Career Mode: Finding right balance of AI skill vs Numbers?

[istari6]

Sorry if this has been asked previously, but my searches of forum posts aren't turning up an answer.

 

I'm currently flying an Ironman MiG-3 campaign in the 233rd IAP, from 12/5/41 onwards.  It's now 1/15/42, and I've flown 27 missions, sufficient to get a good feel for the rhythm of how they're constructed.  My challenge is that I keep flipping between Moderate and Hard Difficulty, trying to find the right blend of challenge and realism. 

 

Moderate provides roughly equal numbers of MiGs and 109s, but the 109s fly poorly.  The same casual turns and gentle split-Ss, over and over.  They're easy to shoot down, I never feel pressured by an aggressive enemy.  Usually, my MiG comrades will end up cleaning up the sky, and we return with multiple kills per sortie.  Very little challenge.

 

Hard provides tougher AI opponents.  Now they're more aggressive in attacking, in following, and in evasive maneuvers.  Definitely more pulse-pumping.  The problem is that my side is ALSO (almost) always outnumbered in the air, with the result that we get shredded over and over, and I end up running home in Boost power with 3-4 109s on my tail, which will chase me for dozens of kms, often not leaving me alone till I drag them over my home base outside Moscow (!) and they get shot up with fuel leaks.  

 

The problem seems to be the combination of Numbers and AI Skill both being ratcheted up together.  At this point in the air war, the Luftwaffe was having real challenges putting numbers in the sky (given the arctic conditions).  OTOH, the Luftwaffe was definitely more experienced and well-trained than the VVS. 

 

So I'd love to have the tougher AI skill level (Hard) and equal numbers (Moderate).  Are there any mods that can modify the Career difficulty settings in this way for greater historical realism and challenging gameplay?    

 

[Sybreed]

I too don't fly at Hard difficulty setting... for the same reason you describe. I don't mind skillful AI, but being overrun 3-1 in every engagement is no fun. Moderate difficulty is just fine in that regard, but I agree the AI sucks a bit at that level... in my Kuban campaign, I have over 100 kills... the AI planes don't really provide much of a challenge.

[istari6]

OK - thanks for the reply.  Not seeing any other responses, so it sounds like our ability to tailor the campaign difficulty is non-existent, at least for the moment.  

[Legioneod]

Imo the difficulty settings need a revamp. The Front line density setting should control the potential number of aircraft you can face (it should have randomness to it though).

The actual difficulty setting (easy medium hard or whatever it's called) should be what controls ai skill and the potential to see high skill AI. ( though it should still be a good mix of all skills.)

 

Personally I like the RoF career mode where you can't choose any real "difficulty" setting and the mission is random in numbers and ai skill, it makes for more interesting gameplay.

 

[blitze]

The difficulty also depends on other settings - how you play campaign.

 

There are many varying factors and AI is just one of them.  Personally I find moderate a reasonable representation of what I would have thought WW2 air combat to be like.  My switching to no aids and then I am presented with having to spot the aircraft, Id them and then work out which is the biggest threat and which pertains to completing the mission.

 

I find ground pounding on Full real easier (with decent res) than air to air combat.

 

Density I think might pertain more to unit activity at the front.  Combat difficulty is more skill and additional unit help for and against.  Easy gives you easier AI and many friends where as difficult gives you harder AI and they have many friends which becomes a chore to do career on.  Moderate - well, evens things up a bit but 190 Jabo doesn't get much help from friendlies in Kuban Career.  Often find my flight of 4 being bounced by 2 flights or more of VVS when we are heading to bomb something.  Not all the time but they do like to crash the Jabo Party to spice things up.?

 

Also find sticking with your flight and helping them gets better results too with friendly AI