Context:
From my experience playing U.S. on the Invasion of Normandy campaign I have a few complaints about the AI squad members. I understand making a realistic and fair AI is difficult so I’m not asking for the AI to “be better”, but I do think there are some easy to implement improvements that could be made.
1. A “Freeze” Order
Many times I have been leading my squad on a flanking maneuver when I have seen a tank passing by that I don’t want to engage. However when I lay down on the brush and wait for them to pass. My AI squad will go prone with me, but only for a few seconds after which they will begin to wriggle around and crawl over to a new spot like a bunch of 3rd graders with ADHD. This usually leads to us getting spotted and gunned down leaving me, the only one who stayed still and hid, alive.
To remedy this I think an beneficial command would be the “freeze” order. With this order your AI would mimic your pose (standing, prone, etc), stop moving, and maintain the direction they are facing. They would also hold their fire unless a member of the squad is hit. If they wanted to they could even add a hand signal animation for this command.
2. A “Run to this position” order
From time to time, especially on beach maps with bunkers overlooking the sand. I often run into a situation where my squad is just about to make it off the beach and into cover, only a few meters left to go and then my AI spots an enemy manning a machine gun. With any common sense, my squad would keep following me and get into cover before trying to take pot shots but instead, stop running, turn all their attention to the machine gunner they can’t hit, open fire, and proceed to get mown down all the while standing still and taking every round.
While yes, the AI is doing its job correctly, and engaging a clear threat, there is nothing I can do to make them momentarily ignore this threat other than assigning a “hold this position” order, and individually taking control of them to make them ignore the target.
A solution to this would be the “Run to this position” order. Similar to the “Freeze” order, the AI would momentarily ignore enemy targets, path find to the run marker, and sprint to it.
End notes:
Overall the AI does its job, I think we all agree they are a bit braindead most of the time but with minor improvements to our ability to guide them. I think there could a massive increase in how useful our AI compatriots are.
(Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors, this was written on my mobile device)