AI performance on difficulty levels

[ntz]

Hello,

I'd like to ask, if there's some difference between AI decisions in various difficulty levels (easy/normal/hard) .. I'm usually playing on normal, because I don't like global/generic bonuses but one thing annoys me:

AI does not simply handle tactical level good, so generally if I use what the game engine offers I can crush opponent easily.

Problems:

1) I can't use ports/airfields bombing .. AI just leaves there a aircrafts/fleets that they get completely destroyed soon (fleets more easily) and I never experienced that AI use this strategy against opponents.
2) I never experienced that AI use logistical bombing .. If I use logistical bombing I'm able to molest AI ultimately, so neither I use this strategy to avoid gaming the system
3) AI in my opinion uses completely incorrectly combination of air superiority missions + ground/interdiction attack .. It has enough aicrafts but when it tries to apply bomber missions it leaves the defense for the bombers somewhere behind (eg, If I understand correctly to game principles I'd consider as sane, to set a area where bombers operate (ground/interdiction) to be protected by fighters by air superiority mission - AI simply does not do it)
4) maybe many more things ..

Conclusion:

The only real solution is to enjoy roleplaying and doing dumb decisions as AI do .. When I do my best against AI I usually smash even stronger opponents (eg I smash UK atlantic fleet easily as german when used with co-operation with luftwaffe - and not that I build any huge numbers, really) .. Next example, when I do my best as UK I can completely destroy everything smelling or looking like nazi (or that it likes nzai) by the end of 41.

I tried several dumb-implementing strategies to increase the competition from the game but usually AI can't resist even half-sized force (talking specifically against naval/air wars) ..

any hint is appreciated ..

regards

ps . I tried several mods, they can probably change the AI behaviour but I like the most the vanilla game (TFH)

 

[Kovax]

No difference in AI behavior from one difficulty level to the next. Mainly, it's just production boosts or penalties for one side or the other. In some cases, giving the AI a bonus results in it overbuilding some things, running itself low on manpower, overstacking, or other problems. Some of it was fixed or reduced in the later expansions, some wasn't.

The AI is extremely lacking in its ability to coordinate naval and air units, and is no better when using them in support of ground actions. I've frequently seen the AI send CAGs on deep inland bombing missions to "port strike" where there are no ports. The AI may send fighters in support of a bomber formation that's being attacked, but that's more an accidental case of attacking the first enemy to come into range than of planned protection of the bombers. The land AI is definitely better than the air or naval equivalent.