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Lowpe -> RE: The Dutch are the first to Die! (3/21/2017 12:28:37 PM)
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There are several automatic settings I use very frequently to give more control to my local commanders. For example, a lot of my destroyers and light cruisers pursing the Thundering Herd are set to threat status Low. This means they are more likely to retreat. In my game versus Tiemanj I was able to use these settings to great effect at escaping certain death to wandering Fletcher task forces (there the setting was set to Safest or Safer, forget the exact terminology, and the TF would encounter each other but no combat would ensue pluse they had a different mission setting).
I did this setting in case my multiple small task forces blunder into a powerful Marblehead/Boise task force, as I would rather they retreat than slug it out and sink. I have heavier ships coming that can play with Boise.
So, here I am hoping that a Surface Mission task force, set to Low threat status, will more likely break off an engagement with enemy warships but will hopefully still sink merchant ships. We shall see...
During the critical night after the Pearl Strike, the KB was stripped of some surface ships to make for a screening SAG, while the KB itself was set to Low. During the night the KB reacted and changed course to avoid John Wayne's charge. The SAG was set at normal/normal, was given a patrol destination, but did not close with the surface threat. None of my ship Captains are super aggressive...when I need an aggressive commander for a particular job, I appoint a TF commander with the exception of subs and ASW craft.
Note these are instances of using the surface threat level. There is also a threat level for air. When I played Allies against AndyMac's Ironman AI, I would always put the British forces that had radar on Low air threat levels in the early months of fighting in the SRA. Often times those cruisers would alter course to avoid air threats.
It is not flawless, however. Sometimes the ships won't steam far enough away from Betty/Nell/Mavis or Emily attacks -- so that needs to be watched.
Also, you can gain local intel by plotting courses and changing the settings and checking to see how the local Captain plots his course. You can gain quite a lot of intel this way, but you do need to interpret it.
Another of the automatic settings I like to use is the Air Commanders Choice in bombing runs. That can pay off well, care needs to be taken in the aggression level of the commander (the basic protocol for targeting is described in the manual pretty well).
And finally, I really use Reserve status for ground forces a lot. Both modes are worth understanding -- but Reserve (no pursuit) mode is very valuable in almost any defensive position with more than a few units.
Unlike a lot of players, I really enjoy when the units do their own thing. I think it makes for a better game, with lots of surprises. It is particularly gratifying when I can make the enemy react to my moves.
So stop using normal/normal![:)]
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