AI changes its moves

[desdichado]

I had to reload after a crash and noticed the AI moves had changed. I had to face a french 5 star general in first battle - I know cause I captured him and ransomed him back and he had gained the captured vice.

Game crashed before I saved so reverted back to autosave which was just before above battle. I didn't make any additional moves but the AI invaded my province with a different 0 star general leaving his good general out of the fight http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

Has anybody seen this? Can anybody explain why the AI might have done this - I would have thought its moves were preset based on my moves and as mine didn't change how did the computers - its not like it can change its mind can it? Is there a variable in the programming that would cause this to happen.

[econ21]

Interesting observation - my impression playing the game is that there may well be a little randomness there. If so, I like it - makes the AI more unpredictable. I think it is quite important if, as I suspect but CA deny, the AI sees your supposedly simultaneous move and partially reacts to it. The randomness may come in how "partially" it reacts, eg 50% time ignores your move; 50% time reacts to it. That's the kind of thing I would try if building a decent AI (I think it needs to "cheat" a little to be competitive).