How to focus AI Airstrikes?

[conboy]

Hi folks,
I'm working on a scenario around the Remagen Breakout. The Germans made a serious 7-day effort to knock out the bridge with bombers and jets after it was taken by the US 9th Armored Division. I'm trying to replicate this attack but can't seem to get the German bombers interested in attacking it. Even though I have the target set at "Structure", they go after the US ground forces around the bridge.

I have messed with the AI settings, nothing seems to work. The closest thing is Air Patrol with ADD selecting the bridge. They congregate around it but don't bomb the bridge nevertheless they attack the nearby ground units.

Has anybody else run into a similar problem? Anybody else figured out how to make the AI air power focus on a single hex?

thanks, hope all had a good holiday!

conboy

[StuccoFresco]

Following, I'm interested too.

[Shards]

Do you mean a bridge on the map? Because that's not a game object per se, it's not a thing from the units list that's marked as "structure", which is what I think you're after.

Are you trying to get them to blow the bridge somehow?

I'm not sure that the AI really knows how to target supply sources with air assaults. You might want to try putting something like a bunker on the bridge to represent defensive forces? That IS a structure, and by attacking that, the strat bombers will incidentally reduce the supply on the bridge (which you could use as a Bridge Integrity analogue?)

[ColonelY]

Or, alternatively, once several bomber units are over the area of the bridge in question (one of the conditions, if not the only one), then it can be demolished by triggers directly, using the "Destroy Bridge" effect (WITH explosion effect)... this, combined with a cool and immersive event that pops-up, should do the trick.

[terminator]

Or, alternatively, once several bomber units are over the area of the bridge in question (one of the conditions, if not the only one), then it can be demolished by triggers directly, using the "Destroy Bridge" effect (WITH explosion effect)... this, combined with a cool and immersive event that pops-up, should do the trick.

The solution that seems the simplest and the best for me

[stevefprice]

I'm not sure that the AI really knows how to target supply sources with air assaults. You might want to try putting something like a bunker on the bridge to represent defensive forces? That IS a structure, and by attacking that, the strat bombers will incidentally reduce the supply on the bridge (which you could use as a Bridge Integrity analogue?)

If you can link bridge destruction to destruction of the bunker that seems a better solution. That would mean bombing runs as opposed to loads of planes just hovering over the hex and surrounding hexes.
If it's an objective both sides need a chance as opposed to a slam dunk if enough planes and congregate in the area.

[Shards]

I'm not sure that the AI really knows how to target supply sources with air assaults. You might want to try putting something like a bunker on the bridge to represent defensive forces? That IS a structure, and by attacking that, the strat bombers will incidentally reduce the supply on the bridge (which you could use as a Bridge Integrity analogue?)

If you can link bridge destruction to destruction of the bunker that seems a better solution. That would mean bombing runs as opposed to loads of planes just hovering over the hex and surrounding hexes.
If it's an objective both sides need a chance as opposed to a slam dunk if enough planes and congregate in the area.

It's certainly possible to check for if that bunker is destroyed, and then destroy the bridge with a boom if so.

[conboy]

Thanks, all. It works! You must have a bunker on the hex of interest.
So you have to set the AI Team for:
Air Patrol
use ADD to select the hex
Set Structure as the target type.

I guess this would work for other target types but you'd have to have that target type on the hex. Maybe an anti-aircraft unit would be better than a structure in some cases, then you'd have to select anti-aircraft as the target.

Thanks again!

conboy