Matrix Games Forums

WPO - Same AI as WITP?

Does the AI play like WITP?

Are the same AI scripts being used in WPO? If so won't some very strange things happen in the later years of the war?

No. We have had to modify the AI somewhat. Is it as good as a human? No. But it is very competent, and will focus on the Philippines/Dutch East Indies and Central Pacific, as well as make life Hell around New Guinea.

The AI now follows more of a 1920's style plan, though will still act similarly in many ways to WitP's AI.

Tankerace

Glad to hear it.

What about China? My guess is China is going to play a bigger role in WPO than WITP,the AI in WITP is brain dead in China (doesn't act or react)![8|]

Actually, aside from Tsingtao in 1922, and the Shanghai SNLF in SHanghai, Japan has no troops in Manchuria or China. SO, the AI can completely ignore this front, or players can concentrate on it. With VPs equal at the start, players can fight whereever they want. Though, admittedly, there is no real reason to go into China, beyond securing its deep water ports.

Actually, aside from Tsingtao in 1922, and the Shanghai SNLF in SHanghai, Japan has no troops in Manchuria or China. SO, the AI can completely ignore this front, or players can concentrate on it. With VPs equal at the start, players can fight whereever they want. Though, admittedly, there is no real reason to go into China, beyond securing its deep water ports.

Are you saying that Japan (AI) does not invade China??

Nope. As pointed out by one of the betas, the game is subtitled "Dreadnoughts in the Pacific".

But just because the AI doesn't attack China, doesn't mean that a human Japanese player won't. Just not much point to it...

we are working hard to give you fair fight
now I need to sleep a bit [>:][>:][>:][>:]

Nope. As pointed out by one of the betas, the game is subtitled "Dreadnoughts in the Pacific".

Tankerace

I think I'm missing something, I went through the FAQ. Maybe you want to give us some more background on WPO (historic type view). Why wouldn't Japan's expansion start with China? If Japan doesn't attack China, will China remain netural?

Can Do.

China is modeled as historically accurate as records allow. For PBEM games, it is a valid theater of war. We are modelling 2 things in WPO: From a PBEM an open slate, in the sense that players can attack when or whereever they want, with whatever they want. China, Indo China, the PI, hell if you want you can just fight naval battles.

For the AI however, we have modeled WPO-2, in that the AI's prime concern is to take the PI, and then try and take Midway/Hawaii, and slow down the American reinforcements. You'll also note that, like the United States, Japan's army is not nearly as large in WitP. It consists of only 21 Divisions. Now, if the AI were to commit 10 of those to China, that leaves only 10 to oppose the player. Now while a PBEM player could do it, the AI might get bogged down.

That said, the AI will make an effort to defend its only China base (Tsingtao in 1922), but at the very most will launch attacks on the coastal bases. China has no airforce. Its navy consists of 5 cruisers that are, by Western Standards, fairly weak. However, while in AI play it may be considered neutral, in PBEM Shanghai, Tientsin, and Tsingtao could be used as a good staging bases.

China is not fully neutral, However. In Shanghai Britain has what amounts to a reinforced Division, and Tientsin boast a French Brigade and a US Infantry Regiment. Also, Shanghai is used as a gunboat and destroyer base by the United States.

WPO Assumes a war between the US and Japan. Britain and the Commonwealth will also play a part, although British forces cannot be used in the early stages of the war without a severe penalty. China, while an open element for PBEM play, can be ignored in AI play (although as the Japanese investing Shanghai and Hangchow would be beneficial).

VPs are equal at start, so as either country you are not hampered into where you want to attack. The AI scenarios, however, are designed to emulate WPO-2, and the Philippines and Midway/Hawaii are the center stages. PBEM games are open slates. That doesn't mean you can't invade China as the AI, but that the Japanese AI will usually ignore it, and if it does not, will not press into the interior.

Japan may very well have wanted to take China in the 1920s. And in the PBEM games, or as the Japanese player you can do this. But from the American player's perspective in the AI scenarios, the goal of the game is to fight for the Pacific, based along what the actual Rainbow planned assumed.