How do we forbid AI garrisoning?

[PoorOldSpike]

This happens a lot in my home-made scenarios (7.1.6 and 7.1.8 ), namely the AI wastes valuable units by dropping them off during his Seek/Destroy advance.
For example this is an endgame shot and an AI Marder, Hummel and PzIV (circled) took no part in the battle because the AI moved them into garrison duty in those three rear-area flagged locations, even though they belonged to the main AI team which had a seek/destroy order.
Furthermore, I gave the flags no value of any kind, they're just empty markers, yet the AI seems to think they're worth garrisoning.
Is there any way to stop him wasting his units like that?

[bru888]

1) Raise aggression and give the team specific target definitions, perhaps.
2) Remove the flags. (Yes, I know they are needed for location names.)

[PoorOldSpike]

Thanks I'll test a few things and post any results in this thread..

[Erik2]

Remove any supply in those flagged locations (and remove the flags). Put all supply in victory locations.
This should help. I used to put small amount of supply in just about every town. This caused the AI to divert units to those towns.

[PoorOldSpike]

Remove any supply in those flagged locations (and remove the flags). Put all supply in victory locations.
This should help. I used to put small amount of supply in just about every town. This caused the AI to divert units to those towns.

Thanks but there's no supply in those flag locations and no revenue points either, but the AI is still attracted to the "empty" flags.
I'm currently trying a new idea by deploying weak AI Volksturm infantry units in the flag locations to act as static defence units, so that hopefully the AI won't be able to waste valuable units as garrisons. I'll post later whether it works or not.

PS- I use the flags simply as markers for the victory conditions I set for myself, eg- "Must capture at least 7 flags".

[GabeKnight]

I'm currently trying a new idea by deploying weak AI Volksturm infantry units in the flag locations to act as static defence units, so that hopefully the AI won't be able to waste valuable units as garrisons.

Besides the "remove the flags" idea, I would've gone with this one, too.

[PoorOldSpike]

Aha the "static garrison" idea seems to work and has put a smile on my face bigger than a wave on a slop bucket..
Here's a shot from a test game today in which I went back into the Editor and put a static Volksturm unit in each of the flag locations (circled), and as we can see, the entire German force (attacking down the length of the map from the north) no longer has to divert valuable combat units to act as garrisons..
(Of course if I was a stickler for historical accuracy I could rename the Volksturms as "Security squad" or some such name)

[PoorOldSpike]

By the way, I just noticed the flags are not called flags, they're called "Capture points" (below) which would explain why the AI will try to garrison them even if they have no points value or supply value etc..

[bru888]

By the way, I just noticed the flags are not called flags, they're called "Capture points" (below) which would explain why the AI will try to garrison them even if they have no points value or supply value etc..

Yes, that was my point; I figured removing the flags/capture points, which normally have no function other than to highlight someplace or display a location name, might avoid the need for the AI to defend them rigorously. Your original question did not mention the possibility of additional garrison units but that seems to work out fine as well.

Erik makes a great point about supply, though. I would imagine that the AI would detect a source of supplies and go for it, flag or not. Conversely, I would expect the AI to safeguard those points as well. Erik mentions pooling supply at a few strategic points rather than sprinkling it around in every village and hamlet.

It's nice to see you reaching out for help and learning the ins and outs of OOB customization. We can always use another designer around here.