AI refuelling planes at airfields adjacent to player units

[steevodeevo]

I've seen this AI behaviour quite a bit in Panzerkreig, maybe its been there in previous DLC, but certainly I have not noticed it so much as in PK:

Screenshot 12.jpg (561.87 KiB) Viewed 2235 times

This airbase was in enemy hands and empty when two planes landed to refuel & repair. The three tank and two infantry units, including 3 units directly adjacent to the airfield were there prior to the planes landing. I will now of course destroy the hanger with one shot and take out 2 aircraft.

I do not believe that AI planes should be allowed to land in airfields they control where enemy (human controlled) units are adjacent to the airfield like this, its suicidal behaviour by the AI and therefore somewhat immersion breaking.

[koopanique]

Maybe the enemy planes were on their last turn of fuel

But yeah, generally this makes the AI look a bit out there.

[hrafnkolbrandr]

Reminds me of accounts from the Eastern front, where German pilots had to scramble and GTFO because Russian ground forces were bearing down and shelling the fields.

[CoolDTA]

This silly behaviour can be seen in Paradogs Gamer's latest video, in which the Night Witches land next to his units after suffering a staggering two strength points loss. The unit had just arrived (two turns in the air) so no lack of fuel. I have also encountered this in Panzerkrieg. Some patch has inadvertently changed things or so it seems.

[Myrddraal]

If you see this behaviour again, could you grab an end turn auto-save for me an upload it here?

[GabeKnight]

This silly behaviour can be seen in Paradogs Gamer's latest video, in which the Night Witches land next to his units after suffering a staggering two strength points loss. The unit had just arrived (two turns in the air) so no lack of fuel. I have also encountered this in Panzerkrieg. Some patch has inadvertently changed things or so it seems.

If you see this behaviour again, could you grab an end turn auto-save for me an upload it here?

It's something about the AI, 'cause this happens in the custom campaigns, too. I'll attach a savegame from Erik's GGC v.1.5: at turn 2, the two enemy fighter aircraft land on an encircled and damaged airstrip. I know it's not official content, but may help nonetheless.

Screenshot 38.jpg (603.16 KiB) Viewed 1994 times

[Erik2]

Usually both in official and custom scenario the AI air units are set up to be able to use whatever airfield is available.
You can restrict an AI Team to use a specific airfield.
I wonder if forcing the AI to use behind-line airfields would work better. Assuming these fields exits.

[Horst]

A more or less fool-proof method to prevent AI aircraft to land on endangered airfields is one or more triggers that check for surrounding player units like 2 hexes around AI-controlled airfields. You have to change the aircraft's AI Team then to another safe AI-airfield then. No idea how well this works with multiple airfields.
It's less work to give the AI aircraft the most distant airfield away from the player front-line as home-airfield, what Erik has mentioned. It will restrict the action radius, but the aircraft should be safe for a long while.
A generally better coded AI is still the best solution to this that requires no extra triggers.