AI fighting and not keeping units together

[sbielas]

Honestly speaking I had problems to give proper name to this thread - possibly it is my poor English .

The purpose of this thread is to ask devs if there is possible to make something with the way AI is handling units fighting under certain chain of command.
Currently if you do not allow your theater/army/corps AI manage structure automatically you can find divisions of one corps (fighting for example in Russia) in distant locations, often without radio contact to its HQ. That's why I think the tick box allowing AI manage structure is a Paradox Dev team trick to partially bypass the problem I have described above

I am aware that game can't be 100% realistic - first of all it's just a game and second - most probably would be not playable however I think this is so annoying and unrealistic that something has to be done.
In reality divisions were trying to form consolidated front - it's not check board of divisions from different corps, armies; to cordinate such a set up would be a nightmare. That's why units from one corps fight together in real life. That was als the reason why attacks on the connection of 2 corps were so dangerous - due to the fact that co-ordinating defence was much more difficult (different command chains). That's one of the reasons for having HQ and what is totally not represented in HoI3 (HQ also co-ordinating supplies what is again not represented in HoI3 - but this is different topic). Of course in real life divisions were shifted between HQ's in situations I've described above for example however this was due to described by me reasons (co-ordination) not inability to keep them together what in my opinion is problem of HoI3. I don't want to give freedom of doing changes in structure for AI as soon my fast units will be totally mixed with infantry, garrison and Gods know with what else so I do not give this possibility to AI. However AI than disperse units fighting under one corps all over the front what IMHO is broken.
I was thinking how to fix it. I have to say now - I have never investigated too deep game mechanics, I don't do modding etc. I am interested in playing. I am also not playing with calculator I rather rely on my belly
My idea was following:
- Introduce bonus/malus system for combat efficiency if divisions from one corps fight together; it means when divisions from 1 corps attach together one province they got co-operation bonus. If there is more than one corps attacking proving – malus for combat efficiency. Maybe this would encourage AI to keep units together?

What do you think about this? And if you are annoyed with this AI behavior? Looking forward to hearing from you guys!

 

[Kaiser Bill]

I would give my good eye for a button to force the AI to mainain force cohesion instead of scattering divisions across the front.

By the way no modifiers are necessary the scattereed divisions are out of command and do not receive any bonusses from higher echelons commander skill

 

[Panncakemouse]

- Introduce bonus/malus system for combat efficiency if divisions from one corps fight together; it means when divisions from 1 corps attach together one province they got co-operation bonus. If there is more than one corps attacking proving – malus for combat efficiency. Maybe this would encourage AI to keep units together?

I thought that this was already i place? Or have I dreamt about divisions from different corps in same province receiving a penalty?

Edit: My bad. That was my interpretation of the chance of reserves entering combat... that only one corps is given the bonus and divisions from other corps have less chance of reinforcing. Perhaps I am wrong?

 

[Dev]

Not a perfect solution but for those into modding you can somewhat work around it by upping the radio_strengt value in hq_brigade.txt

 

[Premu]

Well, the scattering of units happens even me if I succed in a major breakthrough. So, once a mission is completed and I have pocketed a lot of enemy troops and gained land, I always have the choice: Reorganise my troops and give the enemy time to reassemble his, or continue to hit him without all the nice boons the HQs give? Sometimes it is in fact better to continue - so demanding that the AI will always keep its troop together could be to restrictive. At least with the more aggresive stances, it should be able for the AI to ignore the ranges if there is a nice opportunity to use.

 

[Kaiser Bill]

The problem is that the AI does this intentionally even when at peace against a stable frontier. however it does its thinking about deployment it clearly overlooks the penalties for being out of command probably outrun whatever benefit it perceived for deploying the way it does.

 

[Mikematotski]

The problem is that the AI does this intentionally even when at peace against a stable frontier. however it does its thinking about deployment it clearly overlooks the penalties for being out of command probably outrun whatever benefit it perceived for deploying the way it does.

The problem is that the AI sending troops all over the map and to guard vital provinces.
There is a tool for the developer to keep troops togehter and thats radio range but they don't use that way. Another point is that corp units should be treated purley as front units and NOT sending elsewhere to guard or fight partisans if they are outside radiorange. Let troops under higher HQ take care of the partisan fight and guard tasks and keep troops within radiorange and let corps focus on its objectives. This should solve many odd situatuions

Captain Jack

 

[Kaiser Bill]

Couldn't agree more. I tried attaching one div per army directly to army hq (mil, cav, para etc) in the hope the ai would use them that way - no such luck...

 

[Wunderlicht]

The only effective way of dealing with this at the moment is to Theater out your sectors... The AI will not distribute forces across the border of its Theater.

I put a couple threads together targeting this and other things... we really need to be able to Sectorize the theaters for army groups, Armies and Corps. The problem potentially I see, is figuring our how to make the AI do this right.

 

[Mikematotski]

The only effective way of dealing with this at the moment is to Theater out your sectors... The AI will not distribute forces across the border of its Theater.

I think you are even wrong here. I have seen troops have been moved between 2 different Theaters many times. I have seen troops from France with it's own theater sent troops to north theater in Norway. I have no clue why it did but the fact is that troops from France theater was transfered to guard provinces in another theaters area.

I put a couple threads together targeting this and other things... we really need to be able to Sectorize the theaters for army groups, Armies and Corps. The problem potentially I see, is figuring our how to make the AI do this right.

To make a game means that you do a commitment and it's not the customers problem to solve issues so we can have a realistic and working game. Therefore we shall expect a proper product not discuss what is difficult or easy to solve, thats the developers task and thats why they recive cash from us customer. So for me we have to stop defend a bad implemented features most of things in computer world can be solved it's just matter of efforts and programmingskill.

Captain Jack

 

[XHR]

I strongly support the OP. The AI not keeping units of the same corps, army, ag etc. close together is really annoying... I got somehow used to it, playing most with theatre AI control but it would be really nice if it could be solved somehow.

 

[timkoningskelp]

Couldn't agree more. If this could be implemented it would be great!