Faction taking control point with near 0 public opinion.

[Chimera]

France, right at the start of the game. How is it possible that an AI faction can get a control point with no public opinion or neighbouring control points? I need to invest multiple turns to raise public opinion and then invest points and *hope* to take control, while the AI just waltzes in one turn and takes it with no effort. If I tried that, even with a decent skill councilor and points invested, my chances would be slim to none. This is frustrating. What am I missing?

[Toblm]

Luck, good agents, large investments.
Most players seem risk adverse. Not willing to take a chance on a 25% shot at a really important CP. On the outside thats only 4-5 turns effort with just a control action. VS 4-5 turns fiddling with support and neighbors for a 70%-75%. The AI will take chances, especially early. Because they are more willing to roll with the punches. Player starts with an EU plan or a US plan and overlook other good options.

[Mnemon]

they try even if the chances are slim(watched some turncoats sit months trying to flip with 9% chance so as a turncoat, autofailure).

[Mistfox]

I did a check, at game start, a fully resource aided 6 Per Councilor has a 23% chance to cap a point right off on Paris. I purchased an org that added 2 to her Persuasion and her chances rose up to 39%. Basically it means that even at the start, I have a 1 in 3 chance of capping a point right off. Worth a shot and obviously the AI got lucky. Public Support is 3%.

[Toblm]

Originally posted by Mistfox:

I did a check, at game start, a fully resource aided 6 Per Councilor has a 23% chance to cap a point right off on Paris. I purchased an org that added 2 to her Persuasion and her chances rose up to 39%. Basically it means that even at the start, I have a 1 in 3 chance of capping a point right off. Worth a shot and obviously the AI got lucky. Public Support is 3%.

Good odds for a game changing cap point.

[Chimera]

Originally posted by Mnemon:

they try even if the chances are slim(watched some turncoats sit months trying to flip with 9% chance so as a turncoat, autofailure).

Originally posted by Mistfox:

I did a check, at game start, a fully resource aided 6 Per Councilor has a 23% chance to cap a point right off on Paris. I purchased an org that added 2 to her Persuasion and her chances rose up to 39%. Basically it means that even at the start, I have a 1 in 3 chance of capping a point right off. Worth a shot and obviously the AI got lucky. Public Support is 3%.

So it was bad luck then.
I do feel that the AI shouldn't be going kamikaze with their influence like that and actually have some kind of strategy. This is going to fail most of the time and and put them on the back foot.

Thanks for the answers!

[Mnemon]

Capping France right at the start is pretty solid strategy.

[TargetLost]

In my first game ..late - end game ..I observed that the servants when the alien invasion landed take my fortified (defence shield icon) like there is no defence at all. That's really odd. Makes the whole fortification and public opinion and what else obsovlet. But I can not get that taken controll point back that easy..

I started a second game.. and yes I couldn't take France however I took GB and others.
Now I discovered that America is still not taken.
I try and try but doesn't work so far. Starte dto increase the public opinion.

[Kuattro]

Originally posted by TargetLost:

In my first game ..late - end game ..I observed that the servants when the alien invasion landed take my fortified (defence shield icon) like there is no defence at all. That's really odd. Makes the whole fortification and public opinion and what else obsovlet. But I can not get that taken controll point back that easy..

The Servants have... let's call it "outside help".

[Coffeecool]

Originally posted by TargetLost:

In my first game ..late - end game ..I observed that the servants when the alien invasion landed take my fortified (defence shield icon) like there is no defence at all. That's really odd. Makes the whole fortification and public opinion and what else obsovlet. But I can not get that taken controll point back that easy..

I started a second game.. and yes I couldn't take France however I took GB and others.
Now I discovered that America is still not taken.
I try and try but doesn't work so far. Starte dto increase the public opinion.

Find a alien agent, use the investigate mission on it and take alook at the missions the alien agent can do.
This makes things a lot clearer.

[starshadow2010]

Hydra is lurking nearby.

[Mistfox]

Originally posted by starshadow2010:

Hydra is lurking nearby.

If it bleeds.....

[Daminotaur]

I agree. I do believe that the AI cheats, must be Alien Intelligence.

I play as China, managed to control China, spent months getting public support to around 80%, unified with Taiwan, constantly Defend Interests and Surveil Location. Started going for the the neighboring countries, and the next thing I know I lose 2 control points to other factions immediately.

Purging them is at 99% which is not bad, but how the hell can the AI Faction take a control point from me, their success rate has got to be less than 10%, if it even reaches 5%.

[binaryquasar]

The servants get outside help.. In the form of 20-25 skill level agents helping them out on the sly. I have not observed a cheat from the A.I remember the Aliens are playing politics too.

Also if persuade is best in early game. Command and investigation are the big drivers later, It lets you spot the super agents and swat them. From the moment you get your fourth councilor you want to work towards 25 command. you can spot them with middling investigation, but they all have so much security you NEED that 25 command.

also from my own experiments with a 25 skill agent you can get to ~25% chance on an over cap Group. you can still get ~15% under cap. Make sure you swat those super agent aliens.

[Daminotaur]

Originally posted by binaryquasar:

The servants get outside help.. In the form of 20-25 skill level agents helping them out on the sly. I have not observed a cheat from the A.I remember the Aliens are playing politics too.

Also if persuade is best in early game. Command and investigation are the big drivers later, It lets you spot the super agents and swat them. From the moment you get your fourth councilor you want to work towards 25 command. you can spot them with middling investigation, but they all have so much security you NEED that 25 command.

also from my own experiments with a 25 skill agent you can get to ~25% chance on an over cap Group. you can still get ~15% under cap. Make sure you swat those super agent aliens.

Thank you for your info. But the ones taking my control points are The Initiative and The Protectorate. Do they have outside help too?

[binaryquasar]

They don't need it if they have one or more very high skill agents. The nice thing about initiative and protectorate is you can just target their agents to your hearts content without increasing alien threat. A 7-15 skill councilor can have a legit 0% chance, so just kill off their good espionage/persuade councilors. Remember to imprison them and take their orgs first if possible. My protectorate had so many good orgs the a.i would just recruit a fresh agent and insta boost them to 25, a few good hostile takeovers sorted that though.

Above all else remember this game has good A.I, always be proactive, because they will be.