There are several things going on here.
As the scenario designer, you need to read up on the limitations of the game engine as well as scenario designer if you want to create excellent scenarios. There are several useful work-arounds which lessen the risk of the player noticing the flaws in the programming.
1. Yes, the AI isn't (yet) programmed to use the "para" in paratroopers. On the ground, they act like any other infantry, however. So you need to use this to your advantage.
2. In fact, don't expect the AI to use
any transport (air, sea or train) effectively. Creating scenarios featuring units in transports are best reserved for the human player.
The AI does use sea transports, though not very efficiently (since it doesn't prioritize landing units, you won't get good results from amphibious assault unless you really help the AI. And by that I mean "have half the landing force already on the ground, and make any coastal defenders
very weak and
very isolated. The reason is because the AI currently doesn't activate units in the "correct" order, much like the artillery issue discussed below).
The AI does not know to use air transports. At all.
I haven't even tested train transport but I'm not hopeful. Remember train transports are difficult to use even for a human, since you can only unload at stations (rail-connected flagged cities you own), your unloading capacity near the front lines are usually extremely limited. If you want to test if the AI unloads at all, try having one (1) train-embarked unit.
Land transports work as well as can be expected. The attacking AI still runs these blindly into enemy territory as if they were IS-2's though.
3. The AI currently activates (moves/attacks with) units in an inflexible order. Artillery really needs to activate before infantry - when attacking. When moving it's okay for today's more cautious move order. Sea transports adjacent to the beach they are to invade really needs to activate (unload) before other units in sea transports, since that's the only way to clear the beach for more reinforcements.
Remember, I'm not listing this to bug the programming team. I'm listing this so you scenario designers know how to make the most of what you've been given.
1. Attacking AI paratroopers simply must start already landed. Simple, no whats no buts.
2. Attacking AI amphibious assaults are best avoided. At best, start the scenario half-way through the landings. Don't start AI units in air or train transports at all.
3. The only way the AI will use artillery in a way that's even close to satisfactory is when it is the defender, and the artillery is protecting a victory hex, and you have placed it correctly ("behind" the front line).
For an attacking AI, the most important consideration is that front lines needs to be established already. If infantry and tanks are already going toe to toe, the risk of the AI moving up artillery directly for your units to eat it for lunch is much smaller. You could experiment with towed artys which you give no transports. This way they at least can't run directly into their deaths. But the reality is that the current AI does a much poorer job as the attacker than the defender, and that you really can't expect much of anything regarding attacking AI artillery.
4. Try to give the AI units instead of prestige. You the designer will always do a better job of buying stuff than the AI.
5. You must micromanage the AI when it comes to entrenched infantry. The AI does not properly appreciate staying in entrenched positions, and so you need to command such units individually ("Hold Position Passive")..
In short, the absolute best way to design a scenario where the human is supposed to be playing either side is to design
two scenarios on identical maps.
When the human is playing, put units in transports, have paratroopers in the air, delete half the force (and provide prestige instead) etc etc.
When that same side is played by the AI, hand out little to no prestige, and sprinkle the map liberally with units. Specifically: place units already up close to the human-run defenders. (The AI really needs recon to avoid running its units into ambushes, but the secret answer is that starting with an established front prevents the AI from filling the front with artillery and infantry still in trucks...)
Feel free to give the AI the handicap of
double the unit prestige total, compared to what you give that same side when played by a human. The only exception, I guess, would be a scenario set on a wide grassy plains, where Tiger tanks and IS-2's duke it out. That really is the only case where I'd say the AI works as well as a human...
Either that or wait for an AI patch. Thus far I haven't heard anything though (there are no promises a better AI is coming).
