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Murat -> RE: The usual question: A.I. (12/6/2007 5:43:23 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Tanan Fujiwara
Hi Valgua,
I just bought the game yesterday, couldnīt help myself since I love the boardgame and play it often by mail. Since the game is not true to the original boardgame (allthough it's very similar), it's not of much use to me as a pbem game, I rather keep on with cyberboard, so I obviously bought it as a solo game hoping for a good AI...
So to answer your question, I've been playing it all morning with the hardest AI setting and I must say that it's been dissapointing up to now... for example, GB keeps on making stupid invasions that only leed to their doom and the Austrian and Prussian players barlely move their forces allthough they are at war with Russia (doesnīt make any since the DoW of Prussia to Russia) and with Turkey (this DoW agaisnt Austria does)... to top it off, the diplomacy you can undertake with the AI major powers is senseless, since for starts you never know their stance about you or other countries and a part from the allience, there is no other agreements you can reach with them.
I must say though that I thought that the game was going to be less like EiA so in this respect is ok (allthough not quite like the original), and hopefully they'll upgrade the AI in a future patch and add a bit more diplomacy with the major powers in solo games. Until then, the game is not really worth it's money for solo play.
My best
Well to start with the AI does not chose the best options and will not perform as well in chosing battles as a human player so this game will really shine in PBEM BUT:
The AI keeps costs low and autoforages when possible, making you go to your enemy. Good because most losses I have seen in this game come from foraging and massive stack battles (which themselves either cost a lot in supply or have foraging losses).
The hardest AI setting is a bear, not strategically but because of the bonuses they get. They replace losses quickly (20% bonus to $$$ and manpower) and can be difficult to stay ahead of in VPs (they get a +1 bonus per econ AND +1 pp per econ or month I think).
Those bonuses help level out the fact that AI still considers the board a free for all. A Prussia/Austria permalliance would mitigate some of this and can be created by just going to war if either of them attacks a German or Italian minor (you can preset this).
I have managed to get my allies to do all sorts of stuff. Russia gave me $20 for 2pp. Spain attacked the British fleet in the channel. Prussia followed my armies into Vienna after I did all the work in subduing the Austrians (OK that was them taking advantage of me but still...).
The British typically annihalate the French fleet right off the bat and Brittania is safe from invasion for the rest of the game.
For solo play I think it is still worth the $$$ if you do the right set up. Make France and Britain at war with each other. Keep the winter movement ON. Put every AI opponent on Hard to give them the bonuses. Small nations will give you a challenge for the win off the VP growth and larger nations will be harder to take out. Force the Prussian/Austrian alliance if you chose to play as France. Go to war with France and/or Britain if you are Russia. Austria, Prussia, Turkey and Spain will be challenges without any help =) You may still win but it is not a guarantee and you will not walk all over your opponents.
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