AI issues with use of infantry

[opal tinsel]

Steps to reproduce

1. Start singleplayer game with all infantry divisions.
2. Observe on max speed and notice how the AI only attacks with tanks vast majority of the time, even in forests and cities.

There are some issues with transport and infantry behavior. The AI can currently only attack reliably with tanks, and always drops its infantry at the spawn point or too far away from where it wants to go. From there they either walk to the front, taking 20-30 minutes, or they idle there until the AI lost all tanks and IFVs and then they slowly move to the objective.

This could be related to the AIs threat assessment, because on empty maps it unloads infantry at the objectives much more reliably, but as soon as it spots an enemy unit it seems like transports get scared and drop everything instantly after spawning. Sometimes they also drop units without reason to try to load another unit on the other side of the map, and two seconds later the AI cancels the pickup order and both units idle until triggered by the enemy.

The AIs Main_Attack missions also sometimes retreat back to the spawn when they lose one pool element and try to RV with a newly spawned replacement unit that was dropped at the spawn, therefor canceling the attack.

The AI needs to use infantry aggressively in forests and cities to be more enjoyable to play against. Not just attack with vehicles all the time.

They also need to stop unloading their transports too early, which causes their infantry to walk aimlessly for most of the game.

I also would like to see the infantry to vehicle ratio improved, the AI usually likes to spam helicopters or tanks, instead of having a balanced ratio. More infantry would make them more fun to fight.

AI issues with use of infantry

[fallen violet]

Is changing AI behaviour by mod possible? May be we can try to do sth

[opal tinsel]

Some examples

Notice how AI drops infantry at spawn point. Then they walk for 10 - 20 minutes doing nothing

[modest kelp]

If not aggresively, than at least proactively, I agree

[opal tinsel]

Yeah when half the AI inf unloads at the spawn point, no wonder they don't seem to do much

[hasty bay]

It's possible, but I assume it's not newbie friendly

[copper dirge]

What do you mean by that ? Is it 100% moddable ?

[hasty bay]

I've seen many AI behavior NDFs, but I can barely understand what can I do there

Though I can clearly tell it's possible, further more there used to be a mod that changed AI behavior before, but it's not updating, perhaps Eugen kinda fucked it up just like they did with modded operations

[copper dirge]

What does NDF mean in that context ?
For your second point, I have a vague memory that people "complained" about it shortly when the modding capabilities were opened, as devs were still changing how the AI behaved.
I should dig onto it further, thanks !

[hasty bay]

NDF is a TXT files that warno is using to store stuff such as missile stats, unit descriptors, deck's parameters and etc

[opal tinsel]

The AI heli spam is also pretty annoying. They like to spend 1000+ points on just helis at the start

[chilly forum]

yeah, they love to waste all their points in helis and AA, also, i've never seen AI use HE, CLU or AT planes, only AA ones.
I hope eugen gives the AI some attention instead of focusing on the wrong type of AI.

[hasty bay]

hardest AI brings those when it can

but sometimes rolls them back as soon as target is not visible anymore

[opal tinsel]

yeah so overall the AI is not really enjoyable to play against right now, especially for more single player oriented players. hope this gets some attention at some point

[hushed leaf]

For me its been inconsistent when they bring CAS and when they don't. Often they won't but then just when I let my guard down they'll SEAD all my Gepards or cluster a few of my tanks. I think what happens is if they remember you have a lot of AA like Hawks they become more reticent to send out planes (but not helos oddly enough)

As for INF I find a good way to force them to use them more is to play against say two AI and give one a normal deck and one an "infantry" deck with no tanks whatsoever.