Passive AI

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War I] >> Guns of August 1914 - 1918 >> Passive AI

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Passive AI - 11/2/2007 7:30:27 PM

Disintegration

Posts: 27
Joined: 10/17/2007
Status: offline

I've still been seeing an AI that is extremely passive - making occasional counterattacks but otherwise only bombarding even against very lightly defended fronts - so last night I decided to put it to the test. I started as TE and deployed every French unit at least one hex back from the border. The AI CP declared war on Belgium (after which I moved the Belgian army back a hex during the first impulse) and then sat on the border. For three turns. Not a single move, and not a single German unit visible on the Eastern Front. Nothing. Nada. Apparently von Moltke didn't get the memo that there was a war on.

So I tried the same playing the CP with the AI playing the TE. Same result. I pulled every German unit back from the border, leaving a two-hex margin this time. Not a peep from the AI. Not a single French or Russian unit had moved an inch into German territory as of January 1915. I could have disbanded every CP unit and it still would have been a stalemate.

What the heck is going on here? Other people seem to have AIs that actually fight - are they reacting to your moves, or launching offensives on their own?

GoA has the potential to be a 10 out of 10 but between the lack of a meaningful rulebook and this it's down to about a 2. It's effectively unplayable solo, which is the only way I ever play computer games. It's a real shame that such an otherwise great game is hobbled by such basic flaws.

Is there any chance of this being dealt with in a future release? Putting the learning AI back in, maybe as an option? An AI that would do anything, no matter how stupid or nonsensical, would be better than one which does nothing at all even when faced with a 100% undefended border.

Post #: 1

RE: Passive AI - 11/2/2007 8:11:50 PM

EUBanana

Posts: 4552
Joined: 9/30/2003
From: Little England
Status: offline

I've noticed this myself - I'm duplicating it right now in fact, with an unheld French border.

I think its because the approach the AI picks - east first, west first, or minors first - is perhaps a little too rigid.

The AI is going for Russia quite hard in in this test game, for example. By the end of August 1914 it was 1 hex from Warsaw and Rowno, and 2 from Brest Litovsk. In the West it hasn't moved at all, even though the whole border is completely unguarded.

Perhaps it could be tweaked to exploit obvious gaps more?

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(in reply to Disintegration)

Post #: 2

RE: Passive AI - 11/2/2007 10:48:18 PM

SteveD64

Posts: 570
Joined: 10/26/2006
From: Shaker Hts, Ohio, USA
Status: offline

I would definitely give the AI a fog of war advantage in this game.

I haven't played against the AI in quite some time but the last time I did a Russia first strategy the TE computer opponent blew through my German troops on the border.

(in reply to EUBanana)

Post #: 3

RE: Passive AI - 11/3/2007 12:15:46 AM

kcole4080

Posts: 31
Joined: 9/22/2007
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When I'm playing against the AI, they attack the German border EVERY time! At least until they lose quite a few troops doing this.
The Russains aren't shy either.

< Message edited by kcole4080 -- 11/3/2007 12:16:41 AM >

(in reply to SteveD64)

Post #: 4

RE: Passive AI - 11/3/2007 4:32:30 AM

EUBanana

Posts: 4552
Joined: 9/30/2003
From: Little England
Status: offline

Well, this is with an AI Central Powers. They are hitting Russia and leaving France alone, even though theres no troops at all on the border. Verdun etc. is empty, the AI isnt interested.

An AI Triple Entente, I find the reverse actually! It attacks incessantly and gets wiped out. You just weather a few months of fury and then walk in, theres nothing left.

A fog of war advantage might be wise.

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Post #: 5

RE: Passive AI - 11/11/2007 11:56:34 PM

Llyranor

Posts: 217
Joined: 4/29/2006
From: Montreal, Canada
Status: offline

I'm a bit concerned about this. As a singleplayer game, would the AI be enough to sustain GoA as a game? I'm not a PBEM player. The WW1 premise and gameplay mechanics in themselves are quite appealing.

(in reply to EUBanana)

Post #: 6

RE: Passive AI - 11/12/2007 1:23:07 PM

wurger54

Posts: 152
Joined: 7/28/2007
From: Texas
Status: offline

IMO solitaire play helps me learn the mechanics, that's about it. I have yet to see an AI in any wargame that is much of a challenge. I've noticed this AI is about average compared to others, not very creative. I just finished a solitaire game as the CP and pretty much ran the table.

Over the years my win rate against an AI is right around 100%, maybe the occasioinal draw when I'm just learning a game. My win rate against PBEM opponants is less than 50%.

Plus I have yet to see an AI that could talk decent trash.

Of course finding a PBEM opponant that is reliable and has the same gaming intensity can be a challange in itself. I think over the years my success rate in that arena is less than 10%.