Ai generals

[Swoosh So]

Ok this is an idea i thought of last night and id like your views on it please, I thought when 2 armies meet and have say 2000 men each in those armies why not let the player allocate 1 army to an ai general who could fight along side the player with her 16 units? and the ai could have 2 armies of 16, at the end of the day it would be no different to a custom battle and would add so much to the game, (dont we all like fighting alongside allied nations) Please giljay longjohn i beg you to at least consider this.
What a nice feature it would be for the exp pack, instead of just new maps and units http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Swoosh So]

Please could peeps post some feedback on why they do or do not think it would be a good idea? maybe it could be turned on as an option at the option page, battles with 5000 peeps take far to long this way they would take less time

[A.Saturnus]

As an option this would be cool.

[Swoosh So]

I agree i think the games screaming out for it, and i think it would be easy to implement http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Naagi]

Well i voted bad idea and heres why. If youve ever done the automated fight, the computer seems to screw ya over. Which leads me to believe if i was controlling one army and my ai gen the other then hed be played like an automated battle, and more than likely lose. Now if he learned your tactics as it went along thatd be different, lord knows with equal troops and similar valour/morale, im gonna beat the tar out of the computer. Anyway not a bad thought, just think the computer would screw ya over.

Naagi http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[deutschlanduberalles]

I dunno about this....could many people's computers handle 64 units on screen at once? 32 is a stretch at large unitsize for some...and I'm addicted to large unitsize....seems like 64 units that all have 120-200 men could cause some problems.

[Swoosh So]

Thats why i suggested it as an option http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif

[GilJaysmith]

Personally I think it's an extremely good idea. I can see it working a bit like the orders mechanism in Unreal Tournament, with the ability to select basic tactical plans for all your generals or for individual ones.

Sadly, although we may collectively think it's a good idea (I haven't asked around yet), it almost certainly comes too late for inclusion in the addon.

However, it's been noted in our file of good ideas for the future...

Gil ~ CA

[shingenmitch2]

This would HAVE TO BE an option...

I think I like it in principle, but I can tell you there were occasions in the campaign that this would have absolutely killed me.

One instance I was outnumbered by 18 units to 40... the computer kept bringing on fresh troops... I was able to beat him only because I controlled every aspect of my troops and because he couldn't field all his army at once--- had to keep bringing on units to a maximum of 16 units at one time. Thus the fight was 16:16 for the most part. If he was able to field 32 units at once I would have been squashed.

Now, that of course works both ways... If I could field 32 units and he couldn't...

------------
AND YET... the prospect of having 1-2 allied armies alongside fighting is cool... The programers would have to work out what happens if 3 or more factions attack the same province, each with over 16 units...

[Swoosh So]

Its just not realistic the way 16 units can always beat armies of 5000 i fought 8 battles last night 1000 v 5000+ mongols and dident even have to move my troops i just left them in the forrest even on high speed the games took around 30 mins thats 4 hours http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif .



Swoooooooosh

[Swoosh So]

If the enemy has 3000 troops then let them attack with 3000 i say http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif not all battles in history were even http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif



Swooshooooooooooowl

[Swoosh So]

If you only had 18 units mitch you would have to play very well to beat the 32 just like an outnumbered commander in the past http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Anyways mitch we both know your a tactical genious? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif
What was that tactic we pulled off on the desert map?

Thanks for replying giljay, I do hope to see a feature similar to this in the future as i think the current 16 unit limit HOLDS BACK? the potential of the single player experience http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

In single player there is not much better than attacking with an ally, And it would also make the generals seem more real too, What about a backstab vice http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif backstabs u during battle for gold OK now im getting carried away IGNORE this old wolf http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif



Swoooooooshooooooooooowl

[shingenmitch2]

With the mongols --- yes stay in trees...

But believe me I was scooting around in mine... I was so worn down that at the end I only had 3 depleated crossbowmen units and a Royal Knight unit with 1 exhausted man in it. My last charge broke the AI, LOL

So I guess it is unrealistic, but I wasn't bitching at the time. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

[Swoosh So]

Mitch please read my edited post

[Al Qasim Hussein]

Here's my two florins. Right now, I can (typically) beat the AI. That was the first thought in my 'bad idea' vote. Then I thought...'well, its AI vs. AI, so maybe its not so bad.'

Then I got to thinking about the nations I've fought beside (allied AI nations that is) and how terribly things have turned out for them. Not to mention that the AI is just never going to be able to think around corners the way I can as a player. Those factors combined w/ my desire to have total control of everything on the battlefield (at least on MY side of the battlefield http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif ) means that this is a bad idea. But only for my playstyle. It might actually be neat to TRY it, i suppose...

[rasoforos]

with an improved AI to handle it this is a tremendous idea. However my PC is never gonna be able to handle it and i am not planning to get a new one any time soon.

[Negative]

I want, I want, I want I'm so tired of winning against crushing odds. This is one factor of realism the game needs. Right now I auto resolve if one or both sides have more than 1000 troops. That is the only way to get realistic results right now.

[Cid]

I vote Yay

It would add alot to the strategic game. If I'm able to assemble 5000 troops to his 2000 why shouldn't I be allowed to crush him in one swell foop and visa versa rather than wait for reinforcements to dribble in? Attacking, currently is a pain because it takes forever to get a tired/depleted unit OFF THE MAP.

I agree that a large AI controlled force could screw up your plans but if the devs could add a few very simple player controlled options like "Don't attack until I tell you" for instance, this could be mitigated.

Good idea Swoooooooooooosh

[Alrowan]

id love to see this... maybe then we could get our epic battles

[RunAway!!]

I'd like to see the option of having more than 16 units on the field at a time, but not necessarily in the hands of an AI general. Something more along the lines of being able to use as many units as you feel comfortable with; and then the rest to an AI general or two. Sort of like a general mediating certain flanks or parts of the battleline to lesser commanders; so that he may concentrate on what he deems the most important. It wouldn't be unbalancing in my opinion, because of the work that would necessarily be involved if you decided to try commanding 20-25 units yourself. Of course, in doing this, I'd also like to see the ability to set the tactical options for the AI generals; at least something basic like "hold for flank charge" or "maneuver for a rear charge". Maybe have the option of organizing a play book of sorts before each battle for your AI generals to follow.

[Hosakawa Tito]

I think it is an excellent suggestion Swoosh. Especially if you can issue the orders for your AI general, and his loyalty and command level determines how well he carries them out or not. Can I trust this impetuous 2 star general to carry out the plan, hold the high ground, and wait for me to circle around to the flank? Will he hold back till I draw the enemy into the ambush before he charges from out of the trees or will he jump too soon and spoil the element of surprise? Lots of realistic "fog of war" scenarios there. Hopefully the AI can be taken to the next step necessary to make it work well. Make it an option so that people with minimum requirement machines can opt out if their machine can't handle the extra load. How would you propose to get around the restricted camera issue to change orders etc... for the other army when it is out of sight? Handling that many units can be a daunting task, but I sure would like the challenge of it.

[Cooperman]

Having fought a couple of battles with the AI controlling an allied faction, I have to say that theres no way I'd relinquish command of part of my army to the computer. Playing as the Eqyptians I was allied with the Turks against the Byzantines. Despite the fact that the Turks were by far the smallest force on the battlefield they set about attacking the Byzantines head on while my army was still half the battlefield away by they time I caught up they had been routed and I had to face the Byzantines alone.
Unless there is some way of co-ordinating attacks with an AI general then this has to be a very bad idea.

[RabidMonkey]

I think this is an amazing idea theres been some really good constructive critisism here about it 2. The important thing would be to leave it as an OPTION that can be turned on and off at the users discretion. Then the possibilitys are awsome:

New V&Vs that affect how well the generals will follow your orders, will they impetously charge or hang back waiting for everyone else to get stuck in?

Defenitley need to be able to give them orders like gaurd my flank, charge the enemys flank hold that hill stuff like that.

This would make the game so much more fun to play in the SP campaign and i vote this as my top thing for any future expansion or patch that may be made

Hope you devs are still listning. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[jeffreyLebowski]

i'm not sure that this couldn't be implemented in some fashion using the current custom battle interface. perhaps if a player has the AI generals option turned on, when they are about to commence battle, they're presented with a new menu screen similar to the custom battle screen...they would choose which units to add to the 16 unit army they would command, and the rest would be controlled by the cpu. it seems like there's a lot of this work already done and a lot of code could be taken from the existing custom battle system. damn, this idea is great...having this would totally eliminate one of the biggest drawbacks of the current campaign... when i take an army of 5,000 troops to engage 1,000 enemy troops, i'm always disappointed in the fact that i should be overwhelming them, not fighting an even battle.

[scsscsfanfan]

This is a great idea. But is all depends that if AI can do such a task as Hosakawa Tito suggested, although that is much more interesting, but with current custom battle coding, well, unlikely to happen.
I think in an earlier post, someone - is it Magyer?? - that suggested to add 4 army icons above the banner icons. You can control up to 4 x 16 units army in the feild, 3 of thme can by commanded by AI generals, you can click their icon to jump into that army and to alter the AI general's desision - on each unit, or on that stupid general - if you don't like - something like that may be esier to achieve.

[desdichado]

definitely a good idea as long as the Ai was improved. Just fought a battle agains three enemy armies - was a little surprised to say the least to see Hungarian, German and Italian armies marching at me. Was tempted to withdraw as didn't want to lose my favourite general but decided to win or die.

Ended up winning as Italians wasted so much time chasing a couple of units of light cav (they died gloriously) that I smacked the Hungarians & HRE before Italians got to me.

It really should have been an easy victory for the AI. 800 vs 2000+ at once. One army on the front, another on the flank and one in the rear - not much would stand against that.

Still it was a fun battle and had a grin ear to ear while playing it. Would up the fun/realism factor for me and also make it easier to win without really good generals - just throw a lot of units at the problem and even 9 star generals will crumble.

I think not even knowing how your AI generals are going until you can see them could be interesting. Bit of a what if scenario. Holding on a desparate defence while not knowing how long to reinforcements is what legends are made of - at least thats what I read in books

Basically a yes vote from me.

[Swoosh So]

It could be implemented, you could have a generals flag at the bottom of the screen right click it and select the orders from a drop down list, just like u can do with any unit at the moment, But id be happy with the ai controlling them too http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif



Swooooooooshooooooooooooowl