AI bypassing Fort Zone of Control

[jdavis86]

Mentioned this in the quick questions thread, but decided it deserved its own topic.

Does the AI cheat the fort system, or not?

The AI sieged Temes, within Hunyad's zone of control. They should then be forced to siege Hunyad.

Instead, they walked through to Bekes, which is in Pest's zone of control.

The Ottomans do not have military access through Serbia, and none of my war allies do either.

What's the deal? Am I misunderstanding how the zone of control system works?

And upon a deeper look, the Ottoman army in Bekes is going to Slavonia, despite being in Pest's zone of control:

 

[jdavis86]

Just a little bump!

Would appreciate some dev feedback on this if possible.

It was suggested in another thread that this might have to do with the forts not being maintained before the AI starts its movement. While I can't say for sure whether they were on or not, I don't think this explains why the AI is bypassing the Pest fort.

 

[Wizzington]

AI does not cheat with ZoCs under any circumstances.

 

[jdavis86]

AI does not cheat with ZoCs under any circumstances.

Hey Wiz, thank you for the response.

Any theory on what I may be experiencing here? Perhaps my current game is bugged or they're getting access from somewhere I'm not seeing?

 

[zsImmortal]

Did you just unmothball the Pest fort? Seems like that would be the case.

 

[Babarberousse]

Is it iron man? If not and if you still have the save, try to switch tag to see what's going on...

EDIT: or indeed the problem would simply be recently unmothballed fort, but given that the ottoman already occupy two provinces I guess that's probably not it.

 

[jdavis86]

It is ironman.

The Pest fort is a capital fort as well, wouldn't that negate the recently unmothballed fort issue? Or does that problem apply to capital forts as well? Also, there was an earlier battle, that I lost. I'm quite sure I activated whatever forts that weren't maintained as soon as war occured. I'd also guess that there has been at least a month since forts were activated.

 

[PanzerKrigs]

Does capital forts have a ZoC? I thought capitals just always had a small garrison, not an actual fort-mechanic. I could be wrong.

 

[alyoso]

Does capital forts have a ZoC? I thought capitals just always had a small garrison, not an actual fort-mechanic. I could be wrong.

Capital forts (just level 1 without the buildings) do not project a ZoC.

 

[Xara]

I thought they just couldn't move from one province adjacent to one fort into another province adjacent to the same fort?
So Temes -> Bihar is not allowed but Temes -> Bekes is fine
Bekes -> Somogy is not allowed but Bekes -> Slavonia is fine

dunno

 

[jdavis86]

Hmm I thought they could siege any province connected a fort, but couldn't leave that group of provinces without sieging the fort down.

Perhaps the confusion here is with the capital fort ZOC.

So when not maintained the cap fort does not have a ZOC? But when maintained it does?

What decides which zone of control a province like Bekes is in?

Still, the Pest fort IS maintained when that screenshot was taken. So theoretically the AI should not be able to move past Slavonia, I'll load up later and see what happens.

 

[zsImmortal]

It is ironman.

The Pest fort is a capital fort as well, wouldn't that negate the recently unmothballed fort issue? Or does that problem apply to capital forts as well? Also, there was an earlier battle, that I lost. I'm quite sure I activated whatever forts that weren't maintained as soon as war occured. I'd also guess that there has been at least a month since forts were activated.

Recently unmothballed forts have no ZoC. That's why they can move. Once the garrison goes up, it will have a ZoC.

 

[Babarberousse]

And default capital fort have no ZoC. You only have a ZoC if you actually have a fort built in the building view.

 

[jdavis86]

Recently unmothballed forts have no ZoC. That's why they can move. Once the garrison goes up, it will have a ZoC.

Oh, well that settles it then, thank you!

Is this due to there literally being 0 garrison, or some sort of "recently unmothballed" effect?

For example, a capital fort would have a 1000 garrison initally after being unmathballed.

 

[Stolen Rutters]

No garrison until End of month update?
Capital level one fort has no zone of control so that first 1000 troops don't count?
Those are my guesses.

 

[zsImmortal]

Oh, well that settles it then, thank you!

Is this due to there literally being 0 garrison, or some sort of "recently unmothballed" effect?

For example, a capital fort would have a 1000 garrison initally after being unmathballed.

I'm not sure about the mechanics honestly, I just know it happens with recently unmothballed forts, but I can't specifically say if it is about garrison or mothalled/unmothballed status.

 

[jdavis86]

OK, thank you all for the input and help.

Lastly, is there a "fort zone of control" mapmode hidden somewhere?

I know that mousing over a province will usually tell you, but a clearer representation would be nice.

 

[zsImmortal]

OK, thank you all for the input and help.

Lastly, is there a "fort zone of control" mapmode hidden somewhere?

I know that mousing over a province will usually tell you, but a clearer representation would be nice.

Just have units selected and it will show you provinces that are in ZoC. The problem is with overlapping ZoC is that you can't necessarily tell which is restricted and which isn't.

 

[jdavis86]

Just have units selected and it will show you provinces that are in ZoC. The problem is with overlapping ZoC is that you can't necessarily tell which is restricted and which isn't.

Thanks!

I will say, forts do make the game WAY more fun. I find myself thinking far more strategically than I had previously. A welcome addition overall . Very impressed with how far the game has come since pre-Common Sense.

 

[Chaingun]

AI does not cheat with ZoCs under any circumstances.

There was a bug though which caused "return province" not to be set when AI splits/merges armies IIRC, it's fixed in 1.15.