Game Setting?

[USMCNJ]

this is a really newby question.
I have been playing the game since it came out, always on expert. However, i have been using the autoresolve way to much. Now to make the game more interesting i want to fight my battles, and the truth is that the AI kicks my butt on Expert. I want to try Hard, or even Normal, but i'm afraid that the strategy side will be to easy.
Does the game setting effect the 3D battles alone, or the whole game?

[MacBeth]

I believe it effects the strategy side as well as battle.

On easy and normal I can get away with a blitzkreig strategy going for 60% victory ASAP and very rarely have rebellion problems, civil war etc. On hard or expert I wouldn't even try it.

[misplacedag]

According to the strategy guide, the AI for tactical battles does not change from level to level. What does change is amount of starting florins (10000, 8000, 6000 and 4000 -- easy to expert), likelyhood of rebellions etc. So if you have already mastered strategic economics at the expert level, yes the game will be even easier at the lower levels.

To become better on the tatical map, 1) practice the tutorials. 2) Read about how to better use individual units. There are tons of threads about 2 in the main hall and on the TotalWar board: http://pub24.ezboard.com/fshoguntotalwarfrm5.

[misplacedag]

There are also several mods available that make the game more challenging once you have mastered the original game. You can read about the mods in the Dungeon, and then download whichever you like. I highly recommend Medieval Mod IV v1.84 by WesW.

[Mak]

You say you have only been playing the startegic part of Medieval, well i envy you as the battles are where medieval leasves its competitors trailing in its wake. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

I enjoy the startegic side of medieval most myself but the battles bring the sheer fun to the game.

I have played the game at all levels of difficulty with many different nations (not enough time in world) but have not as yet noticed any great increase in AI strategically at higher difficult levels.

The Unit ratings at higher difficulty especially the enemy kings can be very annoying, so my advice is to play at normal level this sets a fair realistic playing field. Have fun http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[misplacedag]

Here's a link to a user guide for fighting battles:

http://www.clankenchikuka.com/kenchi/news_story.asp?newsid=67

[motorhead]

Don't forget that on expert the computer's troops get a morale boost. I first started playing on hard then moved to expert and IMO the AI isn't any more difficult on the tactical side, perhaps a bit more aggressive.

[GilJaysmith]

Feeling generous, so: here's a reasonably full list of what the battle AI will do at different game settings. This is based on a quick code search; whether some of these points come across in the game may depend on your playing style.

- On expert the AI gets a morale bonus - on easy the player gets one
- On hard and above, AI skirmishers will try to avoid being pincered
- On easy the AI will not consider going into loose formation to avoid being shot at
- On easy the AI will not consider outflanking, double-envelopment, or stop-and-shoot tactics
- On easy the AI won't move troops out of the way of castle walls which may be about to collapse
- On easy the AI will try to hide rather than flee if the battle is going badly
- On easy the AI will not try ambushes
- On easy the AI will not try the 'appear weak' battle plan
- The AI is more likely to deploy in woods on harder difficulties, and less likely to camp near the red zone on easier difficulties
- The AI is more likely to consider scouting the map to find the rest of your army if it can't see it all on higher difficulties
- On easy the AI will not skirmish
- On higher than easy, the AI will specifically consider shooting at your artillery
- On easy the AI will generally attack rather than defend, and will not consider withdrawing for a much longer time
- On higher than easy, the AI will check to see if it's marching into enfilade fire when attacking your main body
- On easy the AI may come out of a wall breach to chase you if you attack and are repulsed

Strewth. Behind The Magic or what...

[Gregoshi]

Feeling grateful. Thanks Gil

This is one for the Table of Contents (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=3823).