Which settings give the best performance for the AI?

[LSSpam]

Which settings should I use for the Confederate AI (when i'm Union), and vice-versa for the Union AI (when i'm Confederate)? Looking for semi-historical performance from the AI.

[enf91]

Good luck. I've been trying for historical AI performance since I bought this game 13 months ago. The AI is programmed to sniff out objectives and strategic cities and attack them, not necessarily to destroy armies or maintain its supply line. I have never played on anything other than easy difficulty, normal aggressiveness, no FOW bonus, so someone else will have to help you or you will have to experiment.

[Chaplain Lovejoy]

Ah, a favorite question of mine, one that has been discussed. Search old threads. But the short answer is that there is no clear answer.

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Brochgale]

I dont think that there is any way to enforce anything approaching historical accuracy! Why would you want to?

I tried it but gave it up as a bad idea as we are all playing What If? scenarios even in a full campaign!

[LSSpam]

Just started my Confederate game. I put the Union on +1 activation (which I believe is "Normal") and Normal Aggressiveness. It's still very early (September I think) but the AI is already acting crazy. I have what appears to be the majority of the Union forces in the East playing around in Southwest Virginia. The Army of the Potomac (aka Northeastern Virginia or whatever) moved into the Shenandoah and pushed Johnston out. Ok, that was interesting, not really historical given the fixation on DC/Richmond at the time but i'm willing to play strategic gambits. So I take Alexandria and figure I can force the AotP back up to Harpers Ferry (and out of Winchester) by threatening the depot there.


Instead they simply push deeper into SW Virginia, completely abandon any supply lines. I'm not even going to bother chasing after them. I just took Harpers Ferry, going to scorch the depots in the Shenandoah, defend my Eastern Virginia Depots (Manassas, Fredricksburg, Richmond, Petersburg) and basically ignore the Union down there. I don't see how the Union can supply itself and it's more then 15 days, maybe even more then 30 days unless they take Manassas and Alexandria, from re-establishing supply. I'm planning to take Beau and the Army of Northern Virginia up to Baltimore which is relatively lightly defended for a grocery run.



I write this all down because it's fun to talk about our games but also because this seems to be a problem. The first Confederate game I did, which was only a few turns admittedly, but the same basic thing happened. A fixation on SW Virginia. This includes numerous small 1 - 2 regiment raids that inevitably result in their destruction or disolution because they have no easy retreat and no means of staying in supply. And it's inexplicable because there aren't any strategically important objectives there. Richmond/Knoxville I guess, but they rarely tear up track and what they do gets fixed in a turn.


As it is I think this'll be an easy game. I know I don't have anywhere near enough experience to be a good match PBEM, but evidently learning the game is a bigger challenge then the actual AI itself, and i've learned enough of the game to at least be competent. So PBEM it is.

[tagwyn]

Good Luck. t

[slimey.rock]

It is very easy to get discouraged in pbem. The hardest thing about pbem is not being able to restart. You have to live with every decision you make. Stick with it and keep trying and you will find pbem to be the greatest.

[Colonel Dreux]

Just started my Confederate game. I put the Union on +1 activation (which I believe is "Normal") and Normal Aggressiveness. It's still very early (September I think) but the AI is already acting crazy. I have what appears to be the majority of the Union forces in the East playing around in Southwest Virginia. The Army of the Potomac (aka Northeastern Virginia or whatever) moved into the Shenandoah and pushed Johnston out. Ok, that was interesting, not really historical given the fixation on DC/Richmond at the time but i'm willing to play strategic gambits. So I take Alexandria and figure I can force the AotP back up to Harpers Ferry (and out of Winchester) by threatening the depot there.


Instead they simply push deeper into SW Virginia, completely abandon any supply lines. I'm not even going to bother chasing after them. I just took Harpers Ferry, going to scorch the depots in the Shenandoah, defend my Eastern Virginia Depots (Manassas, Fredricksburg, Richmond, Petersburg) and basically ignore the Union down there. I don't see how the Union can supply itself and it's more then 15 days, maybe even more then 30 days unless they take Manassas and Alexandria, from re-establishing supply. I'm planning to take Beau and the Army of Northern Virginia up to Baltimore which is relatively lightly defended for a grocery run.



I write this all down because it's fun to talk about our games but also because this seems to be a problem. The first Confederate game I did, which was only a few turns admittedly, but the same basic thing happened. A fixation on SW Virginia. This includes numerous small 1 - 2 regiment raids that inevitably result in their destruction or disolution because they have no easy retreat and no means of staying in supply. And it's inexplicable because there aren't any strategically important objectives there. Richmond/Knoxville I guess, but they rarely tear up track and what they do gets fixed in a turn.


As it is I think this'll be an easy game. I know I don't have anywhere near enough experience to be a good match PBEM, but evidently learning the game is a bigger challenge then the actual AI itself, and i've learned enough of the game to at least be competent. So PBEM it is.

The SW is one area they focus on, however, their main thrusts tend to be towards either the Shenandoah Valley or Richmond. The fact that they are in the SW I wouldn't call crazy though. It's usually an area that isn't defended and they can cut your rail line and capture either Covington or Christiansburg (normally where they cut the line. It also secures that part of VA for them if they come down the Valley and try to get at Richmond from there. Normally the Union armies run circles around my forces and Richmond. They'll come out the Valley, swing south of Richmond at Petersburg and end up in Norfolk (where they either hang out and chill or get on a boat and go home).

I think it is great actually.

Oh, and your levels.

I think the medium tick on aggressiveness is good. Activation should be normal or maybe one tick up. 2 ticks or higher and you will have to go über defensive in VA from the get go because they come at you immediately and directly. I leave the game set to normal play level because I've edited the generals on both sides and many of the Union generals have been upgraded so they don't need any extra advantages really.

The AI detection is also important, like activation, the higher it is the better it is for the AI. I've played on the 4th before and it makes the North more direct cause they know where you are and they will come for you if activated. It just means there is a lot of early pressure on you and you can sit on your hands with the CSA; you've go to combine your forces and fight.

[dduff442]

I'd suggest switching off attrition in the naval boxes as well. The AI doesn't cycle its ships into port, so switching off attrition in the naval boxes helps it alot.