Just a quick note:

[Jack ONeill]

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All,

As a quick follow-on to DaVs last post, I just want to say how amazingly far the AI has come within this marvelous game. The screenshot shows what I consider a breathtaking situation. It is a shot from a game I'm currently running with the NapMod. I am playing as an Austrian Division Commander holding the center of the line. I don't use the map much for my own actions, but will look at it occasionally to just see what else may be going on. Popped this baby open to see this - the AI is sending the entire Austrian Reserve Heavy Cavalry Division on a stealth ride around the French-Bavarian right flank. They are riding behind the Culps Hill area so as to not be seen. Out-Bloody-Standing!!!! 24 Cavalry Squadrons are going to fall like a thunderbolt on the Bavarian Horse troopers from behind. I've never seen anything like this before. I was stunned. Maximum Kudos to the Norb/Team for this brilliant, almost self-learning AI.

Jack B)

[Davinci]

Jack – yes the AI has greatly improved since the latest patch, the team didn’t give us any advance warning on the improvements, and I don’t think that it was included in the readme.

MTG – was the first one to notice the changes, and commented about it on the forums.

I will usually move my brigades to the end of my battle-line, but keep them deployed in column-formation slightly back, and behind a ridge.

Once the AI extends their line to over-lap my battle-line, I’ll deploy the slightly-hidden brigade. This seems to cause the AI to move another brigade over, and repeat the process again.

I think that the longest battle-line that I have seen was between 3-4 miles, which never happened before the last patch!

Excellent Job – to Norb for altering the AI , it really does improve the game for the single-players.

davinci

[Hancock the Superb]

Will agree. Just played Sykes Corps versus Hill's Corps at Devil's Den. I took control of the Peach Orchard and set up a line running down the Wheatfield Road. First, a brigade of Anderson came and tried to push me off. So Anderson committed another brigade, which was defeated. Then Pender sent in three brigades at the Peach Orchard and to the west to flank me out. I had to send in two brigades to help the original one + artillery batteries that were already engaged. Then I spot Pettigrew attacking me down across the Wheatfield, but I'm able to hold him off with two brigades. I'm not sure if the AI was timed, but it did a masterful job of continuing to apply the pressure and develop weak points. Fortunately I had over half my forces in reserve. Now, I think I have three unengaged brigades and five brigades which are at the straining point. The AI still has five brigades in reserve, so I think I am doomed.

A masterful job by the AI of pressuring the flanks, then continuing to press harder and harder and harder. The only improvement I would suggest is try to decrease the overlapping of brigade battle lines. If the AI could tell where regiments of the next brigade were, then not proceed into their midst, that would be great. Having the AI brigade commanders trying to straighten out the line would also help: oftentimes regiments will charge forward and get isolated and annihlated, rather than the brigade commander making sure that the line advanced together.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

Hancock the Superb wrote:

Having the AI brigade commanders trying to straighten out the line would also help: oftentimes regiments will charge forward and get isolated and annihlated, rather than the brigade commander making sure that the line advanced together.

Brigade handling is based on the commander's stats. The poor or inexperienced ones will tend to throw their troops in piecemeal. The good ones will form their lines away from the fighting and go in as a cohesive unit. It's a very impressive sight to watch. Division and corps commanders handle their responsibilities the same way, again based on their stats.

The one failing in all this that I observe, the one you already pointed out, is the advancing brigade will tend to overlap another brigade already on the firing line causing much of the odd regiment marching and countermarching that has been much commented upon.