So I was thinking for while how i would fix the AI in HOI4. The idea that first came into my head was to change the way the combat planning works. When i first loaded up HOI4 i saw a front line mechanic and a fallback line mechanic. So one of the things i tried to do was have a front line and a fall back line at the same time. At the time i thought that i could have a front line and a fallback line where in case of a breakthrough my army would retreat to in a organized retreat to the fallback line. This would be historically accurate. in that in many wars especially world war 2 there where organized retreats to prevent encirclement. When a organized retreat did not happen the army got encircled and was forced to surrender (Stalin waiting to retreat to the Stalin line almost cost the soviet union the war and forced the Red Army to retreat within 23 miles of Moscow as well as when Hitler an army (I Forget which) to stand still and be supplied by the Luftwaffe.) This could be a good way to prevent AI being stupid and getting encircled. The AI would simply draw an front line and at a defensible position (River, Mountain etc.) draw a fallback line and in the case of a breakthrough would initiate an organized retreat to that line. The fallback line would then become the Front line. Beyond just fixing the AI being susceptible to encirclement. The fallback line could be used as a strategic reserve line. By this i mean that you could put units not at the front but on the fallback line and they would rotate with damaged units who have lost morale and equipment and the damaged unit would retreat to the fallback line and get supplies and equipment from there. This would lead to a more interesting strategic reason terrain. You would want you fallback line to be close enough that reserves can be switched and damaged units fixed in a reasonable time. But at the same time want the fallback line to be in a defensible position so that in the case of a breakthrough the position is easily defensible. You could also make Lost units retreat to the fallback line and decide where to go from there. I think this would be a interesting way to improve the AI in the front system.
