FOW, Detection Level and AI

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

FOW, Detection Level and AI

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's War in the East Series >> FOW, Detection Level and AI

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

FOW, Detection Level and AI - 1/4/2011 2:28:54 PM

Major Bong

Posts: 36
Joined: 8/19/2004
Status: offline

I'm a bit confused about the FoW option and what it does for the AI. In the manual it says "Note that computer players are not affected by FoW, however, the AI does have the same DL restrictions as human players..."

So what does this mean when FoW is on ? Does the AI see all your units as white counters until it recons them ? Or does that only refer to the way combat results are calculated.

I would really prefer to play a campaign with FoW on, but against an all-seeing AI this seems kinda crippling.

Post #: 1

RE: FOW, Detection Level and AI - 1/4/2011 2:49:08 PM

gradenko2k

Posts: 935
Joined: 12/27/2010
Status: offline

It means that even though the AI can see everything, it still needs to "recon" your assets in order to increase its DETection level for conducting combat.

(in reply to Major Bong)

Post #: 2

RE: FOW, Detection Level and AI - 1/4/2011 2:57:42 PM

Major Bong

Posts: 36
Joined: 8/19/2004
Status: offline

So can one safely say that with FoW on, every unit the AI sees (before recon data comes in) is treated as detection level 1 ? Which would mean that most of your rear area - except for air bases - is "white counters" to the AI, instead of CV+unit type as it is with FoW off.

(in reply to gradenko2k)

Post #: 3

RE: FOW, Detection Level and AI - 1/4/2011 3:06:53 PM

gradenko2k

Posts: 935
Joined: 12/27/2010
Status: offline

I'm not precisely sure what it means, but my guess is that the computer always has full details of your units and deployments regardless of which FOW setting you use, and will use that data when planning its movements and attacks, but it'll still need to up its DET level through the various means to influence the combat results.

(in reply to Major Bong)

Post #: 4

RE: FOW, Detection Level and AI - 1/4/2011 3:27:34 PM

KarlXII

Posts: 259
Joined: 8/21/2005
From: Stockholm
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: gradenko_2000

I'm not precisely sure what it means, but my guess is that the computer always has full details of your units and deployments regardless of which FOW setting you use, and will use that data when planning its movements and attacks, but it'll still need to up its DET level through the various means to influence the combat results.�

That seems correct. This was brought up before.

As far as I know, detection level when you are playing without FoW is only of use when preparing to bomb a unit or an airfield.

_____________________________

V�rjan m�ste g�ra det b�sta, ty den sk�mtar intet

Been playing strategy games since 1987 and the Commodore 64 days

(in reply to gradenko2k)

Post #: 5

RE: FOW, Detection Level and AI - 1/4/2011 5:03:51 PM

Major Bong

Posts: 36
Joined: 8/19/2004
Status: offline

Hmm, but if the AI uses Detection Levels under FoW, wouldn't that also mean that your units show as white counters if DL is 1 ?

I'm just wondering, since the description in the manual is kinda unclear about that. As soon as you move next to an enemy unit the DL rises to high levels quickly anyway, so the only interesting effect would be for your rear areas, with the AI not knowing if those white counters are just some support units or a panzer army.

But if the AI always - with FoW on an off - knows what units you field, then DL and FoW have no real value in a campaign against the AI anway.

(in reply to Major Bong)

Post #: 6

RE: FOW, Detection Level and AI - 1/5/2011 1:38:26 AM

gradenko2k

Posts: 935
Joined: 12/27/2010
Status: offline

Try playing with the FOW off - you always see exactly where every enemy unit is, its composition, and its estimated strength.

However, you still need to perform "Recon" missions over units and airbases to maximize the efficacy of your air attacks, by increasing your DET level, even if you already have full information on the enemy unit (because FOW is off).

As I understand it, that basically is what the computer is always dealing with, regardless of FOW settings.

(in reply to Major Bong)

Post #: 7