When I first played 2.1, I thought that the AI was powerful. In fact, it seems to be more powerful than in the earlier versions. After my first game, however, I discovered the truth.
After installing 2.1 I have played three pretty long games against the AI on different maps, all "start with bases"-option (T2 or whatever you pros call it). In the beginning and especially on a small map (Rush), it does pretty well in early expansion and harassment attacks. This, however, ends too soon. When I get a decent defensive line up, it still continues to throw 3-6 tanks against it.
A much larger mistake is that the AI only focuses against my main base. For example, on Valley (a 4 player map) I played against just one AI, with the slider at ~75%. The AI started lower left and I started upper right. A few minutes into the game, I could take the open player spots, with 6 oil spots each. I was thus producing energy about three times faster than the AI. But no reaction. The AI kept throwing small attack forces against my main base. It took the centre and filled it with bunkers, but then practically stopped. It never seriously tried to get the two other spots, even when I only had some MG bunkers and later a pair of cannon hardpoints.
In that game, I had a number of artillery pieces. Usually, the AI attacks stopped when the artillery damaged the tanks to 50% and then they retreated. The AI could have had a CB sensor and some artillery of his own, but no! Only regular sensor towers and a few mortar pits in his central bunker cluster.
Even more comical was that the AI had a huge mob of cyborgs. His error with these was that he didn't use them. He just kept them in his base. Also, I laughed when I saw this (sorry for bad res):
That's some 10 repair facilities he had. I wonder if the AI ever used more than two or three, if his tanks survived my artillery.
Of three maps I played on, the AI did best on the smallest, Rush. On Great Divide I massacred it with VTOLs (didn't build more AA than 2-3 in his base, instead he built some repair facilities). On Valley, I hopelessly out-teched him. On Rush, I eventually out-produced him, as it was my first game and I didn't do very well myself.
Any AI mods available?
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