Do Helicopters Slow Down AI Play?

[Omnius]

I remember making a scenario for TOAW2 that was included in that game that was a large hypothetical Cold War style scenario that had plenty of helicopter units. I remember that when it was the AI turn to play it would take a seriously long time for the AI to think through it's turn due to the many helicopter units in my scenario. Is this still a problem in TOAW4, I hope Norm fixed that pernicious problem he failed to fix in TOAW2.

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: Omnius

I remember making a scenario for TOAW2 that was included in that game that was a large hypothetical Cold War style scenario that had plenty of helicopter units. I remember that when it was the AI turn to play it would take a seriously long time for the AI to think through it's turn due to the many helicopter units in my scenario. Is this still a problem in TOAW4, I hope Norm fixed that pernicious problem he failed to fix in TOAW2.

AFAIK, and testing the Nam and NATO/WP scenarios, ain't slowing the AI down... if the PO paths are properly implemented.

Klink, Oberst

[JPJ]

ORIGINAL: Omnius

I remember that when it was the AI turn to play it would take a seriously long time for the AI to think through it's turn due to the many helicopter units in my scenario. Is this still a problem in TOAW4

There were few comments (including from myself) of temporary slower gameplay or blackouts when airborne units are moving, for some reason.

In my case it has improved much with the public betas but still happens sometimes. It can also happen when I move manually, so, my issue is not limited to AI and PO moves. (It is remarkable because it can happen even when I move only a single counter on the map, so with very little screen activity going on).

But such issues seem to be different for different players/machines, ranging from no issues at all to very noticeable for some, and perhaps it is more system related than specifically airborne (aircraft) / airmobile (helicopter) related. On my machine it is sometimes. So even with the current beta, unless you confirm this on your machine, I would not categorically rule out in advance that you either will or will not have an airborne slowdown on your pc, for some reason.

[gbaby]

I don't think this has anything to do with AI, but rather long distance travel and the animation.

It seems there is a threshold of how long the move takes. If you speed up the animation, you can avoid the hang/black screen impacts.

Click the mouse when it goes black and it will speed up its return.

This has been around for a long time and TOAW IV does not improve/address it. It has got to be something with the animation and screen update routines. I think it is intentionally putting a time limit on movement animation and "skipping" to final, but it really gets in trouble on the "skip" part as it spends too much time do the final update.

Do not believe this is related to the PC, since I've got a top end one and its happened with every PC before. Same delays, same timing, etc.

Not a game killer, just one of those annoyances one tends to just live with.

[warspite1]

In answer to the OP's question I am currently playing the Waterloo scenario and no, I can't see they are making any difference here.

[Omnius]

Warspite1,
Do you have helicopters in your Waterloo scenario? Remember I'm asking about whether helicopters hang up AI processing for turn.

[Omnius]

gbaby,
In TOAW2 it took a lot of time to process the AI turn when large numbers of helicopters are in a scenario. Have you tried any scenario that has a lot of helicopters? I don't think this was a performance issue of PC's, it was limited to helicopter units. For some reason air units didn't have this problem. I'm trying to figure out if Norm ever fixed this problem.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Omnius

Warspite1,
Do you have helicopters in your Waterloo scenario? Remember I'm asking about whether helicopters hang up AI processing for turn.

warspite1

No, no I don't. It was a poor attempt at humour.....

[Omnius]

Oberst-Klink,
If any scenario would show this problem it would probably be the Nato/WP one. So you're not seeing any slowdown when the AI is thinking through helicopter moves? That's hopeful. What is a PO path? You shouldn't assume everyone knows every abbreviation. I did see something about being able to limit bomber flight paths so that fighters can escort them better, wonder if this can help the helicopters as well?

[Omnius]

JPJ,
An interesting observation about airborne units slowing down processing, even when the player is moving them, or plotting them. Back in TOAW2 I figured it was something to do with their extended range and the AI taking more time to check every possible move they could make. I'm hoping that routine has been streamlined more so air units of any type don't slow down AI turn processing, it sure did in TOAW2 pretty much only with helicopter units.

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: Omnius

Oberst-Klink,
If any scenario would show this problem it would probably be the Nato/WP one. So you're not seeing any slowdown when the AI is thinking through helicopter moves? That's hopeful. What is a PO path? You shouldn't assume everyone knows every abbreviation. I did see something about being able to limit bomber flight paths so that fighters can escort them better, wonder if this can help the helicopters as well?

I can assure you that I don't assume that everyone knows the inner works/mechanics of the game, especially the newbies. Therefore, I created, to the best of my abilities and knowledge, the Tutorial 'xx series.

Tutorial '41: tm.asp?m=4382552
Tutorial '42: tm.asp?m=4387818
Tutorial '42 - Editor: tm.asp?m=4401098
Tutorial '43: tm.asp?m=4390285
Tutorial '43 - Combat: tm.asp?m=4394374
Tutorial '44: tm.asp?m=4397183

OK, granted... I didn't cover the (P)rogrammed (O)pponent bits... yet, but the series is not over yet... we still got '45, and then... perhaps some pesky colonial war adventures with choppers, the French Foreign Legion and Uncle Ho's boys...

Klink, Oberst

[Omnius]

Oberst-Klink,
Hopefully when you get to the Artificial Ignorance (AI) movement you'll be able to update about how a scenario with a lot of choppers works. I still remember being very frustrated that Norm didn't address this problem in TOAW2, the reason I'm asking about this in TOAW4.

[Oberst_Klink]

ORIGINAL: Omnius

Oberst-Klink,
Hopefully when you get to the Artificial Ignorance (AI) movement you'll be able to update about how a scenario with a lot of choppers works. I still remember being very frustrated that Norm didn't address this problem in TOAW2, the reason I'm asking about this in TOAW4.

Will try to create a jungle-/bush war sandbox scenario with 'lotsa choppas', incl. the squad with Arnie, Jessie and the rest Has to wait until between the years... atm I am a tad occupied to finalise the existing tutorials with proper documentation.

Klink, Oberst

[RichMunn]

Not poor.

British. I liked it, but then I understood it!

[Omnius]

Oberst-Klink,
I look forward to your experiment.