Has anyone seen the AI use air units?

[Gen.Washington]

Just curious, AI seems better at war than in 6, but I still haven't seen them use air units. Am I missing the animations are is this a repeat of the civ 6 AIs inability to use bombers and fighters?

 

[MutilationWave]

Just curious, AI seems better at war than in 6, but I still haven't seen them use air units. Am I missing the animations are is this a repeat of the civ 6 AIs inability to use bombers and fighters?

I've seen some fighters circling defensively, took them out with my own. I have not seen them use a bomber ever.

 

[Disgustipated]

I'm pretty sure their fighters have damaged my attacking air units (how else would they have been damaged?). I'm not sure if I've ever seen them use them offensively, however.

 

[uppi]

I have been bombed by the AI once or twice

 

[Disgustipated]

Okay it definitely seems like the AI used a fighter against me. I can't be sure. It happened during the AI's turn of course, but I saw a fighter flying around, and my ship damaged, so I'm assuming the fighter did it (it could have possibly been a diver bomber and not a fighter, I can't be sure). Of course, with the lack of information about AI attacks being what they are, I can't be certain. All it says is my destroyer was attacked by the American Empire.

This is in my current game post patch turn 156 (epic speed standard size map). Late, I know. I like to draw my games out, I'm not one of those who go for super early victories. I want epic late game world wars.

 

[MutilationWave]

Okay it definitely seems like the AI used a fighter against me. I can't be sure. It happened during the AI's turn of course, but I saw a fighter flying around, and my ship damaged, so I'm assuming the fighter did it (it could have possibly been a diver bomber and not a fighter, I can't be sure). Of course, with the lack of information about AI attacks being what they are, I can't be certain. All it says is my destroyer was attacked by the American Empire.

This is in my current game post patch turn 156 (epic speed standard size map). Late, I know. I like to draw my games out, I'm not one of those who go for super early victories. I want epic late game world wars.

A detailed combat log would be a nice addition.

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

I confess, my Modern Ages don't usually last long enough to get past biplanes.

I have seen the AI build biplane fighters and use them defensively, but I have, like others have posted, never seen them use bombers offensively. I also don't think I've ever seen them build Squadron Commanders and deploy aircraft away from fixed airfields - in other words, actually try to provide air support for their ground units on the offensive.

In other words, slightly better than Civ VI, but still a long way to go . . .

 

[Disgustipated]

I definitely have confirmation the AI will use bombers. Harriet Tubman used a bomber against a tank I had in a navigable river. turn 165 in my custom difficulty game, epic speed, standard Pangaea map.

 

[stealth_nsk]

I confess, my Modern Ages don't usually last long enough to get past biplanes.

That's generally an issue. You need to go past half of the tech tree, build some district(s) and build some new units. Moreover, AI rightfully prioritize Fighters for defense over bombers. So even though AI could use bombers, the possibility comes too late.

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

That's generally an issue. You need to go past half of the tech tree, build some district(s) and build some new units. Moreover, AI rightfully prioritize Fighters for defense over bombers. So even though AI could use bombers, the possibility comes too late.

I think this illustrates a more general problem with the game: all the best units from the Tech Tree come too late in the Age to be of much use.
Mounted cavalry and full-fledged Hoplites and Legions - end of Antiquity
Arquebussiers, Bombards and Galleons - very late in Exploration
WWII Tanks, motorized artillery, monoplane fighters and heavy bombers (and aircraft carriers, but who bothers to build any of those?) - end of Modern Age, if you haven't ended the Age in a Victory by then.

My first couple of Military Victories were won almost entirely with Dreadnaughts and Landships - only built Battleships and WWII Tanks at the very end of the last battle, and frankly that was just because I could, not because I needed them for anything.

I would like to see some attention brought to the problem of 'packing' the end of the Tech Tree and the Age with the premier units of the Age, so that only a tiny fraction of any conflicts will actually be fought with them.

To put it in Antiquity perspective, both Legions and Hoplites are Iron Age units - starting 600 to 250 BCE or, ideally, available for at least the last 1/3 of the Age, so 'Iron Working as a Tech should come earlier in the Age to allow us to play with the goodies attached to it.

This, unfortunately, would require rethinking both the Tech Tree and the Units for all three Ages to be done right, so I don't see it happening any time soon, if ever (outside of some Gargantuan Mod)

 

[Lord Lakely]

Yes. I had a game recently where I was attacked in Modern, and the AI destroyed my defences and units. They had no land units nearby, but I did spot an aerodrome close by, so it must have been air units.

 

[stealth_nsk]

I think this illustrates a more general problem with the game: all the best units from the Tech Tree come too late in the Age to be of much use.

I disagree. Having access to late upgrades for existing unit lines is not a problem, because:

1. You play 3rd tier units in the same way as 1st tier
2. You don't have to produce those units from scratch, you could just instantly upgrade them if you have need for it and enough gold

The problem only appears with late introduction of new unit lines, so that's just planes, and, to lesser extend, antiquity cavalry (it's in the middle of the tech tree, but doesn't require additional infrastructure, so could be built right away). All other unit lines are available from the beginning of their ages (or 1st tier tech in case of antiquity ships).

 

[Disgustipated]

and aircraft carriers, but who bothers to build any of those

I do . Mainly because it's too easy to forget to use my air units with ground base air commanders. And it's so easy to get that first promotion to store 6 units. But as I mentioned, I intentionally draw my games out. So much so that I screwed up my above game and got a score victory and not a real victory. Oh well.

So as for that bomber that was used, the AI only used it once. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because I moved a fighter of mine to my aircraft carrier in the region (my earlier fighter had been destroyed by an AI fighter when I used mine on offense). Perhaps it won't use the bomber if it will take too much damage. Or maybe when I threatened the city it stopped using it (although that would be the time to use it more).

 

[uppi]

I disagree. Having access to late upgrades for existing unit lines is not a problem, because:

1. You play 3rd tier units in the same way as 1st tier
2. You don't have to produce those units from scratch, you could just instantly upgrade them if you have need for it and enough gold

The problem only appears with late introduction of new unit lines, so that's just planes, and, to lesser extend, antiquity cavalry (it's in the middle of the tech tree, but doesn't require additional infrastructure, so could be built right away). All other unit lines are available from the beginning of their ages (or 1st tier tech in case of antiquity ships).

Also, the 3rd tier units are a reward for having a good science build. If you focus on science, you can unlock them mid-age and enjoy an advantage. If everyone unlocked them mid-age, this advantage would be gone and there is no way to regain it.

If you are not focusing on science, you might never get to 3rd tier units. And that is fine, there is no real need to get there.

If anything, I am missing 3rd tier ranged units in antiquity. If you want an archer-heavy army, there is nothing for you in the tech tree after bronze working