AGEOD Forums

I have just bought Napoleons Campaign and am trying to learn it. What I value most in a strategy game is the AI (Artificial intellligence). How competent is the AI ?

Can you veteran players give any example of when the AI has surprised or outmatched you by good strategy ?

I have played the scenario Finland 1808-1809 as my first game and are now inte the second game. Both played as Sweden. It seems Russia is very passive or rather cautious. It tries to siege Sveaborg but gives up after a few turns, comes back, gives up etc so it achieves nothing. But I don´t dare to meet them in the open field.

Not when the AI is playing the French. As the French the AI is pretty aggressive, maybe due to the marked superiority in their generals' ability. Fact is that the AI is pretty good tactically and is able to concentrate units to reach an immediate target. In terms of long term strategy it concentrates a lot on the target cities.

Thanks for the input. What do you others think ? Or are you all playing multiplayer ?

Are there so few active members on this forum ?

I just think you have been a bit unlucky with the replies; there are a number of NCP players around here

(Though I'll admit I'm more of an AACW player myself)

I like the AI in NPC as it gives you quite some challenge. AI could be a bit better in defending its main objectives ( sometimes it goes into offensive and "forgets" about them) but this is kinda solved with many garrison units and future patches.
Playing against the Napoleon is a REAL challenge as only the "last flight of the eagle" is kinda easy as the French AI tries the frontal assault where he will get toasted if you have your forces organised as you should (no leader penalty)
All other scenarios are HARD against "the little big man".

Tried a few other scenarios as the coalition and was toasted like ....

Playing as the Napoleon is a bit easier, but one big defeat in battle can ruin your whole scenario as the enemies (especially Russians) have plenty of men and replacements leure:

Sorry for the late reply

I think the AI in this game is extremely good (as AI's go, that is).

Bylandt wrote:I think the AI in this game is extremely good (as AI's go, that is).

OK. Nice to here it. And, would any bodi say a couple of words about naval AI. And Is there functions-"to avoid battles" etc? (have not played yet-gona apear at the shops next month). Thanks.

Looking wrote:OK. Nice to here it. And, would any bodi say a couple of words about naval AI. And Is there functions-"to avoid battles" etc? (have not played yet-gona apear at the shops next month). Thanks.

Naval battles are not the main focus of NPC, but the AI does a decent job - for now. Scenarios are constantly tweaked and the main naval scenario - Trafalgar is reported to be on to-do list of fixes.
There is a function to avoid battles and it works like the same command for the land forces. Look there : http://www.napoleons-campaigns.com/img/napoleons-campaigns-screen1.jpg
Bottom left icon with a soldier and a red arrow - ships have a similar icon with the ship an an red arrow.

KarlXII wrote:I have just bought Napoleons Campaign and am trying to learn it. What I value most in a strategy game is the AI (Artificial intellligence). How competent is the AI ?

NCP was my first AGEOD game.
I was enthusisatic with it so I bought BOA & AACW too.

I played the Austerlitz Campaign, as the French player, many time, as a way to test the program and the AI.
I noticed any time the AI was playing differentely: it was like if AI is able to assume and reproduce different psicological schemes.....Sometimes AI can be very agreessive, sometimes AI is a very cautious opponent.

At present I'm goign after AACW: it's the most complex AGEOD games, with a full war campaign allowing player to plan long term strategies: what Armies to put on field, what units to raise, where to concentrate major efforts.
I strongly recommend AACW to you too.

jastaV wrote:I strongly recommend AACW to you too.

I totally agree.
Things that you can learn in NPC can later be used in AACW. Along with a few hundreds new things that you will need to learn in grand campaign.
A good way to learn new things is to read great after action reports (AARs) for the games you play. I managed to learn quite a few things that way - many thanks to all the guys who took the time to write them.
Check NPC AARs here : http://www.ageod-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=155
Usually I play NPC when I am short on time but want a nice quick battle ( minus the Peninsula campaign ) and AACW when I have a week or two of "easy days"
Hopefully one day we will see a NPC with a grand campaign too

Carnium wrote:Hopefully one day we will see a NPC with a grand campaign too

Probably with next NPC version.
There're rumors AGEOD team is working to edit the production & resources system for Napoleonic Era Europe Map.

jastaV, where have you read or hear that rumor, is there a "dark side" part of the NCP forum I am missing


I have not played AACW, so I am not sure how it works there, but will it be like AACW? Will this be a NCP 2 feature or included in any future NCP patch?

Is AGEOD planning NCP 2 then?

Nikel wrote:jastaV, where have you read or hear that rumor, is there a "dark side" part of the NCP forum I am missing


I have not played AACW, so I am not sure how it works there, but will it be like AACW? Will this be a NCP 2 feature or included in any future NCP patch?

Is AGEOD planning NCP 2 then?

No dark side part of the NCP forum!
Some times ago, I simply had chance to discuss some NCP issues with PhilThib by PM......
As part of the PM exchange I suggested to dedicate a section of AGEOD forum to anticipation & discussion over AGEOD work in progress games......

With "dark side part of the NCP forum" I was jus kidding of course

If you discussed it with PhilThib then it is not a rumor at all!

Your suggestion is a nice idea

I think that what has been said is that AGEOD would very much like to make a NCP2 one day and that if it is made, it would be very interesting (to the point of almost being required) to have grand campaign(s) in it. Nothing specific is currently being planned (at least not from what I've heard, which doesn't say much, admittedly ), but the future is long and uncharted

In the meantime, NCP fans should keep an eye on what happens with other AGEOD games (WIA, VGN, etc) since they will form the basis on which an hypothetical NCP2 is built