Paradropping

PurpleWyrm · June 14, 2000, 19:10

Is there any reliable way to get Computer players, and even barbarians to paradrop? I've been working on a scenario where the map is a series of small islands, most with airbases, and almost every unit has the paradrop ability. But the computer players just seem to load everything onto boats. And the barbarian units I'm carefully creating with events.txt don't do anything except sit around for a while on their starting island then vanish.

Any ideas?

Prometeus · June 15, 2000, 08:55

I've two hints for you:

A) you can enlarge island's size.

B) use the EVENTS.TXT file in order to create your barbarian units "all around the world".

Have a nice day
Prometeus

William Keenan · June 15, 2000, 10:45

The AI is really bad at launching effective assaults in this environment. Nor can the AI make any use of the Air Craft carrier which is critical in the island scenario.

In short the human player has a huge advantage on an insland intesive map. The best fix for this is not to make a scenario that is based on a map full of small islands.

N35t0r · June 15, 2000, 16:29

they only paradrop to take cities...

Michael Daumen · June 15, 2000, 21:51

Perhaps you can give all the computer/AI nations units the paradrop flag a la Red Front.

Captain Nemo · June 16, 2000, 16:34

For the computer to paradrop:
They need to find empty cities within range and with an unoccupied adjacent square. Also note that it is best to locate the paratrooper unit in the original slot.

PurpleWyrm · June 16, 2000, 20:26

Hmmmm, a lot to think about.

I figured the news wouldn't be great, but I guess I can make a few adjustments. Are the AI players completely unable to use aircraft carriers? Or so they just use them incrediably badly?

Captain Nemo · June 18, 2000, 21:27

AI doesn't know how to use Aircraft Carriers or airbases. If a plane lands there it's pure luck...

If this is a WWII Pacific scenario here are a few hints for the AI:

Place indestructible stationary AI units on the islands you want the AI to conquer that gives the AI a safe place to land troops that the human player can't take away.

Give the AI (If Japanese) very low cost Kamikaze aircraft to encourage them to use them (The cost ratio Kamikaze/unit attacked is the main criteria determining if the AI will attack with a Kamikaze).

Give paradrop only to some of the AI units and make the range sufficient to reach from island to island. Change game text to read "A small Japanese force lands near..."

Give the AI shore bombardment ships with higher ability than the human player. One conquest method used successfully by the AI is "Bombard city with air/ships until all units inside are dead then paradrop to capture"

Make all Islands size 2 or bigger. AI can't capture islands size one with city because it doesn't use marines well...

PurpleWyrm · June 19, 2000, 05:16

It's not a WWII Pacific Scenario, but a lot of the tips will be very useful anyway. thanks

Just downloaded Red Front by the way. Wow