Does removing an AI watch GPS map and radio affect their performance during the mission.

[avibird 1 36]

I was wondering does anyone really know this answer. I'm putting the final touches on a prison escape Mission I'm working on. The playable units start off with no items. In the prison camp there's a building that the prison must reach to gather up items uniforms/clothes weapons/ammo and items such as health packs  binoculars  Maps ect all located in different rooms within a building.

 

I want to remove all the enemies ie prison guards watch GPS radio and maps so the players cannot just pick them up from dead bodies they need to force their way into the building to gather up these items to continue the mission.

 

Now for my question does the AI really need to have these items in their inventory. By removing these items will this affect the AI performance with negotiating the map and communicating with other AI units or does this have no effect on AI performance. 

[avibird 1 36]

After some quick testing I'm leaning towards no. AI groups can still communicate within the group and to other groups. Call for support to  particular gridlines on the map. groups with the guard waypoints will move towards enemy forces after contact made.

 

It appears these items only really for player benefits and not AI. Does anyone really know the answer to this. Avibird