naval invasions: anything happening post patch 3?

**Slaists** · 05-08-2009, 04:57

Post patch 3, we supposedly have naval invasions. Some folks have even confirmed (with screenshots) AI ferrying troops around. But has anyone seen the AI actually try to DO ANYTHING with those troops?

Here are my observations so far:, playing as Ottomans (VH) I have observed Innuit declare a 100-year war on the French and still, by 1785, not having realized there is a LAND BRIDGE between their territory and undefended Newfoundland.

Dutch got into a war with the French from day one, took the French Guiana right away. But still in 1785, they have not realized there is an empty and undefended French island territory right next door.

Similar situation with British and French: both have been at war for decades with absolutely no activity (in that war) on either side. Same line: British are at war with Mughals (who have taken over all of India), but still: no sight of any British activity in the subcontinent decades after DOW. British and Mughals are happily trading away sitting on anchors right next to each other near Madagascar...

Spain is at war with Morocco since 1703; in 1785 they have 3(!) full stacks sitting in Gibraltar not being able to cross over using the landbridge...

So, as far as I can see, the campaign AI is as dumb, inconsistent and passive (late game) as it ever was.

**Monsieur Alphonse** · 05-08-2009, 07:37

I have had one real naval invasion although it was a strange one. I had captured Sweden from Sweden and had a weakened stack in Stockholm. A second stack was being transported to Finland, the last stronghold of the Swedes. To my surprise I saw a Swedish fleet transporting a full stack heading to Sweden. I attacked with my fleet and the remnants fled into the fishing harbor just north of Stockholm. During the AI's turn that army tried to capture Stockholm but failed. The stupid thing was that is was Sweden's last army and Finland was now undefended. I don't know what Sweden would have done with that army if I hadn't attacked that fleet and driven it straight into my own harbor. But it was a real naval invasion.

And yes: the AI is still to much focused on seeing the country side, visiting peasant girls, raping and plundering then capturing or defending region capitals.

**Rothe** · 05-08-2009, 13:22

It seems to me that the priority in making naval landing forces (ships + troops) works, but once the ships are out at sea, the AI loses its goals and seems to just do random movement.

There should clearly be a plan that stays in effect from embarking to disembarking. Something like:
the AI makes an invasion force (a stack of troops) and a ship (or brings an existing ship), already at this point it has decided the target for the invasion.
Then the ship is loaded and it sails straight for the target, until it can disembark with the troops.

In the current version, the AI does build a stack and put it in a ship, but then it has no goal for the troops, or it has *too many* goals competing for the ship that cause it to sail all over the place.

This is obviously not perfect and would be exploitable (since the ships would just go on, without caring what happens elsewhere) but I would prefer it to the sightseeing trips the french are making :D

**anweRU** · 05-08-2009, 13:44

I've seen AI ships with troops in them in my GB game - but I haven't seen them do anything. Though to be fair, I've lost track of the Portugese fleet with a single unit in it. It might be anywhere (including the bottom of the sea) at this time.

**AussieGiant** · 05-08-2009, 15:21

Originally Posted by anweRU

I've seen AI ships with troops in them in my GB game - but I haven't seen them do anything. Though to be fair, I've lost track of the Portugese fleet with a single unit in it. It might be anywhere (including the bottom of the sea) at this time.

Same here. They head off somewhere but I really have not seen a classic invasion.

Recruit:

Load up:

Transport:

Land:

Beat the snot out of something:

New Province:

**Fisherking** · 05-08-2009, 15:40

Originally Posted by Monsieur Alphonse

I have had one real naval invasion although it was a strange one. I had captured Sweden from Sweden and had a weakened stack in Stockholm. A second stack was being transported to Finland, the last stronghold of the Swedes. To my surprise I saw a Swedish fleet transporting a full stack heading to Sweden. I attacked with my fleet and the remnants fled into the fishing harbor just north of Stockholm. During the AI's turn that army tried to capture Stockholm but failed. The stupid thing was that is was Sweden's last army and Finland was now undefended. I don't know what Sweden would have done with that army if I hadn't attacked that fleet and driven it straight into my own harbor. But it was a real naval invasion.

And yes: the AI is still to much focused on seeing the country side, visiting peasant girls, raping and plundering then capturing or defending region capitals.

The AI usually looses anyway.

Your example was most likely a case of use it or loose it.

You know Finland cant support an army and you are loosing cash and soon troops…what do you do, and how fast?

**Marquis of Roland** · 05-08-2009, 18:47

In my Prussian campaign Spain crossed over and took Morroco.

**Guru** · 05-08-2009, 21:12

Originally Posted by Fisherking

You know Finland cant support an army

Not true! We train some 26 000 conscripts every year!

**aimlesswanderer** · 05-09-2009, 14:37

The new economic conditions mean that troops are in short supply, which doesn't help.

I have seen only a single unit being transported, and haven't noticed a (successful) naval invasion.

**Fisherking** · 05-09-2009, 14:49

Actually Finland is not that bad a region but with upkeep costs so high I assume the army would have melted away if it were not used.

However, this sounds much too complex for the AI to understand. So at least we know that for what ever reason it was done.

**Belgolas** · 05-22-2009, 04:36

Originally Posted by Slaists

Post patch 3, we supposedly have naval invasions. Some folks have even confirmed (with screenshots) AI ferrying troops around. But has anyone seen the AI actually try to DO ANYTHING with those troops?

Here are my observations so far:, playing as Ottomans (VH) I have observed Innuit declare a 100-year war on the French and still, by 1785, not having realized there is a LAND BRIDGE between their territory and undefended Newfoundland.

Dutch got into a war with the French from day one, took the French Guiana right away. But still in 1785, they have not realized there is an empty and undefended French island territory right next door.

Similar situation with British and French: both have been at war for decades with absolutely no activity (in that war) on either side. Same line: British are at war with Mughals (who have taken over all of India), but still: no sight of any British activity in the subcontinent decades after DOW. British and Mughals are happily trading away sitting on anchors right next to each other near Madagascar...

Spain is at war with Morocco since 1703; in 1785 they have 3(!) full stacks sitting in Gibraltar not being able to cross over using the landbridge...

So, as far as I can see, the campaign AI is as dumb, inconsistent and passive (late game) as it ever was.

Mughals naval invaded my island of Sri Lanka and took it because I thought the A.I. wouldn't go for it. Although I have zero forces in GB to protect it and no one has invaded it.

**Dradem** · 05-22-2009, 08:34

I'm playing as Prusia for the moment, and in the first turn Britain loaded a lot of troops almost all of them in ships and headed west. being intrigued by this I built a ship (a few turns later think it's 1707 now) and sailed to the Americas there actualy helping out the 13 colonies and even invading the indian tribe which is south of them (can't remember the name) it seems that they are actualy doing the mission lol (altough they'll get it anyway in a few turns but then atleast they'll have troops there)

edit:
Well they lost there province north of florida and now some ships with troops are just sailing everywhere in the america's and ivory coast :(