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AI ... - 10/29/2003 6:44:37 AM

Chaplain2

Posts: 3
Joined: 10/29/2003
Status: offline

Well, James, let me try -

1) The carrier problem was fixed in 1.05b and 1.05c. Carrier-based aircraft now operate properly. Most complaints about carrier ops that you read about in HOI are either A) from players who haven't patched to the latest patch, or 2) players who never develop the necessary techs to field truly effective airpower. There seems to be an expectation (wish?) that every nation should have Essex-class carriers by 1940 at the latest, which is of course silly in a historical context. In multiplayer games, the US and Japan can have some very interesting carrier duels. Planes launch and strike automatically, you can raid ports, soften up amphibious targets, etc.

However, the AI is less adroit at using its carriers than players are. (What AI isn't?) I hear you on the issue of the SC AI being "better", but that's because SC is infinitely less complex and versatile - not to mention much smaller in scale. Not a knock on SC, they're just different games.

2) As far as AI is concerned in general, the AI in CORE will knock you around quite a bit. I have yet to win as Japan or the UK. But that's not the best part - the best part is that it is constantly being upgraded, not only by the CORE modders but by the original programmers - Paradox continues to release expanded AI variables in each patch. Every time they do that, hordes of die-hards go to work tweaking the nation-specific AI's for CORE. As it stands now (0.62 beta), you can expect Allied landings at any weak points in Fortress Europa, and the USA and Japan will invade often as well. If you could see the truly dramatic development of the AI since the beginning, you would understand what can happen.

There is one last problem being addressed by both the CORE modders and the Paradox people, and that is D-Day. AT this point the AI will conduct an efficient D-Day operation at a smart point in time and place, but it does not "break out" as well as it should. This is the primary focus of the current beta stage of CORE, as well as Paradox itself. It is definitely "doable" because the AI donducts lots of breakthroughs/exploitations (remember A3R?) during land campaigns all over the world.

Anyway - I'm completely sold. I still play the WiF global game once per year on tabletop, and I'll buy cWiF, and I hate RTS - but I also feel that CORE HOI is approaching the level of A3R and WiF in terms of long-term lifespan. Try it in multiplayer with a group of serious gamers. It's a blast!

(in reply to James Taylor)

Post #: 1

- 10/29/2003 6:47:22 AM

Spickle

Posts: 35
Joined: 10/14/2003
Status: offline

The issue, if you can call it that, with HoI is that it doesn't know what it is. It isn't a pure wargame and it isn't a political/economic one. Its somewhere in between. The problem is that the wargame section isn't that deep, even at a strategic level, while the country control is limited by the fact that sides are already set and there's little movement for politics during the period. Thus I don't think its going to appeal to diehard wargamers.

For the record I like it, but there is so much more expansion it needs. I do like wargames, but my favourite, by far, are those that allow me to control politics and economics. Those are my preferred fields. Its much more fun if there's a third way. I enjoy using my army and navy as a defensive force to protect assets that I'm controlling. That's why I can't wait for Victoria.

(in reply to James Taylor)

Post #: 2

HOI2 - 10/29/2003 8:18:02 AM

Greyshaft

Posts: 2252
Joined: 10/27/2003
From: Sydney, Australia
Status: offline

I dislike the HOI naval model but their Russian front really rocks!!! The tech model and political events are great also. The disadvantage of the HOI naval model is that you just send in your forces and watch the Battle... there's no partial commitment of carrier fleets or selection of targets like Wif air attacks.

I didn't know about HOI2... tell me more... my budget's big enough for cWiF and HOI2.

And I'm another board wargamer whose family/work life has expanded to the point that I don't expect to ever play another mega FTF game this side of retirement.

(in reply to James Taylor)

Post #: 3

- 10/29/2003 12:00:03 PM

stretch

Posts: 636
Joined: 12/17/2001
Status: offline

actually the lack of decent carrier operations and the naval system in general was what turned me off too. I spent a lot of time lurking on the forums last January to March and it seemed, to me, that the consensus opionon on naval, specifically carrier, ops in HoI is that they sucked big ones. The above information has perhaps turned me over to giving it a chance.

For that matter, WiF has a naval system that is somewhat abstract, with sea zones and "boxes" in them that represent levels of readiness or time spent in the zone. The more movement points spent in the zone you stop in, the higher "box" you can get into.

(in reply to James Taylor)

Post #: 4