Benefits of battle plans over manual management?

[Vicksburg]

Hello,

As an ex-player of HOI3, I was used to micromanage every division I had in the front.

Now PI gives us the opportunity to delegate much of the process to the AI. My questions is:

Independently of ease of use, do we lose something if we do not rely on battle plans (bonuses)?

Many thanks

 

[safe-keeper]

I don't think so, no. You can have divisions prepare and then remove the battle plan, thus retaining the planning bonus.

Other than that, manual control is vastly superior due to issues with the AI and battle planner. The only advantage I can think of is maybe using the BP to manage troops on backwater fronts, because the game doesn't bother updating us about anything that happens on the battlefield, and thus units under AI control will at least be able to react to developments you as a player might miss because playing HOI4 right now is like playing Five Nights at Freddy's, and turning your back on a front for half a minute can be enough for an enemy force to break through and start to advance deep into your territory -_-.

 

[lihp]

Actually the battle planer works ok. Given the current state of the game, micro management is imho not needed (maybe in MP games but for sure not in SP games).

Ways of usage:

1. Coordinate your Infantry by the AI but micro your special units (tanks, special forces,...)
2. Draw several fronts and let the AI setup and commence the fight, you only intervene on key areas where the AI is reluctant to plain attack (where it could),...
3. ...

I actually do have very good to near perfect results by using the AI for the major movement and battle part, while intervening where needed.

 

[drake546]

Hello,

As an ex-player of HOI3, I was used to micromanage every division I had in the front.

Now PI gives us the opportunity to delegate much of the process to the AI. My questions is:

Independently of ease of use, do we lose something if we do not rely on battle plans (bonuses)?

Many thanks

Yes, there are in game bonuses for your troops having a battle plan. But you are free to micro their control while executing the plan. Give the planner a try however, you can give a single general many sub plans for all his various divisions.

 

[Meglok]

You can draw up plans and gain planning bonus then cancel the plans and retain the bonus. You can issue manual orders to units in a plan which will be followed until complete, at which time the planner resumes control.

In 1.3.3 it is best to cancel plans in any small ops and just micro. If you have a multitude of ops going at one time you may just want to let the plans run and be ready to step in to stop ai shuffle. I tend to just hit the cancel movement button when te ai loses it's mind which makes the ai issue new movement orders relevant to reality.

For a large campaign like France or Russia you may want to make one long front asap for your infantry controlled by the planner, and smaller fronts for each armored corps using spearhead. Or if desired just micro the armor and special units. And I ALWAYS micro invasions until firmly ashore. The ai is very bad about screwing up invasions.

1.4 is supposed to improve the ai shuffle issues.

Add Aluminum in Asia

 

[War Emblem]

One thing the BP is great at - filling out territory. They very easily occupy all the territory you have drawn a line to and that's a big advantage over you having to directed every unit to each province.

 

[The-False-Being26]

One thing the BP is great at - filling out territory. They very easily occupy all the territory you have drawn a line to and that's a big advantage over you having to directed every unit to each province.

Really only helpful if the is no real opposite, but It definitely saves a lot of micromanage.

 

[redrum68]

Managing your own troops rather than letting the BP do it is definitely better. But always remember to set a battle plan to charge up the plan attack bonus then delete it.