Hello,
I've recently downloaded version 2.1 and have been playing an AI game. I am the Axis. My actions have been fairly traditional: attacking Poland first, then Holland/Belgium, and then France. What I've noticed is that several times the AI units are moving out of cities on their own, before I take the cities. These movements are not the result of my attacks. They occur during the AI's turn.
The most noticeable movement was when the unit defending Paris left Paris unoccupied, and I had an Axis unit adjacent to Paris. Therefore, on my turn I was able to simply move an armor into unoccupied Paris and the next round France offered the armistice -- in February 1940. I don't recall AI units leaving cities like this in prior versions of the game; they always defended their cities to the death.
Is this AI city-abandonment something anyone else has encountered? Is it part of the version 2.1 design?
Thanks for your help (and for a great game!),
Aufbach
AI Unit Movement Question
Moderators: firepowerjohan, rkr1958, Happycat, Slitherine Core
Re: AI Unit Movement Question
Thats interesting. I started an AI game recently (whilst waiting for 3.0's arrival to start new multiplayer matches) for the first time since longer than I can remember. As a number of folks were clearly playing AI games it seemed a worthwhile exercise pending an MP game.
As Axis I too launched a traditional opening, Poland overrun in two turns, then immediate attack in west helped by a good spell of decent weather. AI defended Warsaw and Paris hexes. However on my limited Sealion offensive after failing to defend the SE coastline - it responded to a successful German attack and follow up on the flanking hex next to London by evacuating that city and leaving it empty. Like you I don't remember this happening before with a capital.
It did continue to protect Belgrade and Athens when their countries were attacked so London was the only oddity in terms of capitals. It also contined to defend the remaining UK cities until they were taken.
I noticed other silly moves by the AI which may well have happened before as I do recall its many weaknesses with AI play. It sent a lone Mech to attack the Italian lines at Tobruk and allowed it to be encircled and destroyed without reinforcement. Likewise the Med RN battleships when responding to the massed Italian fleets and subs. After London's fall when I was able to disengage a couple of U-boats to head off towards Canada I discovered the RN massed around Halifax but positioned in a way that exposed the lone aircraft carrier to separate attack by the U-boats. The RN responded by surrounding the U- boats but still exposing the relocated carrier to further attacks. It did the same with convoys that were arriving despite having enough fleets present to completely protect them if so placed.
As Axis I too launched a traditional opening, Poland overrun in two turns, then immediate attack in west helped by a good spell of decent weather. AI defended Warsaw and Paris hexes. However on my limited Sealion offensive after failing to defend the SE coastline - it responded to a successful German attack and follow up on the flanking hex next to London by evacuating that city and leaving it empty. Like you I don't remember this happening before with a capital.
It did continue to protect Belgrade and Athens when their countries were attacked so London was the only oddity in terms of capitals. It also contined to defend the remaining UK cities until they were taken.
I noticed other silly moves by the AI which may well have happened before as I do recall its many weaknesses with AI play. It sent a lone Mech to attack the Italian lines at Tobruk and allowed it to be encircled and destroyed without reinforcement. Likewise the Med RN battleships when responding to the massed Italian fleets and subs. After London's fall when I was able to disengage a couple of U-boats to head off towards Canada I discovered the RN massed around Halifax but positioned in a way that exposed the lone aircraft carrier to separate attack by the U-boats. The RN responded by surrounding the U- boats but still exposing the relocated carrier to further attacks. It did the same with convoys that were arriving despite having enough fleets present to completely protect them if so placed.
-
- Sergeant First Class - Elite Panzer IIIL
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:51 pm
- Location: Hyattsville, Maryland USA
Re: AI Unit Movement Question
I think that there is some clarification needed. The GS updates to the basic game were meant for Human-to-Human interface (Almost Exclusively Play-by-EMAIL [PBeM] games). The AI was never intended to be modified. Although, the design team made slight modifications to incorporate GS play into the AI, little else was realized. So, the issues you see are with the original AI programming, and yes having played a fair number of them from v1.12, I can tell you that the AI frequently abandons cities and even capitols. To get the full flavor of GS (including GS 3.00), you will need to play a PBeM game.Aufbach wrote:Hello,
I've recently downloaded version 2.1 and have been playing an AI game. I am the Axis. My actions have been fairly traditional: attacking Poland first, then Holland/Belgium, and then France. What I've noticed is that several times the AI units are moving out of cities on their own, before I take the cities. These movements are not the result of my attacks. They occur during the AI's turn.
The most noticeable movement was when the unit defending Paris left Paris unoccupied, and I had an Axis unit adjacent to Paris. Therefore, on my turn I was able to simply move an armor into unoccupied Paris and the next round France offered the armistice -- in February 1940. I don't recall AI units leaving cities like this in prior versions of the game; they always defended their cities to the death.
Is this AI city-abandonment something anyone else has encountered? Is it part of the version 2.1 design?
Thanks for your help (and for a great game!),
Aufbach
Re: AI Unit Movement Question
Shows how long ago I must have played an AI game to have forgotten this city abandonment.
Re: AI Unit Movement Question
Thanks for the responses. It's helpful to know that others have encountered this as well.
I know that the game is basically designed for PBEM, and that the AI is limited (and rarely updated). But I've played dozens of AI games and had not once seen an AI unit abandon a city (much less a capital) prior to my 2.1 update game yesterday. Yesterday it happened multiple times in different countries (Poland and France).
Perhaps just a coincidence?
I know that the game is basically designed for PBEM, and that the AI is limited (and rarely updated). But I've played dozens of AI games and had not once seen an AI unit abandon a city (much less a capital) prior to my 2.1 update game yesterday. Yesterday it happened multiple times in different countries (Poland and France).
Perhaps just a coincidence?
-
- Sergeant First Class - Elite Panzer IIIL
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:51 pm
- Location: Hyattsville, Maryland USA
Re: AI Unit Movement Question
I have seen similar, so it is of no surprise to me. The AI component has done things like this before. Now If my opponent did that... Well, there would be no end to the trash talk! LOL!Aufbach wrote:Thanks for the responses. It's helpful to know that others have encountered this as well.
I know that the game is basically designed for PBEM, and that the AI is limited (and rarely updated). But I've played dozens of AI games and had not once seen an AI unit abandon a city (much less a capital) prior to my 2.1 update game yesterday. Yesterday it happened multiple times in different countries (Poland and France).
Perhaps just a coincidence?