AI Maximum Defensive Fire Option ?

[Volcano Man]

Another idea could be to have a selection in the A/I menu called "Set Defensive Fire Parameters"

This opens a dialog box where the user can set their preference on various things relating to defensive fire. Basically you would set the parameters to match how you would conduct your defensive fire if you were play phased play.

The dialog box could have a slider for:

Volume of fire
MIN -----------|----------- MAX
(where MIN is about half as much as they do already, the middle default is the standard amount there is now, and MAX is all units that can fire will fire when the opponent presses end turn)

Trigger point
MIN -----------|----------- MAX
(where MIN has all units wait until the enemy is adjacent to return fire, middle is default current behavior -- seemingly random, MAX is all units open fire at maximum range)

Concentrate direct fire
Soft Targets -----------|----------- Hard Targets
(where ST influences all units to concentrate fire on soft targets, middle is default current behavior -- seemingly random, HT influences all units to concentrate fire on hard targets)

Concentrate indirect fire
Soft Targets -----------|----------- Hard Targets
(where ST influences all units to concentrate fire on soft targets, middle is default current behavior -- seemingly random, HT influences all units to concentrate fire on hard targets)

On call artillery preference
Assault Defense -----------|----------- Target of Opportunity
(where AD influences all indirect fire to be saved and used only in response to enemy assaults, middle is default current behavior -- seemingly random, ToO influences all indirect fire to be used in response to enemy direct fire attacks)
....

Something like that. I just dropped down some off the top of my head and they may or may not be intelligent selections. The point is, I think it is a good idea to be able to set parameters on defensive fire to meet your tastes. It wouldn't be perfect but it could allow you tailor it as needed and from turn to turn if you wanted.