Air Generals

[Easy-Kill]

I have noticed that air generals have had their command limits changed.

I am currently playing the UK, I have 12 fighter/interceptors in mainland UK, however I have a huge problem.

The AI can have the aircraft megastacks, and is running riot all over the UK with 8 aircraft stacks of TAC+ESC. The problem is that I have mainly Mj Gens commanding my aircraft. Meaning that I have to group them as 1s and 2s. When sent on air superiority, the AI mega stacks are intercepted in dribs and drabs of 1s and 2 aircraft, which get their ass handed to them on a plate.

I know the Mj Gen thing is probably historical, however with the AI mega stacking problem, is it not worth considering increasing the command limit, otherwise the AI just has complete and total air dominance, mainly because I can only put 1-2 air wings against their 8-20 mega stacks.

I like the way the AI is using air power, I quickly had to send my med fleets to ports as I didn't have enough air cover to protect them, losing the Hood, and 2 QE battleships in the process.

 

[unmerged(39126)]

Yes you have to use Air Generals to compete, with your own megastack. You really have to own the air in this or your bombers risk a mauling.

 

[Easy-Kill]

Yes you have to use Air Generals to compete, with your own megastack. You really have to own the air in this or your bombers risk a mauling.

But the problem is that the game mechanics combined with the low stacking for air generals mean that interceptor/fighters are getting a mauling by mega stacks of tactical bombers.

While there are certainly numerous examples of individual tactical bombers (mosquitos, ju88 etc) being used as a 'fighter aircraft' in various guises throughout the war, it seems a little odd that the AI can mega stack and gain total air superiority with pretty much only tactical bombers.

The real problem is that my aircraft don't stack, so you have single squadrons up against mega stacks.

It's not a case of 'owning the air', it's a case of somehow forcing the AI to use stacks of less than 4.

 

[Gen. Skobelev]

Put 5 interceptors or fighters (not obsolete ones!) under air marshal in one stack. In a province with radar and their base nearby it will be enough to seriously hurt those bombers. Recycle stacks of 5 when they get damaged and soon you will have clear skies.

Lonely air squadrons will get mauled by bigger stacks. Use of as large stack as possible (within command limits) is obligatory. Use small stacks only for training your air leaders only, not for serious combat.

 

[Lothos]

AI does not use mega stacks this is a misconception. What the AI does is create stacks by the stacking rules and sends more planes into combat as soon as he detects combat. Nothing stops you from sending more than 5 planes into one combat but the new planes will have a heavy penalty.

Yes I have played extensively and looked into this issue. It is a misconception that people have cause the AI is actually using his air power better than you are.

 

[Easy-Kill]

AI does not use mega stacks this is a misconception. What the AI does is create stacks by the stacking rules and sends more planes into combat as soon as he detects combat. Nothing stops you from sending more than 5 planes into one combat but the new planes will have a heavy penalty.

Yes I have played extensively and looked into this issue. It is a misconception that people have cause the AI is actually using his air power better than you are.

OK, I will persevere, I made the mistake of not making enough fighters/interceptors and am paying the early war price for it.

I guess I'm not used to an AI which uses air forces. I also noted that when I sent a SAG (3BC+esc) on a convoy raiding mission in the mediteranean to try and lure the Italian fleet into open combat, the AI immediately redirected airpower on my undefended ships That was nice to see.

 

[AlanC9]

If you check the combat modifiers, you'll see that the AI is often taking overstacking and command penalties. TRP AIs will frequently give air leaders more units than their command limit.

A human can get around this through manual promotion -- as the UK you probably want to do this with at least some of your Superior Tactician leaders, since having the trait matters more than skill levels.

I don't know if the AI solely relies on autopromotion or not

 

[froglegs]

Thanks for the discussion. I was beginning to think that it was just me. Anyway, the air war has changed quite a bit from TR Doomsday to TR Armageddon (while sea and land seems more or less the same) and this its my first experience with it. Any pointers are welcome.

 

[Lothos]

Use the naval beta as sea has changed as well.

 

[froglegs]

Use the naval beta as sea has changed as well.

Several weeks ago I searched and could not find where to get the naval beta. As I recall, somebody else asked the question too but it as never responded to. Where is the exact site to download the naval beta from? I have spent ~30 minutes ovwer the last 2 weeks looking for it without success at the Total Realism Site.

Thanks!

 

[Shai]

Frog- It's at the TRP site. Has a thread titled 'Naval Beta' in the General Discussion.