The Union AI and the blockade

[Patrat]

I am at the end of 1862 playing as Confederates against the Union AI set to expert.

The Union really had me worried in early 62. I thought finally the AI is giving me a challenge. I was losing more MPPs than I was spending on units and things weren't looking good with massive Union armies bearing down on Virginia and Tennessee.

Turns out I was wrong. I'm about to storm Washington, and it looks like another game is going to end in 63.

The major issue I noticed is that the Union totally messed up doing a blockade, despite having a large Navy. It used its Navy mainly to bombard my coastal units and forts to little effect.

If the Union AI had used all these ships to strangle my ports, I'd probably would be mounting a desperate defense of Richmond right now, instead of assaulting Washington.

The Union also made the usual mistake of over committing west of the Mississippi. But despite this, I might have lost if it actually did a proper blockade.

[Platoonist]

AI-controlled naval units in the SC series always seem to be a bit too offensive-minded. Like when in SC: War in Europe when the AI Kriegsmarine comes charging out of the Baltic piecemeal to get its head handed to it by the much larger Royal Navy.

I've noticed that even in this game, Confederate gunboats seem to enjoy exposing themselves to the superior guns of the Federal ocean-going navy instead of just waiting upriver in ambush. Maybe it's a use it or lose it thing.

[Hubert Cater]

Thanks for the feedback and I can confirm that Ryan has been working on the Union AI handling of the blockade and that we can expect some improvements here with the next update.

[Patrat]

Great news thanks Hubert.

[pascalc]

Thanks for the feedback and I can confirm that Ryan has been working on the Union AI handling of the blockade and that we can expect some improvements here with the next update.

Any idea when that next update will be?
Not looking for a firm promise, just a head-scratching guess.

[Patrat]

To follow up what happened in my game.

I took Washington in the winter of 62, but the Union AI launched vicious counterattacks and took it back. Washington changed hands several times during 63 and Lee's army was almost bled white. Oddly enough, both the Confederate army of Virginia and the Union army were whittled down so small, that the fighting really started to resemble the real civil war rather than WW1.

At the same time the Union AI finally started getting its Naval act together and started seizing ports and blockading more effectively. I was getting worried that I had spoken to soon.

However it proved to be a case of to little to late. By November of 63 I had full control of Washington Baltimore and Annapolis and the Union surrendered.

I'm more than convinced if the AI had started an effective blockade earlier, I would most likely have lost. Or at least have had a real nail biting game well into 65.

I realize that IRL it took sometime for the blockade to become effective. But if the AI decides to built a big Navy early on, it should use it effectively. Otherwise it could of just built a bigger army and stopped me cold outside of Washington.