Hi all,
I know reams have been written about this, but there's a couple of things I'm curious about. I've been thoroughly enjoying CMSF and playing through some of the missions in different play modes - I'm inclined towards wego (since the days of CMBB) but really enjoy the different vibe in real time - there's a tension and atmosphere that is really quite exciting on some maps.
The challenge with RT is one of information processing, and hence reaction time: On a busy mission, such as the fab 'Factory Complex' I can absolutely slaughter the AI on wego (and I'm not a great player, really) and yet playing in real time I can typically barely fight to a draw. There's a little bit more going on here than simple unit management, though (I think). More later...
Generally, a human will make much higher quality decisions than the AI, but will take considerably longer, so even with a relatively dumb plan, the AI can get inside the human's decision-making and therefore continually push the initiative. Computers are designed to process information, so this is a given that they will naturally be excellent at it. The more forces the human has (I think, anything above a company) the more critical this gets. Until the day comes that you can somehow communicate intent, do not have to micro manage down to squad level, and the AI can really look after itself (no small thing), this will always be a challenge.
Now, wego (the mode we all love) entirely removes this disadvantage. As far as the computer is aware (by the the game clock), we are making decisions at the same speed, but a human has a huge qualitative gain; effectively we are robbing the computer of its processing advantage. - we can manage units with total precision, and take as long as we like looking at the battlefield and the cinematic replays. It is one of the joys of the game.
The pause key, of course is a great equaliser and allows one to play real time and 'catch up' on the busier maps. I read the statement on this forum (by Erwin, I think) that if you're pausing you may as well play wego, and I would agree.
However...
I have a hunch (with no real data) that something is different in wego vs ai. Specifically, the AI seems a little more docile, to the extent where it really does feel like I'm playing two different games.
I'm wondering if it is down to the command and replay phase, and this is where I'm not certain about things. Is the AI in wego subject to exactly the same rules as the player? I.e., does it issue orders in the command phase, and have no intervention in the 'playback' phase? If so, that would explain why it does not react quite so dynamically to what is going on - in real time (naturally) all players can issue orders dynamically, you are not in the 60 second 'jail' of wego where you get to pay for your sins in that painful minute with your hands tied.
I don't know how it all works under the hood, but I do feel that even if one negates the disadvantage of reaction time in RT by using pause (and you have to, really on the larger games) the AI still seems a bit punchier in RT mode. I may be completely imagining it, of course