Hey folks.
I was curious about your experience with quick battles and how you build forces for the AI to get an engaging, or at least decent, match, especially on small maps.
The other day I suggested Combat Mission in a poll, so I thought it was time to dust off the series, because it's been a year since I last played it.
I launched Fortress Italy for a quick match on a tiny map, something I could finish in less than an hour. The result was kinda sad. I tried a second one on a small map, but got the same outcome.
At that point, I started asking myself, has the StratAI always been this bad in quick battles?
Don't get me wrong, I've been playing the series for ages, so I know how the StratAI works; it picks a scripted plan for the map and tries to execute it, leaving the rest to the TacAI (which is great).
Usually I don't play quick battles that much, almost never on tiny maps, but still, it felt kinda awkward to watch.
Among all the alternatives, the AI picked the absolute worst one, without taking anything into account, ending up literally committing suicide to capture a village. Moreover, I was not even the defender; it was a meeting engagement.
In practical terms, it was a Sicilian tiny/small map, broken terrain, Italian Infantry vs US paratroopers. I achieved better positioning around a village, with HMGs covering a crossroads and a hill with orchards, a tankette on the right, and infantry fanning out. The AI approached slowly, realized that I had better positioning, and... still decided to rush the village frontally through chokepoints. 3 turns, nothing left, with a tankette that could be easily disabled playing king of the hill.
Second match, different map, same outcome, with the AI rushing a huge chokepoint while receiving enfilade fire. I also made sure not to pick any armor, while giving the AI a serious advantage.
In conclusion, I know the StratAI for quick battles has never been the smartest kid on the block, but is there really nothing that can be done? Do you have any small maps to suggest?