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[bigus]

These commands are presented as 'influence' on the AI, not control. As scenario designers, we need to use the tools we have, and use our creativity to influence the behavior of the AI. I don't want an AI that I can 'control'.

I agree. This is why the SetAggro command would be nice.
Say for instance....(just an example I've tried in 1.12 and earlier)
set Harper's Ferry to the mid Atlantic Theatre. Then for 1861 set a low interest
variable for the Rebs for the mid atlantic theatre. In 1862 have a probability to set the interest for the theatre high to possibly simulate an Antietem.

I've actually tried this and still the AI is drawn to Harper's ferry like a magnet.
Even though I've set the Theatre interest level to extremly low values.

This is just one example of why I don't think these commands are working.
I could be wrong. I for one would like to see them working like this. As you know, this would add a whole different outlook to the game and the way the AI behaves.

[Coffee Sergeant]

Good AI is hard, especially for a niche game like this. The team has made some real improvements in the last couple of patches though.

[Clovis]

I agree. This is why the SetAggro command would be nice.
Say for instance....(just an example I've tried in 1.12 and earlier)
set Harper's Ferry to the mid Atlantic Theatre. Then for 1861 set a low interest
variable for the Rebs for the mid atlantic theatre. In 1862 have a probability to set the interest for the theatre high to possibly simulate an Antietem.

I've actually tried this and still the AI is drawn to Harper's ferry like a magnet.
Even though I've set the Theatre interest level to extremly low values.

This is just one example of why I don't think these commands are working.
I could be wrong. I for one would like to see them working like this. As you know, this would add a whole different outlook to the game and the way the AI behaves.

Because AIis a little more complex than a few commands. HP is a magnet because in the vanilla this region is part of the Old NorthWest grand aera. For some reasons belonging to the AI algorythms, AI is obsessed with a VP region situated in the vicinity of another grand aera like Mid Atlantic englobing Virginia. The solution I adopted was:

- remove VP status for HP
- put Western Virginia in Mid Atlantic theater
- use the commands.

It works. It's historical as Western Virginia sideshow was much more related to Virginia events than for Ohio and Kentucky.

Once again the commands work flawesly. But AGEOD's AI is governed by a large numbers of parameters. Hoping one command to fully alter AI behaviour is wishful thinking and dangerous too, because it's because of this large set of variables and parameters AI is adaptative. Doing the contrary would lead to a predictable and context unsensitive AI.

[lodilefty]

I agree. This is why the SetAggro command would be nice.
Say for instance....(just an example I've tried in 1.12 and earlier)
set Harper's Ferry to the mid Atlantic Theatre. Then for 1861 set a low interest
variable for the Rebs for the mid atlantic theatre. In 1862 have a probability to set the interest for the theatre high to possibly simulate an Antietem.

I've actually tried this and still the AI is drawn to Harper's ferry like a magnet.
Even though I've set the Theatre interest level to extremly low values.

This is just one example of why I don't think these commands are working.
I could be wrong. I for one would like to see them working like this. As you know, this would add a whole different outlook to the game and the way the AI behaves.

What doesn't work?

It works in Clovis mod
It works in several WIA situations

In no case is it 'one stop shopping'. We must use our understanding of all the tools to gain the result, and not expect one command to solve a perceived scenario design issue.....

[squarian]

Not really. It's time consuming but in itself it's simpler than at first glance.

Not as accessible as EU2, I think? I spent quite a bit of time on that one - did some good work too, if I do say so myself. At the moment, I can't quite summon up the mental resources to take the plunge into AACW's data files, but I'm sure glad you and Grey are up to it.

[squarian]

Yeah, maybe in 2003, but the top of the heap changes frequently as you are now experiencing with Dell. HP is top of the heap now. I would buy HP, Sony, Toshiba, in that order, before anything else. Dell is a four letter word now in the PC industry.

OK, I know I shouldn't feed this laptop sub-thread, but...

HP's engineering around their use of Nvidia for the Pavillion notebks was a terrible mistake. With high-use progs (like, say, AACW - see, it's on topic :neener they run way too hot and the result is prematurely burnt-out parts. I should know - I'm watching the mail for my new optical drive (thank God, it was still under warranty). But if you doubt it, check the updates on the Pavilion 6000/9000 series.

[soundoff]

OK, I know I shouldn't feed this laptop sub-thread, but...

You are quite right squarian....you should not feed this sub-thread. I cant be the only one totally P****d off that folks who should know better and normally insist on better are quite willing to highjack threads in this way.

Edited because I cant even spell 'know' correctly the first time around

[Clovis]

Not as accessible as EU2, I think? I spent quite a bit of time on that one - did some good work too, if I do say so myself. At the moment, I can't quite summon up the mental resources to take the plunge into AACW's data files, but I'm sure glad you and Grey are up to it.

You're wrong. AGEOD scripting language isn't yet as rich than EU2 one but the syntax is clear. What's yet lacking is a proper documentation but modding forums contains all the needed explanations. And as is most of the needed tools are present. I would like some new commands or conditions for events but nothing absolutely necessary.

I scripted myself directly in the files rather than in the xls ones. Apart from some really obscure things ( like the AI building preferences, I never had real problems to do so which is by most aspects more complex than working the xls files.

[Gray_Lensman]

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[soundoff]

<snip> It doesn't matter, the entire thread is somewhat off-topic from the original post. LOL, <snip>

I'll bear that in mind the next time I post off topic or in the wrong place. LOL

[squarian]

You are quite right squarian....you should not feed this sub-thread. I cant be the only one totally P****d off that folks who should know better and normally insist on better are quite willing to highjack threads in this way.

Edited because I cant even spell 'know' correctly the first time around

I can't imagine how you ever came by your nick, soundoff.

[Aphrodite Mae]

This thread is like an opera, you see. It's got all these story lines intertwined, and there's sadness and laughter and enmity and all that stuff. See if you don't agree:

Lessee... the overture was when someone started bitchin' about something and saying goodbye; and the greek chorus kinda sang this two part thing about realism and history; and then, that kinda drifted into other stuff, until it got grabbed by the scruff of the neck and yanked back by Deca (who's post is extremely cool, I might add); and then it kinda took a philosophical turn and meandered for awhile until Bigus and Gray performed their arias in resuming their personal civil war briefly; but in act III, one of the forums most ancient denizens emerged from his dark slumber to utter an utterance which fell on deaf ears; after which a kinda incomprehensible "gurus of the game" seminar kinda got started, with all of the biggies of AACW pitchin' in their two cents worth... while meanwhile, this kinda sad, plaintive counter-melody got started about how much certain computers suck, but other ones are OK. About this time, the hero Soundoff arrives to set things right by pointing out that all of this stuff doesn't have diddly-squat to do with "goodbye" and "farewell" of the original post, but does have a lot to do with thread highjacking.

I'm thinkin' that there is a recurrent theme here, guys: let's call this entire thread "Gripin' and Bitchin'", and that way, pretty much every post will be on topic, OK?

PS Maybe "off topic" conversations is what the forums's social thread tools were supposed to be about, ya think?

PSS No smart remarks about this operatic thread being at its end because "the fat lady sang" will be tolerated, thank you.

[arsan]

Awesome!!!

[Chaplain Lovejoy]

This thread is like an opera, you see.

Down in front! You're ruining the show for the rest of us!

[Gray_Lensman]

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[Gray_Lensman]

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[soundoff]

I can't imagine how you ever came by your nick, soundoff.

Oh I most certainly chose it myself squarian. It was always drummed into me to 'know your own weaknesses before those of your opposition'

[Clovis]

Just to show how good and historical can be the Ai:

SVF mod may 1862, Grant and Buell are converging on Nashville. I was thinking to myself, playing as Union against CSA, AI was hammering itself by camping AS Johnston at Bowling Green in spite of the surounding threath.

So i loaded the CSA side...Bragg is coming. Until now, he was with his large force at Charleston...He's now at Atlanta and he will be next turn at Nashville...

[tagwyn]

After Toshiba turned our submarine propellor silent-running designs to the USSR ..(!!) I will never have anything to do with them again. D____ them to H___!! t