Naval AI and patch 275

[V. Soma]

I bet I saw signs of better naval AI with the new patch "275"

See the attached pic, where AI England has two ships protecting the embarked units!
One ship was appearing in the turn before, and the second came with the embarked units in this turn.

I had only one ship the AI could see near, and the caravel has just came from the north...

*

Also I have seen England making two ships in her city in one single turn!
Obviuosly one was build, one was bought...

I made this setting (W vs E map, duel size) specifically to see how Liz will handle it.
(on Emperor level)

The battle is still going on...

 

[chazzycat]

Awesome, good to hear. Others have reported similarly as well. I look forward to playing some island maps!!

 

[Schalke 04]

Sounds great! I recently quitted an archipelago game as England, because I was way to dominant. Maybe I will continue playing/finishing it, just to see if the AI can give me some more challenge.

 

[V. Soma]

Well, not everything is awesome, though...

I still saw occasions when AI sent lonely embarks to the coastal water with no escort...

 

[Schalke 04]

I still saw occasions when AI sent lonely embarks to the coastal water with no escort...

so does a human player It really depends on the situation. If the AI are likely (especially with their production bonusses) to produce naval units as a protection force, I absolutely appreciate it, even if they sometimes don't.

However, it is a general statement, without further experience of the actual changes. It may very well be, that naval tactical AI is not improved enough yet.

 

[jonpfl]

I bet I saw signs of better naval AI with the new patch "275"

See the attached pic, where AI England has two ships protecting the embarked units!
One ship was appearing in the turn before, and the second came with the embarked units in this turn.

I had only one ship the AI could see near, and the caravel has just came from the north...

*

Also I have seen England making two ships in her city in one single turn!
Obviuosly one was build, one was bought...

I made this setting (W vs E map, duel size) specifically to see how Liz will handle it.
(on Emperor level)

The battle is still going on...

It has been awhile since I have played but I am curious about attacking embarking units.

From that picture, what stops someone from sailing by the galleons and attacking the embarked units?

Thx
jonpfl

 

[Schalke 04]

It has been awhile since I have played but I am curious about attacking embarking units.

From that picture, what stops someone from sailing by the galleons and attacking the embarked units?

Thx
jonpfl

I recently played an archipelago map as the English. I was quite surprised, how easy it is to dominate the seas as a human player.

Against embarked units, you have two scenarios:
1. Ranged attack: Even with a very strong artillery unit or a city you will never have more than 4 damage points towards an embarked unit
2. Naval attack: a naval unit will always destroy an embarked unit without any loss. You get 1 EXP point for this kind of attack.

Therefore: it is always a good idea to have several naval units, when you have to expect some overseas attacks.

 

[jonpfl]

I recently played an archipelago map as the English. I was quite surprised, how easy it is to dominate the seas as a human player.

Against embarked units, you have two scenarios:
1. Ranged attack: Even with a very strong artillery unit or a city you will never have more than 4 damage points towards an embarked unit
2. Naval attack: a naval unit will always destroy an embarked unit without any loss. You get 1 EXP point for this kind of attack.

Therefore: it is always a good idea to have several naval units, when you have to expect some overseas attacks.

So, you can just sail by a naval unit in the sea to get to the embarked units behind them?

Thx
jonpfl

 

[Schalke 04]

So, you can just sail by a naval unit in the sea to get to the embarked units behind them?

Thx
jonpfl

I think you have the ZOC for naval units as well (unfortunately I rarely encountered AI's naval units in my game, to prove it). So it may be not always possible to easily sail behind an enemy vessel, to destroy the behind embarked unit.

AND: I don't know if the recent patch changed this functionality.

 

[SRG]

So, you can just sail by a naval unit in the sea to get to the embarked units behind them?

Thx
jonpfl

I would imagine it works the same as a land based ZoC. I do not recall ever meeting more than 1 AI ship at a time, so it has never been an issue.

If it does not, then I am sure it is a bug and SHOULD work like the normal land based ZoC.

 

[glaivemaster]

The main reason not to just take out embarked units is not because you *can't* due to ZOC etc. but more because if you do, that counts as your attack for the turn. In return, their ships get to shoot your ships with basically no retaliation, and ship damage is harsh nowadays (like, mostly one-shot, occasionally 2-shot harsh). So, for one or two of their units (which is a land unit, admittedly) you'll probably lose one of yours, and their further naval invasions will go unhindered because of it.

That is all just theory though.

 

[Xeribulos]

This may be off topic, but does anyone else feel the AI is actually much worse with the new patch?

Not just the naval AI, but overall. I just played a game where Monty attacked me an fortified his units around my capital. I had zero Units, but his army did not attack my city, instead they were doing nothing. I could take all his Units out with my 1 city and he did not attack once.

Also, Askia hat only 1 city in the Medieval Ages. I then checked and saw he had two settlers standing around near his capital and doing... nothing.
This worries me, as I am quite sure I did not see these issues with the last patch.

 

[illserveu]

2. Naval attack: a naval unit will always destroy an embarked unit without any loss. You get 1 EXP point for this kind of attack.

It's actually 1.5EXP, you will get 3EXP if you have the x1.5EXP policy.

 

[Resident Mario]

In a recent game (ae, today) I stationed my navy near Rome. He foolishly dumped like 5 units into the water for some reason. DoW and they dissapeared right quick.

 

[Kaosprophet]

Sounds great! I recently quitted an archipelago game as England, because I was way to dominant. Maybe I will continue playing/finishing it, just to see if the AI can give me some more challenge.

You're playing England on a water map. Even if the AI were your strategic equal, you'd still have a significant advantage.

 

[rjg85]

The AI still embark land units into waters patrolled by my trieme after patch 275, therefore the whole naval AI still feels a bit ******ed.

 

[Samuil]

I just noticed a CS caravel (Venice) in the middle of the ocean... far from Venice... we were at war, so it was a short trip for them... still, cool to sea seafaring Citystates

 

[Ddude97]

This happened pre patch as well, i think before the Feb patch as well

 

[Louis XXIV]

I saw the AI screening artillery with an embarked worker. Not the smartest thing in the world to do, so I'm going to chalk it up to a fluke, but it was quite effective in this case.

 

[bryanw1995]

I think you have the ZOC for naval units as well (unfortunately I rarely encountered AI's naval units in my game, to prove it). So it may be not always possible to easily sail behind an enemy vessel, to destroy the behind embarked unit.

AND: I don't know if the recent patch changed this functionality.

yes, naval units have zoc just like land units do, so you ideally would bring at least a few units to screen your invasion force but a wall isn't necessary.