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AI Question - 5/3/2012 9:09:19 PM

Bamilus

Posts: 264
Joined: 4/30/2010
From: The Old Northwest
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This is kind of an odd question and I know it has been asked before cause I've lurked these forums ever since the game came out, but....

I'm about to graduate college and I own WITP:AE, WITE, Command Ops, most of the Close Combat games, AGEOD World War 1, AGEOD ACW, Grigsby Battle of Britain/Eagle Day, Advanced Tactics, DC: Warsaw to Paris, and almost every Paradox game made. Needless to say, I've played all of these games in some shape or form but I've been really looking into actually learning WITE and enjoying it.

My problem is I won't have the time to play against humans but I want to know if the game will be worth the long learning time if I only play against the AI (and probably as Axis). I know this is a hard question to judge and I only listed the other games I've been wanting to play so that someone could give me their opinion if I should even try to jump in and learn this behemoth of a game (it would probably take away a lot of the time from all my other games). I only played the game during launch and realized I didn't have enough time to properly learn the game and commit to it.
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tl;dr: I own the game. Haven't played it much since launch. Now I might have some decent time on my hands. Is this game (in your opinion) for a vs. AI only player worth taking the time to learn when it means I will have to neglect a bunch of other games I could possibly play? The game looks epic but I'd like to hear from veteran players if the game in its current state is worth taking the time to learn.

Odd question. Sorry. Thanks for your thoughts. I'm only asking this question cause I've noticed the forums have been slowing down (I know they are working on WITW) and I've heard some grumbling.

< Message edited by Bamilus -- 5/3/2012 9:10:57 PM >

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RE: AI Question - 5/3/2012 9:50:35 PM

Schmart

Posts: 552
Joined: 9/13/2010
From: Canada
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Rumour has it, that in fact a majority of WitE-ers play vs AI. The difficulty settings have several levels, as well as a number of individual setting that one can tweak. This means you can adjust the AI difficulty to suit your own desirability/skill level. If Normal is too easy but Challenging is too hard, then simply put the settings part way in between. Of course, no AI can ever replace a human mind, but this AI is pretty darned smart. The developers have made an effort to improve the AI since release. The AI does have the ability to give you Holy Sh*t! moments...

Morale seems to be the more influencial AI setting, so usually this needs to be dialed up a bit in order to get the most effective AI.

(in reply to Bamilus)

Post #: 2

RE: AI Question - 5/3/2012 10:34:06 PM

AFV

Posts: 371
Joined: 12/24/2011
From: Dallas, Texas
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Definitely someone with your experience, you would need to set the AI at least on challenging (meaning AI 110%, you 100%).
You can make it even harder than that, and eventually you probably will.

Like Schmart said, they have continued to improve the AI, and when odd (ie poor play) is detected and reported in the forums, the devs have worked to fix it (an example can be found in fulkeson vs AI AAR). With the latest patch, I find the AI pretty competent, although it still will occasionally do some silly things. Then again, so will human opponents :)

Regardless, even if its your first game, do not play at "Normal". Play on challenging (110%). For a game of this scope, I think the AI is good, and will give you an enjoyable game, which is the main thing I look for (and likely so are you).

This game does have faults and weaknesses, that are likely not going to be fixed in this version- but in my opinion, it still is a very good game.

(in reply to Schmart)

Post #: 3

RE: AI Question - 5/3/2012 11:09:15 PM

Bamilus

Posts: 264
Joined: 4/30/2010
From: The Old Northwest
Status: offline

Thanks for the answers. I'm gonna start with some of the smaller scenarios and work my way up. I appreciate the input!

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RE: AI Question - 5/3/2012 11:13:49 PM

Klydon

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Joined: 11/28/2010
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I would recommend two things.

First, play one of the scenarios before diving into the campaign. This should lessen your time commitment and also give you an idea if pursuing a campaign game is going to be something you want to do.

Secondly, my big frustration with the Russian AI is when you set it at 110 for Admin. This essentially gives the Russian AI as many free admin points as they wish to spend and to me, what the AI does with it will leave a bad taste. (Basically, you can't make a good move and not have a instant wall of Russians in your face and when corps become available, look for there to be none on one turn to having corps all over the place the following turn). Bumping the other settings up as AFV mentioned is ok and will make the Russians more challenging, but there is such a huge difference between how the game plays at 110 and up vs below 110 that I can't recommend it.

(in reply to AFV)

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RE: AI Question - 5/7/2012 5:37:10 PM

Schmart

Posts: 552
Joined: 9/13/2010
From: Canada
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Klydon
Secondly, my big frustration with the Russian AI is when you set it at 110 for Admin. This essentially gives the Russian AI as many free admin points as they wish to spend and to me, what the AI does with it will leave a bad taste. (Basically, you can't make a good move and not have a instant wall of Russians in your face and when corps become available, look for there to be none on one turn to having corps all over the place the following turn). Bumping the other settings up as AFV mentioned is ok and will make the Russians more challenging, but there is such a huge difference between how the game plays at 110 and up vs below 110 that I can't recommend it.

I thought it was 120%, but maybe that was the point at which the AI begins its rail and movement cheats. Nevertheless, just set the AI admin to less than 110%. The most critical AI setting is morale. It doesn't just affect unit morale, but makes the AI 'smarter' and more likely to attack, conduct offensives, attempt encirclements, etc...

(in reply to Klydon)

Post #: 6

RE: AI Question - 5/19/2012 12:41:34 PM

Storm68

Posts: 7
Joined: 5/14/2012
From: Sweden
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Have been reading a lot of treads about the AI setting. But still not certain about the setting.
I prefer to play as the russian.

Tried the 1942 GC (AI 110% and me 100%) but find it to easy in the late 43.

What sort of setting should I try in GC 1941 as the russin to get a hard, but "historical outcome".
Should I bump up the AI to 120 % or just try the ingame settings Challenging (AI110/me90)?
I have the latest patch.

(in reply to Schmart)

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RE: AI Question - 5/19/2012 1:03:05 PM

Tarhunnas

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Note that the victory conditions in many of the scenarios might be hard to acheive as the Axis. Don't get all depressed by this. Actually, the campaign is much more fun! I would say that you can play the campaign as the Axis a number of times and have great fun. Then when you feel the AI does not offer enough of a challenge, you can think about doing a PBEM game.

Edit: IMHO, the German AI is not as good as the Soviet AI.

< Message edited by Tarhunnas -- 5/19/2012 1:04:42 PM >

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RE: AI Question - 5/19/2012 8:34:53 PM

Rufus T. Firefly

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Joined: 4/28/2012
From: Chicago, IL
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Ok, maybe I'm just strange, but what I like to do, and what you might consider, is playing both sides yourself rather than playing against the AI. Although you can't suprise yourself, you do get to learn to play both sides against an opponent more competent than the AI. I will say that the AI in this game is much better than most, but it is still not that great an opponent unless you give it a a boost. I don't like boosting the AI as this allows the AI to "cheat" more and the game starts to lose its historical feel. That's just the way I feel about it.

If you do play agains the AI I don't recommend playing as the Russians. The Axis AI IMHO is not nearly as competent as the Russian.

At any rate the game is a lot of fun and if this sort of thing is your cup of tea you can't do much better.

Have fun!

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RE: AI Question - 5/20/2012 7:06:28 AM

76mm

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Joined: 5/2/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Rufus T. Firefly
If you do play agains the AI I don't recommend playing as the Russians. The Axis AI IMHO is not nearly as competent as the Russian.

generally true, but you can have a good game against the german AI through the blizzard if you are on challenging. It is decent practice, although you can't play the same way against the German AI as a human opponent, because humans are much better at encirclements, etc.

(in reply to Rufus T. Firefly)

Post #: 10

RE: AI Question - 5/20/2012 12:45:00 PM

Storm68

Posts: 7
Joined: 5/14/2012
From: Sweden
Status: offline

I have decided to try a GC 1941 against the russian AI and wait to play the russian for a PBEM.
My first GC 1941 as axis against the AI was on normal and for more than one year ago.
By now I understand the setting was far to easy.This time it will be harder!

(in reply to Tarhunnas)

Post #: 11