Run away, run away!!

[SeveredSoul]

Lately in my English Campaign I've been in some "dispute" with the Egyptians. Now, at the onset of each battle the AI withdraws his general as his force is advancing on mine. And as I see it, doing this gives no penalty to the AI's troops, unlike when a general is killed or captured. The only penalty that I see is that you can't get the improved morale bonus with the general close by. All I want to do is capture his general, is that so bad?? In hindsight I can understand the AI running his generals away when the generals unit is just one man instead of 20.
I'm sure that one of you has experianced this also....right? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Tigger]

yeah I've had AI generals just seem to buggar off or not even be there in the first place sometimes, which is annoying as it is much harder to get the enemy to rout and the AI reinforcements fight a lot harder too

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

[Praylak]

There could be many reasons why this is happening. The enemy general could have very bad vices effecting morale for one. Is your general high in Dread? There has been some talk about that too. Or it could be as simple as the AI doesn't know what your army make up is until it arrives on the field, then decides your army looks too strong, and vacates.

[NateEngle]

I've seen it happen, although I've never come up with any sort of reason or excuse for it aside from the already-stated one (getting an understrength or psychologically crippled unit off the field to make room for someone who will do less harm).

[MizuKokami]

with the 1.1 patch, the ai had it's mind tweeked, so now it withdraws units that are nearly depleted. since the ai doesn't repair units, or tidy up it's armies, that often leaves their generals with 1 to 3 men. so off the field they go. this in and of itself isn't so bad, but it's a bit of a bummer that you can't get at their 7 or 8 star generals till you get them pinned into a castle.

[Shahed]

I usually have not had this problem. Enemy generals are the first target for missile and artillery fire. With success.

[Nowake]

Agreed, I never encountered this in my games ... Good luck in solving it ...

[A.Saturnus]

I often see this, but it`s ok. It`s better than an AI that lets it`s 6-star-general commit suicide. Though I have seen quiet a lot AI-generals with the "not-so-bold"-vice.