Rainer
Posts: 1210
Joined: 11/21/2000 From: Neuching, Bavaria, Germany Status: offline
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Scenario 15 (The BIG one), Japanese Computer, latest version (all patches applied), SE Human, all other areas Computer, Date July 8, 1942, Daily Turns I want to share some observations of AI Behaviour to help find out what's "buggy" and what has been implemented intentionally "by design". One or the other design decision may or may not need reconsideration. 1. Auto Routes Most, but not all convoys, either Auto-Convoy or convoys set up manually, avoid the (mid 1942) dangerous area of the Marshall Islands (Kwajalein etc.). About 2 out of 10 convoys stray too far to the West, are spotted, attacked and sunk by Japanese aircraft (happened twice, then I interferred and routed those convoys manually around the danger zone). This happens nearly always on the way from the US coast to the Allied SoPac/SWPac bases. Returning most of these TFs choose a route much more to the South, thus no danger. 2. Med Bombers and Recon It seems not to be possible to make an air unit attack a specific target. Example: Trying to plan an attack out of Rabaul towards Gili Gili I ordered Moresby based Catalinas to recon Gili Gili, even limited deliberately their range. Still the Cats either went elsewhere or (with the appropriate range limit set) did not take off at all. Same with Moresby based medium bombers (Marauders and Bostons). Ordered to ground attack Gili Gili they simply ignore those orders and attack Lae or Buna. Even after landing troops at Gili Gili and starting the fight the bombers don't care and ignore specific orders to help in the struggle. This is rather strange, and not very realistic. From bombarding Gili Gili I knew that fairly strong Japanese forces were there. But even if those enemy forces were weak or not existent (how does AI know about this without cheating?) at least the ordered recon missions should be carried out, lest the commander (player) is kept in the dark about what he/she is running into. 3. Planning (Future Objective) Setting "Future Objective" apparently does not work. In order to attack Gili Gili (the example above) 6th Aus Div and 30th Aus Brig were set to plan for Gili Gili. Every 3rd turn or so I found that the objectives had been reset to Moresby, starting over at zero. 4. Straying Ground Units I have seen at least one unit (80th Engineer Aviation Bataillon) starting to move on its own towards Gili Gili. I did not order this and it is totally unclear why this unit decided to march to Japanese occupied Gili Gili (not to mention the cumbersome route across the mountains). When I saw them doing this I immediately ordered them back to Moresby. Next turn they again turned to Gili Gili (on their own), and I left them this time do what they "want" because Gili Gili had been conquered/liberated. Please note: ALL units mentioned above are under FULL HUMAN control, as is the area (SE). And yes, I double checked the units in questions are under "Human Control". Any comments/advice welcommed. Rainer
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