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The AI seems to tend to separate its fleets into dedicated space superiority & ground attack types. I have butchered two different ground attack fleets in my current game, one with major system defenses bolstered by three corvettes and a dreadnought, and the other by one of my own space superiorty fleets.

This is especially odd as the AI tends to escort colony ships in force. It should escort ground attack aka invasion fleets in force too.

The AI would be much, much better off in following Mahanian principles, and putting most everybody into one big fleet. The latter would minimize an AI empire's losses while dramatically inhibiting player countermoves per "fleet in being" principles.

Since the AI "knows" where your poorly defended planets are and has the advantage of surprise is that really a good idea ..?[:)]

At turn 130 in the default 12 AI player game and I`m seeing AI killer stacks crush my border planets.

ORIGINAL: Tom_Holsinger

The AI seems to tend to separate its fleets into dedicated space superiority & ground attack types. I have butchered two different ground attack fleets in my current game, one with major system defenses bolstered by three corvettes and a dreadnought, and the other by one of my own space superiorty fleets.

This is especially odd as the AI tends to escort colony ships in force. It should escort ground attack aka invasion fleets in force too.

The AI would be much, much better off in following Mahanian principles, and putting most everybody into one big fleet. The latter would minimize an AI empire's losses while dramatically inhibiting player countermoves per "fleet in being" principles.

Actually the AI only knows what you are foolish enough to tell them.

Exchanging Map Information for money isn't always a good idea.

I have found, the hard way with my own fleets, that it is NOT a good idea to put your invasion ships in your space superiority fleets. The invasion fleet should follow the space superiority fleet by a turn or two.

And I just had to eat my own words.. I'm playing the humans in the 12 races scenario,and was guarding a wormhole with about 90% of my fleet - some 21 warships. An Ancient Race of Machines fleet hit me with a comparable force of warships, and an equal number of transports & assault transports. I lost half my fleet and the AROM had four missile cruisers left. I resolved the battle on Auto.

I.e., the AI will sometimes include everybody in one big fleet. What counts is timing the movement of the invasion fleet to arrive after the space superiority fleet.

By the way, missile cruisers are just deadly in this game.

There is a lot to like in this game. Well done, Bob.[8D]

although if unprotected, missile cruisers are dead meat to an equal force of plain destroyers.

I also point out that the reason I was defending that wormhole was not because I didn't know what was on the other side. There was a nearby wormhole that I lacked the tech to investigate. I didn't defend that one. I defended the one I controlled both ends of, because one end led to the heart of my empire, and was surrounded by undefended core planets. I defended the end of my wormhole pair which was close to the suspicious one, and the AROM fleet did not, rrepeat, did not, come out of the suspicious wormhole. They came at me through a dustcloud, and their fleet was clearly going for the short route to the core of my empire. Which had my major fleet on it.

I repeat that Armada 2526 has great strategic depth.

If I have ONE ground unit that can move, I can get a draw with any fleet that does not have missile shilps. The AI can be varry dum. Too bad... [>:]
Ron

Yep, it's boring but possible.

ORIGINAL: rgmerkel

If I have ONE ground unit that can move, I can get a draw with any fleet that does not have missile shilps. The AI can be varry dum. Too bad... [>:]
Ron

I don't see the problem here. Controlling the skies is not enough. The AI needs to have troops or ships that can take out ground units. Just take Afghanistan for example...the Allies control the skies but that's not sufficient.

Or do you mean that the AI never takes missile ships and troops when they attack?

Well what I do is,
* At the start of "combat" is jump to the left side of the planet.
* When the fleet crosses about 1/3 of the plant I start a jump to the Left side (strat at the ships). They ALL turn away from me and head to where I'm going.
* As they get to were I was going (and coming to a stop), I jump back to the left.
* Repeat as needed. If done right, the "battle" ends with not one shoot fired.

I could not get away with this if the ships would keep heading toard me and not where I'm going. Missile ships have enofe range to fire no mater where I jump.

I think to give the "AI" a fair chance, of jest setting all my forces into "AI" mode and jest watch what happens. [:(]

Oh well maybe next update (hint hint)
Ron