Weird AI building behaviour.

[fleet5]

So after a ban on calibers higher than 12'', AI started building battlecruisers with 11 or 12 inch guns, which in the late 20s seems ridiculous. Another problem I had fighting against the Italian navy is how their BBs were using 13'' guns in late 20s. Even my old capitals have at least 14'' but most are 15-16'' and 2 with 18''. Does the AI value armor over caliber? Also I have noticed the AI absolutely loves BCs, were they how bad whatsoever. I see a ridiculous number of BCs in each navy and BBs and screens get heavily neglected.

[alsadius]

12"/+1 guns get pretty good pen by the time you have 1920s AP tech. It's not crazy on a BC, especially if the BC is working more as a cruiser-hunter than a fleet unit.

What's the typical armour scheme on the ships that they'd be dealing with?

[rodentnavy]

I am going to go with the headline "Treaty causes mental breakdown among US heavy cruisers designers!" 





That ship commissioned in 1955 despite the fact the US had a perfectly good, up to date and treaty compliant heavy cruiser design with 10" guns.  


So I think the AI can go a bit weird when faced with late game treaties.  

[garrisonchisholm]

I saw the same issue crop up in a Beta test of a 1920 start, the AI under treaties for some reason went to cross-deck.
That is worth posting in the bug thread.

[mycophobia]

I seen AI revert back to 12in or 13in when 16in are available for no-good reason even without treaty in the later years. While I can see occasional justification for such design such as cost, I think its probably not working as intended.

As far as Treaty time goes, 12in BCs are actually pretty viable when fighting aginst most other BCs assuming your AP tech isn't horribly bad, and are very potent if you have enough guns and +1 quality. My most successful BC in my Japanese campaign was 13in equipped and they sunk 1940 BCs with little problem as long as they have radar advantage or can force a 2v1 fight. My Russian 12in BBs was doing well for themselves into the 1930s (though a treaty in later half of the 20s probably helped keeping my 12in BBs relevant).I don't think the world should automatically go to 16in just because it is available, though there is nothing wrong with going there either I suppose.

AI's "love for bc" seems dependent on the particular nations. I've seen some games where AI (usually France it seems) building almost only BCs. But yeah almost all nation puts down quite a few BC and its not uncommon for them to have more BC than BBs, which I feel should be slightly adjusted. Some nations can still pursue a BC heavy doctrine, and most nation should have BCs, but right now I think they AI do use BC a little too much.

[jakematt]

perhaps there were budget issues

[fleet5]

Jun 16, 2019 3:35:32 GMT -6 jakematt said:

perhaps there were budget issues

AI built over a dozen of ships like these.