossible to check where all a fighter or bomber group is...

[Scott_USN]

Considering the AI Never did anything in CBI hardly anyway not much of a lost.
 
Yes I like the Air Groups also much easier to manage.

[NAVMAN]

After playing around with the game for a while, I miss the ability to delegate control
of areas to the AI. I know some will say it d/n do a good job, but in my view, it eases
the work load substantially for areas which I consider to be of marginal importance.
Was the deletion of AI control discussed as a feature of the game prior to release?
I don't remember seeing anything on this.
I would like to see this option brought back.

Thx.

[rhohltjr]

To all of you that like to turn over control of some theaters to AI all I can say is :

( in Bill Clinton voice ) "I feel your pain".

I understand why regional control was removed to enable the "smarter global AI" to run.
I wish it could be returned but it won't.
Perhaps in Witp2 the smart global AI will coexist with regional AI.

[Stugots]

When i found out that i could no longer let ai handle certain zones i had this overwelming feeling. In vanilla witp i would always let China be controlled by the ai. So in AE i was forced to tackle it. To my surprise i enjoyed being able to control that after the intial shock.

So my advice would be jump in and give it a shot. Firt turn is a daunting task but it calms after. Or you could always try the Quite China scenario.