Updated AI Beta Patch

[IainMcNeil]

An updated AI beta patch is available from http://www.slitherine.com/files/cnaw/cnaw_patch1.02.exe

It fixes a range of issues including
- Fixed a freeze bug that occured sometimes instead of the victory screen
- France is now slightly stronger early on due to the increase from 8% to 12% from the Corps d Arme' tech
- Increased the manpower capacity for France in all scenarios by 15%
- Russia now throw in counter attacks every now and then, more the longer the war goes on eventually driving all the way towards Paris
- Great Britain now do naval invasion into France if later on if the defence is weak
- Great Britain now build slightly less navy and more ground forces
- AI, Changed some thresholds for France when deciding if protecting Austria or defending Paris
- AI, improved some distribution problems so France is now more aggressively focusing on conquests early on
- AI stops buying new units earlier, sparing manpower for repairs
- AI, France get more manpower when playing the upper difficulty levels
- AI, Only infantry units now stay put on resource hexes for defence

Please let us know if this improves the AI and if there are any areas that still need improvement. Thanks!

[firepowerjohan]

After patching it should say "v1.02" in the main menu down right corner of screen. So for reference, you know you have the latest version then.

[Bern]

Just had a quick 20 odd turns of the 1805 camapign - Coalition v French AI at mod. advantage. Have to say, playing without fog of war does provide a kind of skewed view, but have to do it this way to get an impression of the AI movement and activity.

Won't say much about naval - usual demise of the Fr fleet, however did notice an additional Fr unit in the channel - it didn't last long. I think it's a good idea, provided that it is there to support the Batavian unit in defence of N. France. Unfortunately, the latter had the same suicidal instincts which led to later problems. I think serious consideration should be given to the programming of this unit - it is quite ineffective as it is.

In this game, the Fr did move to support the action in Austria - some good, some not so good. These 'reinforcements' arrived just in time to save Nappy's life. His art unit had been cut down to 4 following attacks by the Austrian units starting in the south. Had it not been for some poor die rolls, and the fresh troops from France, Nappy would've gone! I mentioned earlier that I thought his initial placement was a bit exposed.

Now the not so good. The Fr AI seems to find it very difficult to take Vienna. The additional troops appeared to lack impetus to go forward and the Fr units tended to 'bunch up' west of the City. I noticed that the initial Russian support had been reduced, so I decided not to use any Russians to support the defence of Vienna just to see the effect. The Austrians, on their own, held out until game turn 19 or 20, by which time Saxony and Prussia had joined the Coalition.

Actually, having taken Vienna, the Fr made an excellent job of removing Saxony and getting to Prussia. This worked very well indeed. Unfortunately the amount of time taken to reduce Vienna allowed both Russia and GB to build up decent forces and, given the total lack of Fr naval support around the Channel, the latter was able to invade N. France and march into Paris. Have to say, had fog of war been on, I would probably not have tried that

I would also just mention that when Saxony and Prussia joined the Coalition, the Fr units trying to save Paris turned about and marched east.

Not sure why the Fr have the problem at Vienna. I did notice that on more than one occasion, having wiped out a unit adjacent to the city hex, the victorious unit failed to advance into the vacated hex. The selection of the units to attack the City hex was also a bit odd. The AI insisted on attacking with light cavalry units. These things allowed the defenders to hold out for far longer than they should have.

I do think that it is critical for France to have a naval presence covering the Channel. There is no threat at all to GB and now France is at risk.

Bern

[IainMcNeil]

Thanks for the feedback. The French problems with Vienna are the most serious issue I'd like to get resolved.

[Bern]

I agree. Sorry, I did have one other suggestion, I hope you don't mind.

The lack of Fr naval cover is a concern although I believe that the use of French 'homeland' forces at the sharp end is absolutely the right way to go. In the circumstances, I just wondered about the possibility of 'ring-fencing' the coastal hexes of France until, for example, GB has reached a particular level of organisation.

Whilst you may find this a little artificial, it would be historically sound. In addition, it may compel GB to invest resources in organisation, thereby giving him another issue to ponder. It would also stop people like me from mounting an ahistorical invasion of France and also validate the revised use of homeland troops.

Bern

[IainMcNeil]

I'm not sure an artificial limit like that would be a good idea. It;s tricky to get working and feels wrong to me. Instead I think France to react to a British invasion appropriately. It's never going to be able to do this at sea so it has to be able to recall units from the front to defend the homeland.

[firepowerjohan]

The reason why the French AI was made more reckless early on was that in 1.01 some thought it was a bug France leaving some units behind to protect Paris. If GB is going to use this strategy might be safest to leave some units for Paris defence, that is quicker than bringing them home from further distance, say if France is already in Prussia and the wagon distance is too great.

[Bern]

I can well appreciate the difficulty here. On the one hand I wholeheartedly support the way the beta is using the homeland troops, on the other hand such use does tend to leave France in a potentially vulnerable position.

There are three ways to tackle the situation, one is naval and the way things are, this is not an option. The second would be to ensure the defence of France by leaving more units behind. Clearly, to take this line will dilute France's efforts to crush Austria at the earliest time which must be France's top priority.

The third option would be to limit GB's opportunity. Historically, GB was in no state to mount an invasion at this early stage, so from this point of view it would not be artificial, although I do understand what you say. Would it be difficult to do - the prog will already have a variable representing GB's organisation level. A flag could be set to represent the stage at which invasion capability is reached. At each iteration of the program the two values could be compared, if the flag value is higher than current GB org value, then potential invasion hexes would be unavailable.

I'm sure by now that Johan is reaching the limit of his patience and I really do not want to cause additional grief by making what may well be very daft suggestions so I'll shut up now and leave it to the expert.

Bern

[joerock22]

Just played the first year or so of a Coalition, large French advantage game (same as on 1.01). Here's what I've seen so far.

The Good
1. 1.02 patch is a vast improvement over original and 1.01 patch.
2. French managed more coordinated attack on Austria, especially around Venice.
3. AI manpower management was infinately better. Was nowhere near yellow when Vienna fell.
4. French maintained only a small army around Paris (a few units) most of the time. Sent majority of troops to Austria and later Prussia.
5. AI used light infantry to occupy the horse farm and town on its side of Austria.
6. AI is still very good at the Prussian blitz, and blitzing the Austrian army on the first turn.
7. It seemed like merchants were tougher against privateers. 2 merchants cause 4 steps damage on my privateer. If you did that on purpose, I like it.

The Bad
1. I managed to wound Napoleon, and when the AI got him back they stuck him in the Paris militia. I guess he had was having woman troubles at home. Josephine!
2. AI still recruits no generals.
3. AI builds no new artillery or cavalry units.
4. AI completely surrounded Vienna before even attempting to take it. If the AI was more focused on capturing the city, regardless of initially bad tactical odds, it could have saved itself half a year.
5. AI rarely advances into newly conquered hexes after destroying coalition unit.
6. AI does not use wagon moves effectively, instead choosing to march reinforcements long distances.

Glitches
1. As Coalition, the game won't let you focus on "Attack Columns" in infantry technology. I noticed this before but forgot to mention it.
2. The French frigate at Marseilles just sails back and forth along the coastline until I kill it.
3. This might not be a glitch, but the British didn't get their first merchant ship until September, 1806. If you can assure me this is just a random anomoly, then I guess I'm just unlucky.

Keep up the great work guys! I'll hopefully be able to do some more testing soon, maybe check out the changes in the Coalition AI.

[firepowerjohan]

A 1.03 beta is rdy any day also, even better than the one you played

[Panzer]

Hi there,
Playing the "grand Campaign" on the French Side !!! (against AI).

1) Still no line of view on neutral untis (even in line of sight). I can't see Spanish units until i declare war on them (same for all other neutral countries).
2) I played roughly 20 turns, saw some modifications on the Napoleonic Army (add one Light Infantry). Saw that the Russian army were not there at the beginning of the conquest of Austria.
No visible modifications were seen on the Austrian AI (they are dead by now).
3) I still think that some milicia must be guardian the "Confederation of the Rhin".
4) I need to make more testing to see the Behaviour of the Russian
5) Sweden should enter at war around 1813-1814 (i will test this modification in my game).

6) AI still not building Artillery and Commander ????????? (why ?)

[IainMcNeil]

If a change was not listed in the fix list then don't expect it to magically appear in the game

V1.03 is just uploading now.

[Panzer]

Nice news,
I will continue to test the coalition AI, as a lot of player are busy testng French behaviour.


keep it up !