It is time that we gave serious consideration to the AI setup in TGW – we have not made any significant progress in this area in more than four months, and it is evidently the mod’s weakest aspect. At the moment, we have a few skeleton AIs that chart the overall manner in which each country fought the war. Even these are inadequate at the moment – one only has to have a brief look at the unit building priorities sections of the various AI files to notice that the only aerial units that are built are reconnaissance planes and that no AI run country will build transports (no fear of playing as Britain then).
The first set of AI files that need to be produced – and we’ve had some contributors attempt this already – is the implementation of war plans when hostilities break out. Primarily, we shall require files that attempt to imitate the opening moves of the major powers, who are expected to be involved in the war from near the beginning (whether it be August 1914 or sometime in 1915). Obviously, these countries are Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France, Great Britain, Turkey, Italy, Japan and possibly Belgium and Holland.
Firstly, Germany shall require three different AI files when war breaks out –Schlieffen’s Schlieffen Plan including the invasion of Holland, Moltke the younger’s Schlieffen Plan excluding the invasion of Holland and the ‘East First’ approach as advocated by Moltke the Elder. This is linked to event 21002, which already gives the German player these three choices. I recall that Stephen tested a very basic Schlieffen Plan AI file and observed that the Germans captured Arlon before not advancing any further. This leads me to think that imitating the Schlieffen Plan ‘step-by-step’ may be necessary, by creating a file that covers the projected invasion of Belgium, which leads to another covering the projected movement into Northern France and another that goes around Paris, etc. The ‘East First’ approach should obviously put the bulk of German forces attacking in the East with an appropriate amount to stand on the defensive in the west.
Austria-Hungary’s AI could be quite complicated – the bulk of the army should be concentrated against Russia with a much smaller amount on the border with Serbia. Problematically, imitation of Austria-Hungary’s war plan will require that a small reserve be kept somewhere in the middle of the empire, somehow
wacko: ). When war breaks out the Austrian AI ought to choose between the threat from Russia or the necessity to fight Serbia – perhaps either choice should lead to the province priorities in either outcome changing: heavily favouring Russian border provinces and heavily favouring Serbian border provinces depending on what option was chosen.
The Russian one should be quite straightforward – it begins with an obligation to attack Germany in aiding France, directed against Memel and Konigsberg provinces, with another attack going into Austria-Hungary.
France perhaps ought to have two variations – firstly one to simulate Plan XVII with an attack full of
élan into Alsace-Lorraine, and a different one whereby the French army uncharacteristically goes onto the defensive at the outset of the conflict, possibly shifting the weight of the army’s strength to the northern provinces.
Great Britain can have two variations as well. The first is the transportation of units to France (somehow) to imitate the BEF occupying its place on the left flank of the 5th army opposite Belgium. The second, less likely, but more adventurous plan would be the simulation of Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson’s plans to attack Pomerania. Combined with similar schemes to grab Heligoland and attacking Schleswig-Holstein, setting Germany’s coastal provinces as an attack priority ought to make this one work. This shouldn’t be a problem, seeing as Britain’s default AI has troops land in Germany anyway.
Both British and French AI’s ought to have their colonial garrisons in Africa go on the offensive as well.
Assuming that she joins the Central Powers, Turkey ought to retain a defensive posture around the straits while attacking into the Caucasus, not doing much in Mesopotamia and tentatively (if the AI can move ‘tentatively’
) moving into the Sinai. An alternative plan might see the Turks try to recapture Egypt.
Italy, in a straightforward sense would attack the South of France and Tunis if it were in the Central Powers. Should it find itself in the Entente early on, then its AI should obviously be encouraged to attack Bolzano province.
Japan’s territorial priorities would be for the taking of Germany’s Pacific colonies, especially Qingdao province. I can’t see the Japanese deviating from this plan at the outbreak of war.
A lot of the above it an exercise in stating the obvious, but I think it helps to clarify the brief outline of what each country’s war plan AI files should consist of. It would probably be sensible to let these be the norm for three or four months, before having the AI switch to a different file that switches to a more normal conduct of war.
