So far, development diaries show that a lot of work has been done on economy/production, division composition, tech trees and obviously, the map. There seem to be changes in every part of the game.
Let's hope that all this work isn't done at the expense of the most important part of the game, namely the AI. Without a decent AI, all the economy, divisions and technology mean nothing: the player can press various buttons and look at the beautiful 3D map, but on the map he will see the same nonsense as in the previous version of the game...
The thread is called "Denmark", because that country gives the most obvious example of nonsensical AI performance. A long time ago, one player has written an AAR describing successful defense of Denmark (or rather, Sjaelland) against the entire Wehrmacht by "Danish berserkers lead by Dread King Christian". Jokes aside, it's still possible to fortify the strait, place divisions on the Danish side and hold off Germany almost indefinitely, breaking the game!
The AAR was written in the early days of HOI3, but it can be done in FTM, it can be done in TFH and it can be done in Darkest hour as well. Nothing changes...
Paradox will be doing a lot of testing of HOI4. I suggest that they start testing the Denmark scenario ASAP, as soon as the game is ready for this test, and make whatever changes are necessary to do something about it. This scenario shows so many flaws in the existing system that need to be addressed:
- The AI sends tanks across the strait! Why? How is it even possible?
- The AI shouldn't initiate attack with expected kill ratio 1:10 in the enemy's favor. Even if its calculation shows that the enemy will run out of troops/organisation/whatever. Such calculations are likely to be wrong, the player can rotate divisions or even (not in this case, but still) counter attack from a different direction and all those losses will be in vain. Attacks with suicidal kill ratio should not be started!
- Sjaelland consists of 3-4 provinces. The AI never tries to land from the other side of the island. Maybe it's unable, not programmed to do so when there is a direct overland path to its goal. This needs to be corrected, and not just for fighting Denmark, but also for example for fighting Sweden, if they decide to join Allies. And for invading Norway, which the AI often does by obtaining military access from Sweden and sending a huge army by land... And for countless other situations that call for landing behind enemy troops.
- Germany has paratroopers, but doesn't use them against Denmark. Why?
- The AI bombs the defending troops, but it's never enough for victory. Either air power is too weak or the AI isn't using it properly. Probably both - I've never seen an AI strike against fortifications, which is possible in HOI3.
- The AI doesn't use its ships for shore bombardment, maybe they afraid of the Royal Navy? But with complete German air superiority, the Royal Navy shouldn't be able to enter these waters at all. Air power must be rebalanced...
- While besieged by the Germans, Denmark (Sjaelland) continues to trade with the rest of world. Looks hardly possible with German planes that should be flying around. Either air power or the trade/supply system must be rebalanced...
- An economy model that allows Sjaelland to survive indefinitely long under siege needs to be addressed... It's one thing when a city like Leningrad holds off the enemy for many months. They have support from the rest of the country and they hope that eventually, they will be relieved. But what do the defenders of Sjaelland hope for? They wouldn't even have enough food to survive that long...
Let's hope that all this work isn't done at the expense of the most important part of the game, namely the AI. Without a decent AI, all the economy, divisions and technology mean nothing: the player can press various buttons and look at the beautiful 3D map, but on the map he will see the same nonsense as in the previous version of the game...
The thread is called "Denmark", because that country gives the most obvious example of nonsensical AI performance. A long time ago, one player has written an AAR describing successful defense of Denmark (or rather, Sjaelland) against the entire Wehrmacht by "Danish berserkers lead by Dread King Christian". Jokes aside, it's still possible to fortify the strait, place divisions on the Danish side and hold off Germany almost indefinitely, breaking the game!
The AAR was written in the early days of HOI3, but it can be done in FTM, it can be done in TFH and it can be done in Darkest hour as well. Nothing changes...
Paradox will be doing a lot of testing of HOI4. I suggest that they start testing the Denmark scenario ASAP, as soon as the game is ready for this test, and make whatever changes are necessary to do something about it. This scenario shows so many flaws in the existing system that need to be addressed:
- The AI sends tanks across the strait! Why? How is it even possible?
- The AI shouldn't initiate attack with expected kill ratio 1:10 in the enemy's favor. Even if its calculation shows that the enemy will run out of troops/organisation/whatever. Such calculations are likely to be wrong, the player can rotate divisions or even (not in this case, but still) counter attack from a different direction and all those losses will be in vain. Attacks with suicidal kill ratio should not be started!
- Sjaelland consists of 3-4 provinces. The AI never tries to land from the other side of the island. Maybe it's unable, not programmed to do so when there is a direct overland path to its goal. This needs to be corrected, and not just for fighting Denmark, but also for example for fighting Sweden, if they decide to join Allies. And for invading Norway, which the AI often does by obtaining military access from Sweden and sending a huge army by land... And for countless other situations that call for landing behind enemy troops.
- Germany has paratroopers, but doesn't use them against Denmark. Why?
- The AI bombs the defending troops, but it's never enough for victory. Either air power is too weak or the AI isn't using it properly. Probably both - I've never seen an AI strike against fortifications, which is possible in HOI3.
- The AI doesn't use its ships for shore bombardment, maybe they afraid of the Royal Navy? But with complete German air superiority, the Royal Navy shouldn't be able to enter these waters at all. Air power must be rebalanced...
- While besieged by the Germans, Denmark (Sjaelland) continues to trade with the rest of world. Looks hardly possible with German planes that should be flying around. Either air power or the trade/supply system must be rebalanced...
- An economy model that allows Sjaelland to survive indefinitely long under siege needs to be addressed... It's one thing when a city like Leningrad holds off the enemy for many months. They have support from the rest of the country and they hope that eventually, they will be relieved. But what do the defenders of Sjaelland hope for? They wouldn't even have enough food to survive that long...
