MisterMark

When I'm playing an attack against the computer and I'm seemingly winning the battle (but it doesn't seem quite for sure yet), the battle often times comes to a somewhat unexpected stop and I end up with a major victory due to the AI throwing in the towel. However, many times I find I haven't taken all the objectives and upon looking over the fully revealed map and the AAR, there were still a fair amount of capable enemy units still holding key ground. I'm not 100% sure on how it works but from my rough estimation, it seems once you have inflicted greater than 70% casualties on the enemy, the AI just gives up. And I get it... it's practical to have some sort of threshold for when it's time for the other side to give up. But when this happens too soon, it feels disappointing to get the victory without taking all the objectives. Furthermore, it robs you of the satisfaction of getting to 'mop up' the last of the hold outs... which despite any kind of numerical advantage you would have at that point, wouldn't guarantee you would just easily root out and roll over any remaining defending units. It seems completely possible that you could take a fair share of losses that could still sway the outcome of the battle from a major victory to a minor victory. Does anyone from Battlefront have any idea on the criteria and details for the algorithm that dictates when the AI surrenders? Is it based on purely casualties/points? Or does the algorithm take into account the percentage of units that have a shattered moral state? I've seen this complaint brought up before but wondering if there has been any work-arounds or mods out there that will fix this? If not, it would be a welcomed update for Battlefront to add some sort of option to raise the threshold for full AI capitulation so you could extend the battle to through a mop up phase. Maybe it's a slider that you can pre select the percentage of casualties or shattered units to get a full surrender? And to take it a step further, a really awesome feature would be to have the option to randomize the threshold so you wouldn't know exactly how far you needed to take the battle to get the major victory. If this isn't possible in a future update, at the very least, make it where all the objectives have to be taken to get the major victory. Not sure how the surrendering threshold could be update for defending or meeting engagements but one way or the other, I believe a lot of players would appreciate some update or tweak to this aspect of the game. Would be curious hear other's thoughts and opinions on this. -Mark

I put out a post several years ago about the AI in CM2 vx CM1... I'm reposting the link as I think it's worth taking a look at for those invested in this current thread:

Does anyone have the CMPzC rule book pdf that outlines how to merge CM with the John Tiller Panzer Campaigns series for operational play? There was a link were you could download it in this discussion here: Seems the link to download it no longer works... If someone has it might you be able to send to me? Thank you, -Mark

I wanted to see if there is anyone in this community willing to make some custom force selections and AI plans for a few maps (CMFI) per my spec? If so, PM me and I'll give you some instructions and proposed maps. Thank you, Mark

One approach I have taken for playing with large numbers of infantry (and out of laziness) is to just detach a small recon force and leave the rest behind in the rear area as a reserve. Once contact is made I move in only what I think is necessary to deal with the threat and focus on the point of contact as a abstract objective. I'm still inclined to bring in heavy weapons and tanks over a smashing force of infantry. There is of course great satisfaction in taking a localized area of the map but because of the time constraint and the fact that I've not mobilized most of my infantry to deal with the rest of the map, I usually end up losing the the battle. On a side note, am I even using my infantry the correct way? Meaning, for battles that I win, I usually use my infantry as 'bait' to reveal and locate enemy positions and use mortars, tanks and artillery to take them out rather than taking the positions with an appropriate amount of infantry. Like I stated before, in the AAR my infantry usually account for very little of the enemy losses. Is this typical? All thoughts welcomed, -Mark

Love the CM2 platform for a variety of reasons but am I the only one that finds it tedious and daunting to manage anything more than a few platoons of infantry? And once you start splitting infantry up into teams and trying to use them with sound coordinated tactics, the workload obviously multiplies. Furthermore, when the bullets start flying and units get spread out and disorganized, my willingness to control them with same level of detail as before goes out the window. Am I too focused on micromanaging? For large engagement with a company or more of infantry, is it better to use generalized grouped orders and not be as concerned with organization and losses? In my combined arms battles I consistently find my infantry to be responsible for very few enemy casualties as compared to my mortars, tanks and artillery. Any tips from the CM2 veterans out there on how to organize and manage large formations of infantry and still keep the game fun? Thanks, -Mark

All good suggestions... but does anyone know what the various plane sounds mean? Just because you hear a plane fly by on a particular turn, does it always mean a strafe or bomb drop coming on the next turn? Also, can you tell when the plane is leaving and/or not coming back?

I haven't played very many scenarios where there is air cover... I'm just a bit confused by the various sounds that you hear as a plane is covering the map. Has anyone been able to notice any patterns or use the sounds as an indicator as to what will happen next and how soon or later or for how long? Also, if you don't have any AA assets deployed what are some things you can do to foil an air strike or minimize it's effects? Obviously getting infantry into a building is a great start but what else? Thank you, -Mark

Progress report... purchased the v3.0 upgrade and now I have command lines! All is right with the world and I can sleep comfortably at night now. -Mark

@IanL - Ah I see... It's an upgrade that I have to pay for. I thought it was included with the Gustav Line bundle. Thank you for clarifying. -Mark

@Blazing 88's and @badger yes I tried that and nothing happened... When I check the hotkeys menu there is no option at all there for toggling command lines.

Mine says v1.12 in the lower right and my splash screen shows the Gustav Line icon... I thought I bought the same Gustav Line bundle and then added the patch. If I didn't do something correctly with the purchase or the patch, it may explain why I haven't been able to play the modified QB/scenario you and kohlenklau tweaked out. I copied and pasted the description from the confirmation email of what I paid for an downloaded: CMFI + Gustav Line BUNDLE (Delivery: Download Only CFI1-PC-DW $65.00 $65.00 and I downloaded and installed this patch: http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_versions&Itemid=317#CM: Fortress Italy PC Is this all correct to have the latest version and patch? -Mark

@kohlenklau - FYI, I downloaded this file and put it in my scenario folder for CMFI and can't seem to find it when I try to selected from the 'Battle' menu. I also loaded it in the scenario editor to see if something was corrupt with it and it seems to not have any parameters or units set... It didn't even have a map other than the stock flat grass map that is defaulted when you first create a new scenario. Maybe it's a problem on my end? Anyone else? -Mark

I recently purchased CMFI/Gustav Line... I can't seem to get the command lines toggle to work. I even downloaded and installed the v1.12 patch. Are command lines simply not an option for CMFI right now? Thank you, Mark

@Blazing 88's - wow didn't know something like this existed! Thanks for sharing and I will be sure to check it out in more detail... @Heirloom_Tomato - thanks for the offer... I have CMFI so I'll try a out a map or two! @Heirloom_Tomato and @Meach - How would you feel if I sent you guys a map each with a point limit so you can purchase the defenders forces within that limit, compose defensive plans for them and save as an unfinished scenario to send back to me? Then I can purchase my forces (without looking at what you picked of course), save and then play as a quasi quick battle? -Mark