AI Basics - A Semper Fi Primer

[strongbowmatt]

Thanks for feeding us with more info. I'm a big fan of having the AI look after my armies and complaining they need more troops whilst I take the role of an evil dictator deciding where new divisions get sent, especially the armoured ones. The new controls available in Semper Fi look very interesting - I might not have to sack so many generals for being incompetent!

 

[joeenochs]

Ah yes, good observation. The use of strat redeployment is not such a good idea in that situation. One thing to remember, though, is that the stat redeployment "penalty" is dependent on the distance traveled. So in this case, it's likely to be small.

Wow, thanks for the fast answer.

My problem is not with the use of strat redeployment as such. If I am right, Wissembourg is rather far to the south so strat redeployment may be appropriate.

But if one unit of the corps is in Rotterdam and one in Wissembourg, then one of the units has to go out of radio range. The AI will now probably reassign the division in Wissembourg to another corps if we allow it.
But I was hoping that it was trying to keep the corps in range even without it. Anyway, it is not a killer, if the AI works good otherwise.

 

[Gankenstein]

To put the redeplyment in a positive light, perhaps the AI notices a weakness in the front line, looks to see which unit it best can spare from elsewhere, then redeploys & reassigns? That would be good news, we want the AI adapting smartly to circumstances, don't we?

 

[unmerged(144305)]

I appreciate very much the responsiveness of the OP in this thread. Those France 40 pictures are titillating. I might pre-order after seeing them. Not sure yet. Been burned a-plenty by HoI to date...

 

[unmerged(187441)]

Now, if there is an AI action I want to see, is an allied invasion of Europe that isn't utterly feeble. We don't need a big report: Just a couple of pictures in which we see at least a couple of armies in there would do the trick.

For added points, show us the diplo screen during that defense of France that you just posted: Is the US still neutral? Is Portugal in the Axis?

 

[tijlehto2]

Looks like someone here might know the answer: Does the AI also create intermediate HQ units if the "can rearrange oob" toggle is set to on? Ie, will it try to create a full hierarchy if provided an incomplete one? Creating armies and army groups as needed comes to mind.

 

[Slan]

Looks like someone here might know the answer: Does the AI also create intermediate HQ units if the "can rearrange oob" toggle is set to on? Ie, will it try to create a full hierarchy if provided an incomplete one? Creating armies and army groups as needed comes to mind.

And disbanding unnecessery ones?

 

[unmerged(32292)]

To put the redeplyment in a positive light, perhaps the AI notices a weakness in the front line, looks to see which unit it best can spare from elsewhere, then redeploys & reassigns? That would be good news, we want the AI adapting smartly to circumstances, don't we?

As long as the AI is staying within a reasonable force structure, it's fine. I don't want to wind up with a HQs that only support 1-2 divisions because their assigned units have all been moved elsewhere. I don't want to wind up with one HQ being overloaded with extra divisions, and then when another division gets moved to that portion of the line, another HQ has to be formed to support it. The AI really seems to like having a low density of units per HQ in a lot of cases, and this is very wasteful of the officer pool and generals.

For the most part, I want the AI to use the HQ/unit structure that I give it, and to keep units together where it's practical. If I group 8 panzer divisions into a single army, that means I want them used within the same geographic area, working together to execute major breakthrough and encirclement, not spread across the entire line so that they can act as resource heavy infantry.

 

[Ex Mudder]

You want to see how the a.i. does in the West defending Belgium? How's this? (This is taken from a different saved game, obviously).

Took me a while to realize those were Commonwealth troops heading northwest from the Maginot line. How did they get there, out of curiosity? and will the AI Dunkirk them if all seems lost?

 

[Darkrenown]

Ah yes, good observation. The use of strat redeployment is not such a good idea in that situation. One thing to remember, though, is that the stat redeployment "penalty" is dependent on the distance traveled. So in this case, it's likely to be small.

Where did it start from? Looking at it's low org I suspect either:

It was a long way off for some reason and has been traveling for a while to reach the front.

Or it was previously in combat and the AI is now rotating it back to regain it's org. Admitedly Wissembourg is a front line province, but perhaps the AI thinks a L10 fort is a safe enough place to rest.

 

[unmerged(139259)]

Looks fantastic so far. Surely an AAR from Pacific showing the island-hopping or AAR from USSR showing the deep strategical defense would be great for the next time.

Still, I'm a bit worried about the Poland AAR and the GER 1st Army. Despite ordered to behave defensively, its units advanced and this resulted in one of the army's division to be encircled. This is definitely not the behavior I would like to see in game when I order my units to go defensive (and seeing quite the opposite).

 

[Darkrenown]

"Defensive" AI is still allowed to attack, it's just meant to be more careful. Maybe it made a dumb move, or maybe the POL AI did something clever. If you want you AI to be totally non-aggressive you can use "Prepare"

 

[Easy1]

Are there dozens of new cities in SF or is it just me?

 

[Darkrenown]

"As you will soon discover, SF has added a good number of urban provinces to the map, and those will prove suitably difficult to subdue! "

Post 2!

 

[Easy1]

o

 

[Orthank]

I hope there will be option to order AI just to defend - not to behave defensively what always leads to encirclement of "defensively behaving units", but to defend.

Woul like to see how German AI will defend western wall. Currently, in 1.4 AI is absolutely incompetent in such task.

 

[Darkrenown]

"If you want you AI to be totally non-aggressive you can use "Prepare" "

Post 72!

I'm on a roll here!

 

[Easy1]

"If you want you AI to be totally non-aggressive you can use "Prepare" "

Post 72!

I'm on a roll here!

Paradox should hire you^^

 

[unmerged(49695)]

nobody else seeing the problem with being 1 october and poland isnt close to being dealt with? :\

 

[Slan]

nobody else seeing the problem with being 1 october and poland isnt close to being dealt with? :\

To clarify this: Poland fell historically on the 6th of october, with Soviet help. If the Soviets would take some VPs while the Poles fight the Germans, then probably they would have fallen by now (but that is not really represented due to engine limitations.) Also note that the player can take Poland much earlier even if the invasion starts on the first of september because you as a player will probably go for the VPs right away, while the AI maintains a more straight line. (And the Germans didn't target 'VPs' IRL either.)