SP can be fun too! Sure playing against humans is what BF is all about, but consider this: several times in your life, you've spent quite a lot of money buying WW2 FPS games. Sure, they're fun, they can tell stories, they have good graphics. But you'll eventually get bored. Because the enemy will always come from that particular direction, the friendlies will only do that and wait for your actions. It is limited!
With the magic of "free" BF concept. A lot of things can happen in SP mode, not to mention that FH2's graphic has surpassed the level of our long time WW2 FPS favourites. And like SP games there is a guide and how-to play against the bots.
I noticed that bots do have coordinated attacks, which perhaps is incidental or not intended to be like that. It is fascinating, considering how stupid the vanilla bots are, although vanilla bots understand and adheres to issued orders much more than the partially deaf FH2 bots.
I don't know how the devs put navmesh on the map, however some of the strategies that bots often use really put drawbacks that need some attention. I need some other accounts as well, otherwise it is probably only on my CPU. BTW, this in FH2.2 And i will put every suggestions and feedback in the appropriate section.
El Alamein 64
The game begins with each bot storming their favorite positions.
German bots usually take every Panzers and advance through their favourite route: West side of Deir al Dhib, and continue to march across the fortified pass between Kidney and Miteiriya Ridges, heading towards the only non German flags on the beginning: Tell al Makh Khad. Their support vehicles mostly drive to Deir al Dhib and abandoned, then randomly mans any AA emplacements there or do some random stupid bot stuffs (e.g. stuck in flag pole, manning and exiting Flak18 continuously, trapped in foxhole position, driving a vehicle around the base for a very long time before leaving). Some continue to climb Kidney Ridge before being destroyed by advancing British tanks.
British bots drive all of their vehicles into both Kidney Ridge and Miteiriya Ridge. Sometimes they flank the Miteiriya Ridge from the east side, backcapping Deir al Dhib which rarely get panzer support on this side (usually the Germans drive through the west side). The panzers that drive close by Deir al Dhib will help defend the base, but rare. Some bots that drive east side, climbed Miteiriya, which is most of the times unoccupied by the German bots. While the ones passing between the ridges met the German panzers head on.
In the middle of the game...
It is pretty intense long-distance tank combat map in SP. Most of the fights occurred in the pass between the ridges. You could mine this place if no opposition is not in line of fire and get assured kills (either friendlies or foes). This always happens like this. The initiative is always in British's hands: if they didn't flank, they'll win by numbers in the battle between the ridge. If they flank, they will certainly get to cap Deir al Dhib and Miteiriya Ridge from the Gemans, since the bots don't man the AT/AA emplacements correctly. The Germans will then have to fight the British remnants and desperately defend the Kidney Ridge before eventually losing it.
How it usually ends...
Ticket bleed, British major advantage, German minor advantage
The British found no difficulties in winning the war, despite the usual German armour superiority. The British have advantage in numbers and perhaps it is because the Sherman 2s can own Panzer IIIs easily. The decisive battle is in the fight between the ridges. If Germans win the battle (which is rare, but usually because of your air support), it doesn't mean you can win as the Germans. Tell al-Makh Khad will prove to be a major setback for the Germans. The British bots will continuously spawn there and defend it at all costs before counter attacking and denying the Germans from ticket-bleeding the British.
The Germans have to kill more and set killing zones for the British to win by ticket ratio. It is hard for the Germans to maintain ticket bleed, thus they need more kills.
Tips for players:
In German side:
- The battle is pretty determined by the British bot's move. The Germans is always losing, even if you played as one. The Germans could have a chance to win if you defend the Miteiriya Ridge post and successfully repel the British from capping it. Sometimes you have to do it alone, since the bots only spawns there when ordered to defend that position. And after that, they mostly go to the pass between the ridges straight away. So you'll always be alone.
- Kidney Ridge will change hands numerous times. Don't bother spawning there or trying to defend it, except to get easy kill scores.
- Deir al Dhib is in danger when Miteiriya Ridge is lost, so watch the eastern flank. If you loose yourself in the battle and ignore this You'll get a nasty surprise. Most of the times the British successfully positioned 2-3 tanks or vehicles inside the base without any effective resistance. It is pretty safe to AT-mine this position since friendly vehicles rarely pass through the area (except the friendly Hanomag), so mining near the flag post will be the best idea.
- Trying to cap Tell al-Makh Khad is risky. Better spawn-rape the base instead of taking it. The German wins by ticket ratio and rarely by bleed.
In British side:
- Get Miteiriya Ridge! It is easier to defend and hard to attack.
- It is easy for the British to get Kidney Ridge and defend it. But once abandoned, the Germans will cap it. So, to defend this post, you need to be there. It is easier to defend this post as British than Germans. Because most of the Germans have to drive a bit north first and expose their rear to the British before entering the Kidney ridge, thus making them soft targets for British armor.
- If you want to attack Deir al Dhib, drive eastwards, to the corner of the map, east of Miteiriya Ridge, and then attack from there. The German panzers rarely drives here. They only do it when an order to defend/attack Miteiriya issued by their commander, but it is rare. Some of the panzers heading for the pass between Miteiriya and Kidney Ridges will drive close by Deir al Dhib, don't worry. They'll fight you, but a good tanker can win easily. And in addition, the German bots defending their positions seem to cannot shoot the notorious Flak18 properly.
- Watch the skies if you are a tanker, the Stuka is more dangerous than enemy panzers.
- The British mostly won by maintaining the bleed. Defend your positions and maintain the bleed for the Germans!
Other General tips (also applies for many other maps):
The Sdkfz. 222 seemed to haven't been coded to be used by the bots yet. Because they are always available all of the time. This is guaranteed to always be your vehicle. (edit: bots do use this vehicle, but only at the beginning)
The bots loved Chevy .30 CWT and Bedford/Opel Trucks so much, this is also true for the Germans. Bots manning these vehicles are easy targets for enemy tankers/AT soldiers. Kill the Chevies so bots cannot use them. You can't do anything with the trucks.
Don't man the static AA guns for too long. If you fail to destroy enemy aircrafts on their first pass, the second, they are guaranteed to drop a sure-kill accurate bomb on you.
Bots in FH2.2 use smokes, best not to do a killfest/spawn rape from static positions.
If we expect something like FH0.7 or BF1942 bots, which is bot storming nearest capable positions. You are mostly correct. They mostly don't do MacArthur's frog leaping. The only exception is when you issued an order (thus i love BF2 SP more!)
Some bots are named after FH devs. Have fun picking your targets. I only recognize J. McGibney and B Sintmarteen.
Next... Luettich.