Watching the AI play against itself 2

[Uri]

Long, long ago, when we had to live in caves and an erratic forum, there was this post named "watching AI play against itself". Someone asked wheather you can watch AI fight tactical battles against itself.

Well... You can! Just play a custoum battle (say 10000 koku atacker, 5000 defender). Buy only one unit, run away with that unit (or commit sucide). Then it's just AI versus AI, and you can watch http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/cool.gif

Was that idea said before?

[solypsist]

its also fun to play a custom battle where you have the ai play a "defender" if you're also playing defender and watch (and sometimes help) your ai partner fight against the ai attacker. it's a good way to play big games even though you might not be skilled with the controls yet; it allows you to worry about only a few units while still enjoying epic fights. but be careful, some times your "partner" can act less than honorable when it comes to helping you out in turn.

[solypsist]

oops.

[The Black Ship]

Watching the AI may be good for the newer players (newbies sounds so harsh), help you to see the rudiments of troop deployment http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif Let's face it though, a human opponent is an entirely different ball-game. I've seen some truly amazing troop deployments, not all good http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

My guess is that if someone could let the AI on expert level play for them on-line, they could make the top 20. What do you guys think?

[Strategy]

I would hope not (never played mp, so I wouldn't know). http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/cool.gif


[This message has been edited by Strategy (edited 11-03-2000).]

[DrNo]

Black Ship, I will have to assume you are joking as I can't believe you would think the AI is anywhere near good.

It charges YC towards an enemy with YS in it's ranks through a hail of arrows. It charges its CA into h-t-h instead of using it's arrows first. I would go on but these are just basic things that the AI gets wrong, never mind the more complicated decisions.

If you view Shogun like Chess you would say the AI thinks about 1 to 2 moves ahead. Sometimes it gets lucky but most of the time it's like watching the incompetence of the English in Braveheart. Great battle scene that. (I am very very English by the way)
Why use cavalry when your archers were doing just fine?

[FearOrBeSori]

All I have to say is woohoo free honor! The AI on expert would doubtfully ever reach top 20! I personally think the top players would have a field day if such an option was allowed. Besides what fun is it watching AI fight battles for u on MP? Maybe bragging rights like, "Lol I just let the computer beat you!". Then all Shogun will be for you is a gloriified AOL chat room with some drum beats. :P By the way I kno ur joking Blackship. Hope to see ya at the tourney - Sori (FearOrBeSori)

[FearOrBeSori]

Arghh its been so long that my old screenname Manji isn't even registered here. And by the way it sayz the screenname Sori is already being used? Some1 has my name? I hope no1 has bben posting as me lol - Sori

[Erado San]

Heck I'm only an average online player, but I kick the soup out of the AI on expert unless he has quite a majority over me.

And for newbies, watching the AI will show you a lot of stuff you shouldn't try online.

Mind you, I still think the AI is pretty good. I have never seen a game where the AI compares even closely to human opponents.

[Obake]

Sup Sori,

Haven't seen anyone wandering around with your name although there are a few sorry people here! (hee hee).

This is a whole new board so none of the old names carried over. If you want to get credit for your old posts, go to the off-topic forum and beg Kurando! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/tongue.gif I mean lookit what they did to me!

And just to keep this post on-topic (so I don't have to delete myself) I present the following...........

Guys, the AI does not use any better tactics on Expert than it does on Hard. The only difference is that the troops are harder to kill. I recall a post from Richie/Shogun back during my lurker days on the old Dojo where this was discussed. All AI tactical features are enabled on Hard.

I have to admit to really drooling about the opportunity to tell another player that I let the AI beat him as Sori suggested! May work against a newbie, but not a chance with anyone over 105 honor! Besides, joke or not, there is no way I'm gonna risk the computer playing with my honor.

Obake

[Tachikaze]

I read this thread, then tried some games using Uri's suggestion. I made a unit of H2 Yari Ashigaru. Oda and Imagawa each had 5000 koku at their disposal.

I watched the first game, and my Oda ally lost.

I decided I could watch it better if I suicided my unit. So, I apologized to my peons for murdering them, and charged into a front of four units of gunners. They didn't make it (duh). Again, my ally lost, but I could watch the battle better, once my six survivors were making for the hills.

These Oda weren't too sharp.

The third time I replayed the game, I kept my farmers alive, and snuck around the back of the Imagawa. They began to beat the Oda back again. My ally's entire army was on the run, hundreds of fleeing sprites in yellow armor.

My peons were still sitting behind the Imagawa picking their noses. This time, I said "what the hell", and charged into the back of some enemy fairly fresh yari cavs.

It turned the tide of battle. The blue wave receded, and the yellow wave turned to chase them. I personally had 53 survivors as the Imagawa ran home to tell Ieyasu.

I learned some lessons watching this battle. I learned how delicate the balance can be between victory and defeat. One ashigaru unit made the difference. Also, I had clear evidence of the importance of a flanking or rear attack on morale.

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A murky puddle becomes clear when it is still.

[BanzaiZAP]

Actually, when doing an SP Custom battle, I like setting myself up with one ally, then backstabbing early on, so you get a larger three army battle. Back in the Dark Days of the Demo, and in some of the player mods, multi-army battle are much more epic.

-- B)

[Dwimmerlaik]

Hoooooeeee! The dark days of the demo...now that takes me back...

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To be happy it is necessary not to be too intelligent

- Flaubert-

[The Black Ship]

Guess I shouldn't drop a bomb like that and then be away for so long http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Tongue in cheek fellas http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif