How do you guys handicap yourselves vs the AI (SPMBT)?

anault · #1 November 6th, 2016, 02:32 PM

Love this game, have been playing since I was 8 in the 1990s! Thanks to the devs for devoting a good chunk of your life’s work to this work of art.

Unused handicaps (things I could do that the computer cannot reciprocate).
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Arty gold spots.
Fire filtering.
Covering to break contact (w key).
Area fire. This is OP IMHO. Maybe use triple ammo each shot (say if you have 30 units of ammo and run out after 10 fires)?

Handicaps I use against the AI.
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Setting engagement range using Y.
Create smoke in hex manually (I still use indirect arty smoke).
Backing up (8 key).
Bailing crew. Stuck veteran units in danger of being overrun always get this treatment when safe to do so.
Reloading unit's ammunition. Some "fun" units don't come with enough ammo to party, the Italian SP 90mm comes to mind. I like the realism of limited ammo, not complaining :-).
Adjusting arty fire instead of always replotting.
Selectively firing weapons.

Handicaps I give the AI to use against me.
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Sometimes I will buy units I don't use to give the AI a boost when they delay/defend.

Also, note:
I never give them stat buffs; I always keep everything at 100% but set the initial campaign buy at 65k.

RightDeve · #2 November 6th, 2016, 04:12 PM

The only thing for me, personally, I will never do a single Z fire, not even once, against the AI.
Can't even stand it when someone uses it in PBM.
Of course different folks different strokes.

Wdll · #3 November 6th, 2016, 08:41 PM

How did you get those keys? Is there a keys shortcut list somewhere?

DRG · #4 November 6th, 2016, 08:47 PM

Press " HELP " then game Help

Suhiir · #5 November 6th, 2016, 09:38 PM

I very seldom use Z-Fire myself. Only after an enemy unit has fired at me and hasn't been spotted but I have a good idea which hex it's in.

jp10 · #6 November 7th, 2016, 02:05 AM

I assign unit boundaries, and phase lines and move units accordingly rather than just 'rolling along joy-riding'. Company level mortars only indirect fire for their Co. HQ or Platoons unless in a deliberate coordinated defense or assault and then only as pre-planned fires.
I Z-Fire with no regrets. I find it very well replicates real life 'covering fire' and it's misuse suffers the same drawbacks as real life.

Wdll · #7 November 7th, 2016, 04:07 AM

The get to cover key. Does this make the enemy units lose sight to your unit, or just increase the chances your unit will not get hit?

Aeraaa · #8 November 7th, 2016, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp10

I assign unit boundaries, and phase lines and move units accordingly rather than just 'rolling along joy-riding'. Company level mortars only indirect fire for their Co. HQ or Platoons unless in a deliberate coordinated defense or assault and then only as pre-planned fires.
I Z-Fire with no regrets. I find it very well replicates real life 'covering fire' and it's misuse suffers the same drawbacks as real life.

That's exactly what I do as well. The other thing I do that does not affect gameplay, but it affects the final outcome is the following; At the final casualty screen I multiply my casualties by 0.8 and the AI's casualties by 0.8*(random number between 0.4 and 0.6). The AI is never savvy with its units and it often does stupid counterattacks straight at the strongest part of my forces. I reason for my decision by assuming that the AI is much more clever and that my forces exaggerate their kill claims and severity of enemy resistance due to the fog of war.

I also saw that this formula produces much more realistic casualty results.

Mobhack · #9 November 7th, 2016, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wdll

The get to cover key. Does this make the enemy units lose sight to your unit, or just increase the chances your unit will not get hit?

The "take cover" key operates just like the reaction to fire that says "unit X takes cover".

It can break LOS leaving the unit hidden once more, depending on range to nearest enemy, their suppression status, individual skill etc. But it is not guaranteed. Just like enemy units that take cover due to fire - you can see some of these that "pop back into sight", others remain hidden till you re-acquire them.

So - best used when you think the enemy is far away, or your unit is size 0 and in cover etc. Not really of any use if they are 1-2 hex away and looking right at you.

Mobhack · #10 November 7th, 2016, 05:11 AM

handicaps to give the AI a fair go-

1) Set the AI advantage to say 110% so he gets more toys.

2) Don't use ammo units, since he does not know how to use these. Or limit yourself to 1 or 2. (They are charged as artillery units for arty overload nowadays in any case).

3) If there is a "killer unit" in a particular era, then deliberately avoid using these - like say ATGM in the 60s. At least, dont overload yourself with them.

4) Deliberately take "lesser" tanks, etc., like not taking TI sighted units when he doesn't have access to them e.g. NATO vs AI USSR in the later cold war era. Or in WW2 if Germany, try using the P4 as your main tank even if Tigers and Panthers are available. Or play as the side that does not have TI, versus someone that can have such (i.e. play as USSR V NATO in the 80s). Or you can deliberately play the "inferior" side - like one of the Arab sides in the Arab-Israeli wars.

I quite like playing as Jordanians in '68 with 90mm Pattons vs a 105mm equipped high experience AI enemy, you have to fight smart then!

.

I also like playing as a "secondary" WARPACT country with less access to the high end toys than the USSR in the time frame, having to rely on say the T-55 in the 70s again means having to think a bit. Cuba vs South Africa in the bush war of the late 70s and early 80s, especially if you limit your (non core) leg infantry to Angolan allies is another. Tanzania against Idi Amin's Uganda in 77-8 is yet another pairing I like - you'll meed to rely on your Scorpions, which are easy kills to the Ugandans there.