AI won't attack and other problems

[bjarmson]

In at least two different scenarios: Butcher and Bolt, Operation Sea Lion and Counter Attack, Crete, the AI suddenly refuses to attack. I've played these scenarios many times in the past and until recently the AI always attacked (it's the point of these games). For whatever reason, these scenarios now have no AI movement from their original start positions at all. The AI units remain motionless at the places where they start the game. When attacked they respond, but they won't move from their original starting points until attacked. Kind of takes the fun out of the game. Also, I occasionally get an AI move where all the AI units and their moves are revealed. Randomly happens, so far only a single turn during any scenario. I hide my eyes, but it's a pain. What's going on here?

[AndrewGardner]

To clarify, when you play Butcher and Bolt now, the Germans never move or fire on their turn for the entire mission, regardless of how sneaky you have been? The AI is behaving normally on some other missions though?

What version of BA are you running and what platform are you on?

[bjarmson]

I'm using the latest version 2.1.1 with Mac OS 10.7.5, though I think I first noticed it after the original version 2 came out. AI units will fire if they see enemy units or when attacked, but they simply won't move from their original starting positions at all until you come in contact with them. Since both these games require that AI units move and attack, its inability to do so renders these games nonsensical. I've played both games in the past against the AI without this problem, so it must be something recent. Since a lot of missions don't require much, if any, movement by the AI, it's not easy to tell if all the scenarios share this problem. In both these missions the AI never moves units from their original starting points. If not contacted or fired upon they simply remain fixed in their original positions for the entire game.

[AndrewGardner]

I can see what you mean in the Crete scenario you mentioned. I will look into it.

[AndrewGardner]

Regarding the behaviour in Crete, it likely was affected by a change in the core game at some time, although it may go back further than the most recent patches. You might try posting in the original scenario design thread to let the creator know how much you have been enjoying the scenario:
viewtopic.php?f=105&t=34322

I haven't been able to duplicate the same kind of issue in Butcher and Bolt. I am still seeing German patrols moving around if the alarm is raised so I am not sure what to suggest at this time.

[bjarmson]

Thanks Andrew, but try playing Butcher and Bolt about 10 turns into the game. After the alarm the German mechanized units and those in the camp do nothing, they refuse to move and fight, unless the British troops move to contact them. Some of the units stationed in the town move, but you can easily destroy them and then just sit tight. Since the main German force doesn't move to attack the town upon the alarm being given, if you don't move from the town to contact them it becomes an easy victory. This is not the way the game used to play at all. The mechanized units and those in the camp area moved to attack the conventional Brit troops in town as soon as the alarm was raised.

[AndrewGardner]

Thanks for the details, I will continue to investigate.

[bjarmson]

As I play other scenarios, there seems to be a similar problem. The Sealion 'Take One with You' scenario doesn't aggressively attack with all AI units. Some units attack, while some just remain motionless. Since a victory in this scenario requires killing 35 German units. it becomes virtually impossible to win. At the end of a recent game (19 Germans killed), I moved units toward the German start area and encountered loaded halftracks and tanks just sitting motionless, rather than moving to attack. There seems to be some sort of systemic problem with the 2.xx game engine. Last year, when using the old 1.xx version this was never a problem.

[bjarmson]

I'm discovering more and more scenarios where some AI units (armor or mechanized) never move from their starting positions. This is a serious problem. You said you'd investigate, but nothing since 19 April. Please resolve this. It's ruining single player games.

[pipfromslitherine]

We've taken a look and this does seem to be an issue with some of the AI teams. I think we solved the issues and so the fix will be part of the next update. Sorry for the inconvenience.

As a potential workaround, you could try enabling the advanced AI setting, as (IIRC) it does more movement attempts and might somewhat moderate the impact of the bug.

Cheers

Pip

[bjarmson]

I've been using the advanced AI setting, doesn't seem to help.