Basic strategy against Hard AI Options

[Shockwavelover84]

First off I want to say Kudos to the developers for making such a great AI, the Hard AI is definitely much more challenging than in Shockwave.

For anyone having trouble battling the AI in skirmish, this is my general strategy for batting the Hard AI and winning.

1. If the map has any oil derricks, make sure to capture and hold them, or destroy them if you can't hold them - just don't let the enemy hold them.

2. If the map has multiple supply docks, then expand to as many as possible and gather as many extra supplies as possible.

3. Get your super weapon constructed as fast as possible, before the enemy can get theirs constructed.

4. Get your alternate form of supply gathering (hackers, arms suppliers, supply pads) on the map as soon as possible.

5. Make sure to destroy the enemy super weapon by any means necessary - use your super weapon and Generals powers to do so.

6. Use air strike Generals powers to soften up the enemies' base.

7. Use at least 1-2 airfields worth of fighters (Interceptor MIGs, Raptors, Berkuits) and/or bombers such as the Frogfoot to defend your base - fighters can often end up destroying multiple ground targets and surviving during a large scale attack, unlike tanks, etc. Plus the enemy will rarely send heavy Anti-Air like Twin Fangs into your base. Group your fighters into "squadrons" the group function (0-9).

8. Don't worry about rebuilding base defenses as much later in the match, during large scale attacks they will get frequently destroyed and drain funds better used on fighters, etc. Only rebuild them if they have a real chance of surviving, and use fighters as your primary "base defense" instead. Base defenses are also less necessary when playing as China than the other factions, since bunkers are more difficult to use, and mines provide an effective anti ground defense.

9. Attack helicopters like Han gunships, etc are a better form of defense than tanks during large scale assaults by the enemy - since they're unable to be attacked by most ground units, and can easily escape to a safe place if under fire from AA, and often take out light AA themselves. If they come under lots of AA fire, use the fighters to destroy the AA and have the Hans, Commanches, etc attack other ground targets.

10. If you manage to get a Super weapon on the field, and destroy the enemy's super weapon, then at that point the battle is usually yours. If on the other hand, the enemy has a super weapon and you have not built yours yet, or it's been destroyed, then at that point the battle is usually lost.

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This is my basic strategy, feel free to expand on it or offer your own.

This post has been edited by Shockwavelover84: 15 Feb 2012, 23:47

[Massey]

I was going to make a thread about whats ur fav-map but this is as good as any place to write it. but first...

I do not "basic" strat, it all comes down to what my mood is when I am playing the game. As I have said else where, There is no one way of playing each faction in V1.5. You can play very diffrent from the game u play 15mins ago...

Now, My fav-map on Hard-AI


I LOVE playing "Tournament City (6)" because its the only map that i can find that the AI tries diffrent things through out the game.

A ) A is where the main attack seems to come from about 60% of the time.

B ) B is where the remianing 40% of the attack comes from most of the time.

C ) C The enemy loves sending sneak attacks around the side when im fighting the main attack force at A and B

D ) D this is where it gets really sneaky, The enemy almost never comes this way. So i place about half my second money makers in the carpark and normally its safe. Once in a blue moon how ever the enemy will send a small ground around to D and wipe out half of my income. As i have put almost all my income in to protecting A,B and a little bit C, I have very little to protect D. When they do come from D, AB and sometimes C are all being attack at once. so I have to pay little attention to the Mini map and by the time I notice most of my money gone and I have to build very slowly from there.

E) E is where my enemy normal starts from.

I know its not a Strat, but your can almost see my strat from that: Defence until i have eough money for offence and attack from there.



This post has been edited by Massey: 16 Feb 2012, 5:06

[Casojin]

My guess is that A & B are defined by using Center Waypoints while C is probably Flank Waypoints. At last, I think D is Backdoor Waypoints.

[HeadShot]

Well, the problem with the AI in general is that it just spam infinite units and just --> attack movement in your base.
and sometimes it's quite ridiculous to see 2 groups of units juss meet like "hey, how are you ? oh, youre attacking our base ? well I'm attacking yours ! so were not gonna fight right ? ok see ya"
cause the AI give the order to attack THIS unit, like your poor ranger, instead of your paladin next to him.

so basicaly what you need to do is defend (turrets, artillery for counter ennemy artillery or at last one heli, and some anti air : with this thay will never hurt you) until you have a good army to roll the AI...

[SpiralSpectre]

so basicaly what you need to do is defend (turrets, artillery for counter ennemy artillery or at last one heli, and some anti air : with this thay will never hurt you) until you have a good army to roll the AI...

IMO you also need some fighters in and over your base from mid game, specially when playing the US. Fighters make a better counter against enemy artillery compared to your own artillery or helis. They're also helpful in killing off enemy air units, specially "stray" Frogfoots and Berkuts. You know - like when those planes keep circling in your base after a run waiting to get killed.

And defending for too long isn't a good idea since the AI would eventually bring out it's superweapon. Ofc that only goes when you're defending for too long. IMO defending first, rolling off later is an effective thing to do against AI.

[HeadShot]

I never have problem with ennemy super weapon, if you build yours first, and then use your general ability (like a10, MOAB...), then you will never have to worry about it.

and yes I agree always have fighters, I forgot to mention that.