Only a couple of clarifications:

- AI is meant as fighters one.

- DGen setting about AI is NORMAL.

- "my mates" are meant as AI mates.

All choices include the phrase 'and my mates', so are you implying online playing with in a squad with other people? If so, there are no choices for offline only players. I no linger play online. So I didn't vote.

Sorry, there's a misunderstanding. "My mates" are meant as AI wingmen of your same flight as well as other AI flights of your same side. I think to have noticed a difference in effectiveness between enemy AI and friendly one, to the detriment of the latter.

Poll is focused on DGen offline campaigns.

Please vote, that would be particularly appreciated.

GB

Since I started playing the enemy AI have always been better than the friendly AI. It's not just a DGen problem.

This thread by Spectre is discussing the same AI problem.
I'll admit to being rusty, but..." http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3594698/I_ll_admit_to_being_rusty_but.html#Post3594698


Wheels

Sorry, I had missed that thread; thanks for the link!

About AI, maybe previously there was sort of balance between friendly poor teamwork and enemy poor marksmanship. Honestly, I think 4.11.1 friendly AI has added some bizarre behaviour, worsening its performance. For instance, I now notice that my AI mates when got a firing solution against enemy AI, instead to aim and fire with same deadly accuracy of the latter in such circumstances... starts performing an endless series of "somersault" behind its target, seldom firing and without effect, since it's really hard hitting something while continuously rolling. In addition, if player is in the vicinity, also may happen to be destroyed by midair collision with "somersaulting" mate...

BTW, I believe it is important to refer to 4.11.1 version, since I think for some reason 4.11 didn't yet introduced all potential of new enemy AI. I'm sure to have seen it still fire under its target belly, missing it, in 4.11, whilst in 4.11.1 even a rookie AI is lethal at first burst.

I think this poll could add a quantitative info to that you linked, though.

My 'mates' are dumber than me, drink more pixel beer than me an shoot better than me i |HATE THEM
But i get all the ladies

Well,
it also depends on the skill distribution set by the campaign designer. If you start as German, your mates will have higher skill than russians and vice versa. In short the campaign designer sets skill distribution percentage for every side and campaign operation.

I think some are having a bad reaction to finally being shot down when they screw up.

Meet the new friendly AI, same as the old friendly AI: My 4.11.1 AI wingman (which has been commanded to cover me) may give me a radio warning right before my wing is shot off while seemingly escorting the enemy to its attack on my six, and do nothing else except tell me to bail out if its needed. Unfortunately it's been this way for years; and to make matters worse I'll watch AI enemy wingmen immediately defend with live ammo if I ever seem to be tracking their lead.

TheFamilyMan,

may I ask what did you vote?

After your comment a point was indeed added to who complain for a too dumb enemy AI, whilst I think to understand you complain about the opposite.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the AI routines that we have now, seeing them react almost like a real pilot by jinking and diving and trying to throw off my aim as I close in. I didn't participate in the poll because I haven't flown with any AI squads or use any squad commands.

I think I voted the third or fourth choice (I can't remember). I fly offline to only practice for my online squad sessions; I use some saved quick missions for that practice. Overall the improved enemy AI is excellent IMO, and when left to their own devices the friendly AI seem deal with it OK, at least from what I've seen. It's just trying to get an AI wingman to work with you...zero improvement (plus big disappointment).

I find that the friendly AI helps when you fly more like...the AI. The AI does a good job of keeping its speed up, and doesn't fixate on a high aspect target, i.e. doesn't do a break turn to follow the closest bandit. Keep a close watch on your 6 o'clock the way you do when you fly against humans, and if you pick up a bandit, drag him out for your AI wingmen. They won't help if you are making hard evasives.