The Red Baron
Posts: 167
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: Adirondack Mtns, NY
Status: offline
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Vic,
First, let me echo Reconvet's comments. I enjoy the gameplay very much and it's hard for me to put it down! I wanted to offer a few suggestions for the AI. I am not sure if they are feasible, but I thought I would mention them. These are based on my observations after playing through turn 45 of Uranus (Full) as the Soviets against the AI.
1) On defense the AI tends to cram too many units into an objective hex, which makes it easier to execute a double envelopement and trap even more units in the pocket. Is it possible to make the AI spread out more on defense? This isn't so much a problem when the front is relatively static but when the situation is fluid and it's not possible for the AI to form a continuous line of units to defend a city.
2) The AI doesn't seem to attack targets of opportunity with it's air units, like Soviet tank brigades sitting in clear terrain with no AA cover. The AI made good use of its air units when they were part of a combined-arms assault with artillery, tanks and infantry to capture an objective; however, once I began a strategic offensive all across the front and the AI began steady withdrawals, it never used its air force to harass exposed units or disrupt an imminent attack.
3) The AI tended to deploy its air units too close the front. I destroyed far more aircraft by overruning enemy air fields than I shot down with my fighters. Is it possible to make the AI redeploy its air units sooner?
4) Early in the game, the AI had naval units stationed at Novorossisk. When I setup for an attack on its naval units, it evacuated them to Kerch. Later, when I threatened Kerch, it failed to evacuate the port. As far as I know, the AI never used it's barges or transports to evacuate Axis troops, and, since they remained in Kerch, I simply blockaded the port and attacked them turn after turn until I had sunk everything. Maybe AI naval units could retreat to Yalta or Sevastopol where they might assist in a possible evacuation of the Crimea?
5) The AI should be made to garrision the western Caucasus ports like Primorsko, Yeisk and Taman, especially if Rostov has fallen. I was able to make amphibious landings at these locations over the course of a few turns and progressively threaten Axis supply lines in the Caucasus (I had already captured Rostov). During a recon mission I accidentally discovered the AI had left Novorossisk (the last supply link into the Caucaus at that point) without a garrison. I promptly made an amphibious landing on the same turn, which completely isolated the region. I also think the AI should hold mobile troops, like the Slovak Fast Division, in reserve as a Quick Reaction Force to repel any amphibious assault before the player can establish a firm bridgehead.
6) As I slowly eliminated the giant pocket I had created in the Caucasus, I noticed the AI had placed the majority of its forces, especially German infantry divisions, including recent reinforcements, in the Caucasus. This left the front from Kursk south to Mariupol without many high quality troops to defend it.
I have no idea how to program an AI, but if it's possible to modify the AI's behavior in these respects, it would make for a more challenging game.
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