SP Campaign difficulty setting question

[ziphnor]

Im sorry if this has been asked before, i tried searching first, but found no conclusive answer. Until now ive only been playing on normal because i seem to remember reading somewhere that the enemy units got morale/valour(and perhaps more) bonuses on higher difficulty levels. I dont mind the AI being smarter and having more money on higher levels but i prefer to play so that no-one has any special bonuses/penalties to their units. So what exactly happens at Hard and Expert?

The only thing i could find was this(quoted below) is this information correct? Are there more differences?

Thank you for your time.


Quote[/b] ]
- 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

[Longasc]

Are there any more differences?

Think of the strategic map.
e.g. the AI is a very bad builder on normal.
It tends to build not very planned towards a goal like Knights or specialized Archers.

Finally, it does not defend provinces well, no really good defensive forces, 1-2 main army bodies, once those are beaten, the entire empire crumbles.

Does the AI better in strategic terms on the HARD/EXPERT setting?

[ziphnor]

That was a fast reply http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
So would it be correct that on Hard the AI players just get smarter both in regard to tactics and overall strategy, but doesnt recieve any unit specific bonuses like extra valour/morale/attack/defense etc? ( because then thats definetly the diff. level of choice for me )

On Expert the AI troops get a morale bonus, but no other bonuses, correct? How big is this morale bonus?

Thank you for responding.

[Longasc]

ziphnor: I wondered that so many Experts here still do not agree how trade really works in different situations, so do not expect a fast and profound answert to that questions.

They are good and really deserve an answer. But I cannot give you that information, I cannot verify or give exact numbers how much better the strategic AI works.

On the tactical part, I do not think much more is known than you already posted. But I have a NICE link for you if you are a fan of statistics:

http://shogun.cafe24.com/

[ziphnor]

Thank you for the link, it provides alot of good information on unit stats.

Im surprised that nothing more is known about the difficulty settings, especially since people here seem to pay much attention to details. I must admit i feel a bit let down by the manual considering this is a fairly complex strategy game. Still i guess you cant complain about a game that can have you playing the whole day http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Gregoshi]

Welcome ziphnor. Thanks for checking in.

You ask a very good basic question. I don't recall that information but I think it is around here somewhere. I tend to ignore the numbers game as the information is too precise. I prefer relative statements: flanking your enemy is good as opposed to flanking your enemy give you a +5 on your attack rating (I made that number up).

You could try a search on the member eat cold steel. He's from CA and I think he's posted such information. I'd tell you to search for Giljay Smith but he has so many posts here you'd spend hours wading through them.

[Brutal DLX]

Yeah, I'm not good at remembering those stats too, but there is a considerable morale boost given to the AI troops on expert, as well as other boni. Even on hard the AI gets a bonus in battle. Normal is completely even between the player and AI, and on easy you get a bonus.
The exact data is certainly stored here, I suggest doing a keyword search or looking into the table of contents.

As far as trade works, I think we've figured that one out pretty much, thank you, Longasc.

[ziphnor]

Thank you for your responses. Normally i dont go too much into the numbers of it, but it can be nice to know the relative size of different bonuses(as well as what bonuses exist at all, ie its nice to know that flanking DOES give a considerable bonus etc).

Ill try to search the forums some more, but i dont seem to be having much luck http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

You wouldnt happen to know if the bonus on hard is morale only or more than that would you?