Is the AI smarter in v12?
 

I have the impression that the AI is better at establishing a defense in depth in random battles in v12. Or am I just imagining things?

It still has a strong penchant for a Banzai counterattack as soon as you have captured a few VP hexes though.

Re: Is the AI smarter in v12?
 

The AI has some weaknesses. I like to play an Inf Bn set-up with a map about 120(L) x 80(W). That's about 6km by 4km. The expected defensive frontage for a Bn is usually about 2km, so I'm leaving plenty of room for maneuver for the attacking AI, in Delay and Defend battles.

However, when I'm on the attack, the problem arises for the defending AI, who usually has only about a reinforced Company size to deal with the same map size. They tend to be alot more spread out or only defend 1 locality with depth.

If possible, I would like to have dynamic map sizes, partly to deal with this problem.

Further, I've started playing a battlegroup, with an additional armour company. So I've further upped the map size to 160(L) x 120(W). 8x6km, for more depth and width with armour deployment. Again, works very well against an attacking AI, but not really suitable in the defense.

The AI also has a penchant to deploy defensive units near the edge-width of the map.

Re: Is the AI smarter in v12?
 

Just change the map size to fit the AI battle stance and force size. If the map size is right for the AI force it normally plays a lot better.

Re: Is the AI smarter in v12?
 

I like to play the Long Campaigns, so the map preferences can only be accessed before the next mission. As a rule, I tend to leave it at my standard mapsize of 160 x 120 for an ABG.

Currently fighting a Delay battle against UK in N. Africa. I'm still not too impressed with their coordination. Just hordes of Crusader tanks charging forward, getting into Hellfire pass. The size of the enemy is incredible though. Main defensive tactic is reverse slop deployment.

Re: Is the AI smarter in v12?
 

With a campaign you need to know the battle type so you can guess what to change it to.
A map to large makes the attackers job easier as the defender is spread out to much and normally multiple avenues of approach.
Human however you can either lump your forces together or especially if V hex’s are clustered form aV Hex defence so you still have the advantage of overwhelming force.
I get it right around 1 game in 3 and the AI plays a lot better then.

Re: Is the AI smarter in v12?
 

This tends to happen because your troops gain experience during the campaign - and thus become more expensive - while the enemy's don't, meaning they are able to afford more and more units.

Re: Is the AI smarter in v12?
 

For a WW2 campaign based around a walking infantry battalion as the core, I use an 80x80 map as standard. That gives the infantry a chance to walk to the objectives.