AI aggression level

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funky_trader
Major
Posts: 62
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2015 4:35 pm

AI aggression level

Unread postby funky_trader » Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:57 pm

Hello

I bought the new Barbarossa dlc and have been playing with the standalone scenarios before starting the campaign. Is the AI coded to be more aggressive in this DLC? I can't count the number of times where veteran full steps infantry units with specialists got obliterated by the Russians because I've pushed it a bit too forward. I'm unsure how I'll be able to maintain veteran/elite status among my units through the campaign. Battle odds are already pretty bad, and there's an unorderly high chance that you'll lose a step even if you have a solid change of winning + causing the enemy unit to retreat. Engineers drop like flies. This is going to be rough

Also, are there side objectives that are almost like traps? Like the only way to get them is to endure the enemy counterattacks while suiciding a few units on the target? Which mean that sure, you got 20 or 50 prestige extra, but you also have lost 3 units, their specialists steps, and will have to reinforce 4 others

I feel like I could easily win everything on classic in the last two campaigns, but this one looks pretty bad

Anyways, a good challenge at the very least :D

sourdust
Brigadier General
Posts: 207
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 1:30 am

Re: AI aggression level

Unread postby sourdust » Sun May 02, 2021 2:09 am

I'm glad you're appreciating the challenge! It's a hard game, and this campaign very intentionally explores the bitter, grueling fighting that characterized the campaign.

The core AI isn't changed, but the AI can be "steered" in each scenario through a set of designer-specified objectives. In effect, the AI can be made more or less aggressive by the scenario designer. And in some of these battles, the AI is designed to fight back hard, and launch local counteroffensives. It's almost inevitable that you will have a few infantry divisions or even panzers savaged at some point.

Keeping engineer losses at an... acceptable level is important for later battles. This is hard, but possible. Using them in prepared assaults rather than direct attacks helps.

And the side objectives - there aren't any that are "traps" per se, but they definitely require a weighing up of risk versus reward. As you say, depending on how things are going it can be counterproductive to push too hard for a bonus objective, if it means you will take excessive losses. View them as just that - bonuses. Some players find it useful to focus on getting one or two of them in each battle, rather than setting out to get them all.

As for maintaining veteran/elite status - well, you won't always be able to do this, any more than the Germans could in real life. You'll find you can foster some units. But you will take losses, and inevitably that will eat into your overall experience and strength levels as you keep going.

All that said, the campaign is designed to be winnable, and let me tell you it's a rush when you get there in the end!