How does the AI actually work?

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> How does the AI actually work?

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How does the AI actually work? - 1/7/2021 12:46:53 AM

Rogue188

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Joined: 11/26/2019
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This is a continuation of my other thread about the AI. I am seeing a lot of posts about how easy it is to break the AI even without trying. How does the AI script work? Is it very adaptive, or it very linear? There was a comment about the AI's ability (or inability) to conduct an offensive. Basically the AI will end an attack after certain time frame or once a certain percentage of allocated assets are destroyed. Can someone elaborate on that?

Using the real Battle of Midway as an example, the invasion force retreated after the destruction of the carriers. (Yes, there was discussion about taking in the battleships but Yamamoto killed that.) How would that same scenario play out using the WITP AI? Would it retreat or just continue on until destroyed?

Also if the AI does retreat, what happens to the units assigned to the attack? Can they be used again or do they sit out the rest of the war?

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RE: How does the AI actually work? - 1/7/2021 2:34:05 AM

Sardaukar

Posts: 9847
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Finland/Israel
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It is scripted.

AndyMac is the guy to talk about it. He made it very good within limitations.

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RE: How does the AI actually work? - 1/7/2021 3:13:29 AM

PaxMondo

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Joined: 6/6/2008
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OP:

There are 2 parts to the "AI"
- the scripts
- the basic behaviors

Most of the basic behaviors are consistent between all games, AI or PBEM. These govern what happens after a combat, withdrawals, escort TF formation, retreats, etc.

The scripts simulate a players behavior in terms of putting units into a situation to allow the basic behavior AI to determine the outcomes.

One additional difference between AI and PBEM game is that when a combat situation occurs, various "bonuses" may or may not be added to the AI side depending upon the difficulty level. At higher level, combat bonuses are added attempting to simulate the player bonuses of unit prep, leader choices, and HQ bonuses; none of which the AI can use, hence the simple solution of adding a bonus to simulate the use of these.

That's it in a nutshell.

So, 75% or so of an AI already exists in the game. The scripts just give direction. The more scripts, the more direction. Catch is, the scripts are only as good as the author is at guessing what the player will do and when and where. So, it is fairly easy to get "outside" the scripts if you know how. To prevent this, most stock games have 3 - 10 flavors of the AI ... scripts are changed in each version to prevent repetition and prevent players from "knowing" where the AI is going to be. Best example is Scen 4; the basic script puts the allied CV's just off Tulagi, but one of the variants has them pound Rabaul while another they pound Truk. The two variants are there to prevent the IJ player from targeting everything to Tulagi, leaving Rabaul or Truk defenseless, and punishes them if they do.

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RE: How does the AI actually work? - 1/7/2021 3:31:38 AM

Rogue188

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When does the script selection apply? Is it when the scenario is loaded or when the first turn is played? I have a saved file after finishing the allied setup and keep rerunning the game with that file to save myself 8 hours of setup.

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RE: How does the AI actually work? - 1/7/2021 5:23:10 AM

Yaab

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From: Poland
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Rogue188, read the last paragraph of post #3 here

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4257473

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RE: How does the AI actually work? - 1/7/2021 2:12:22 PM

PaxMondo

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Joined: 6/6/2008
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Rogue188

When does the script selection apply? Is it when the scenario is loaded or when the first turn is played? I have a saved file after finishing the allied setup and keep rerunning the game with that file to save myself 8 hours of setup.

AI script is chosen randomly (but there are odds, the primary script is the most likely, and the highest number script the least likely) at the time you load a scenario. It cannot be changed after (except if you get a dev to intervene).

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Post #: 6