Perfect Example of Cheating A.I.

[john1440]

Please let me start off by saying that I really enjoy this game and have spent a great deal of time playing it. However, the following example of a recently played match shows why I have become very frustrated with this game as well.

A.I. Gladiator Leader with the following attributes:

1. Natural Pilot

2. Redline

3. High Performance

4. Power Dive

5. Stay With Him!

6. Quick Reflex

7. Target Pilot

8. Draw Extra Card x2

A.I. Gladiator Wingman with the following attributes:

1. Team Work

2. Check Six

3. Distract Leader

4. Target Pilot

5. Draw Extra Card x5

Against my Me110's, both with the following attributes:

1. Natural Pilot

2. Escape Death

How is this match considered fair? How can this match even conform with the game's own 75% rule? More importantly, how can this match-up, and many more that I've played lately that are just like it, be FUN? Needless to say, I did not score any hits and both of my planes were shot down. I've played approximately 30+ missions in the last 2 days against this kind of A.I and I was only able to score maybe 10 kills while having at least one of my own being shot down every single time. This occurrs at all VP levels. I don't want to suggest that I should emerge victorious all the time but I think that I should at least have a fighting chance every match. The A.I. should have to play by the same rules that I do. I buy and play games to be entertained, not to quit in frustration. And before someone suggests the obvious, I DO play against other human pilots as well and am also sometimes shot down by them, however, I am at least able to put up a fight first!!!

[ November 02, 2005, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: john1440 ]

[Sixxkiller]

Hi John,

Ya sometimes it can be like that. Are you saving exp points to buy quick reflexes? It helps in the long run trust me. I usually buy zoom climb, power dive, quick reflexes for my leader, in that order. My wingman I always get anticipation first as it may help to whittle away at the cards.

But you wont always face uber pilots like that and its far easier at low level to build exp from escort missions. Always start high and with the power dive you get 2 cards each time you dive. Also at very high you almost always get to dive first on a group. I usually try to take out the wingman first. You will get used to it though hehe. It wont always be so tough.

-Ray

[Munro]

I think the AI should be limited to your Experience Points.

If you have 25, then he should be able to "buy" a 20 or 25 Points Skill, but not both.

If he buys the 20, then, possibly, he could buy 5 points of Extra Cards.

[Guest Mike]

that's not really cheating tho - it's "just" a mismatch.

the 110 with it's rear gunner can be bloody dangerous to even a very experienced gladiator since it can always play those 1:* cards - whether IMS or OTS - I've ben on the receiving end when I played around with experienced pilots on lesser a/c!! :eek:

Cheating as such is when the AI gets to draw multiple additional cards in a combat but I only get to draw 1 :mad: :mad:

[john1440]

Thanks for the input. I was indeed saving up xp for those very same purchases that you suggested, the pilots in the above example were only around 60-70 pts. I agree with the Me110 being able to defend itself from the rear, but as previously stated, this is just one example, there are many others that I have experienced that were not 110's. Very frustrating. I should also mention that I left out the Gladiator wingman's Team Work attribute by mistake.

[Munro]

Tally up the cost of your buying the AI's Skills. Don't forget the Base Cost increases. Those are really Mustangs in Gladiator clothes, hehe.

[Sixxkiller]

What you have to worry about are Mustangs in those clothes.

-Ray

[Guest Mike]

All cross dressers worry me!! :eek:

[Schugger]

My pilots my think differently, but I think that all those bots with Target Pilot are a big equalizer in the game. What I really do not like is the massive draw extra card assault when you face Bot Pilots.

What about the idea of limiting them in a way that you can only draw one Extra Card in each game turn (One during the opponens phase and one in your phase)?

Or am I kicking a dead horse here?

[Sixxkiller]

I dont think this is a dead horse issue as much as its an issue that AI is still about 3 generations behind a human in ability. No way they cant make them uber at some point. When is just a matter of perspective.

-Ray

[Guest Mike]

There are some simple things that I think could be done to improve the AI though!

Eg:

1/ They don't always need to fight at all costs - the last AI fighter, smoking, climbing to engage 4 undamaged enemy is kind of daft when there's only a turn or 2 to go - a "run away and hide" would be better!!

2/ When attacking bombers and hte leader has no shooting cards do not always dive to get more cards - usually just swapping out the usuall 2-4 cards will be enough and it means your wingman gets to shoot again next turn too!