Russian AI Notes

[Edwin P.]

Off all the AI players, the Russian AI will probably be the easiest for HC to optimize.

Why?

1. Its primarily a land battle against Axis forces supported by Axis Air Units.

2. Only two fronts to guard - Western front and the Causcaus area.

3. AI need not consider purchasing naval units or bombers or researching techs related to these.

That said I would like to see the Russian player use more than one strategy to defend Russia.

Perhaps at the game start the Russian AI considers selecting from among the following:

1) Standard Defense

2) Rapid Withdrawal to a Defensive Line

3) Conquest of Finland and Rapid Withdrawal

4) Conquest of Finaland and Standard Defense

5) Stalin's Raiders - Amphibous unit in the Baltic embarks and lands to seize capital of unoccupied neutral nation on German rear, gaining plunder - I did this once against a human player. It was a most surprising move to him.

Then the Russian AI needs to decide where and when to concentrate his forces for a counter offensive:

1) in the North after the Allies invade Western Europe

2) in the South after the Allies invade Western

Europe

On the research front the Russians have an easier time than the Western Allies in deciding where to focus their limited resources as they can safely ignore naval technology investments.

The question is should Russia sometimes build a bomber to disrupt German supply derived from captured Russian cities?

[ September 09, 2005, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: Edwin P. ]

[Edwin P.]

HCs addition of a second production and supply center in Stalingrad will go a long way towards improving the campaign against the Russian AI as the human player will no longer be able to half Russian production by cutting Russia in two.

The effect on the AI of this change is minimal as the AI would never, in SC1, seek to cut the supply lines between Moscow and Stalingrad. This change will also make it harder for the Axis Human player to win in HvH competition.

[ September 10, 2005, 12:28 PM: Message edited by: Edwin P. ]

[well-dressed gentleman]

You should create an option where Soviets and Anglo-Allies tangle at the end of the war.

[Edwin P.]

One change that HC should consider is for the Russian AI (and German & Italian AI) to reclaim tech chits for MPPs if it is in dire straits.

What is dire straits? Perhaps if Moscow or Stalingrad falls or if Russia is reduced to fewer than X units or fewer than x cities. Or to strengthen a critical a hole in the line.

Definitely something that needs playtesting to fine tune.

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Naturally the opening strategy for the USSR should be influenced by Germany's strength along the Eastern Strength as should their research priorities.

[ September 12, 2005, 08:09 AM: Message edited by: Edwin P. ]