AI having an off day?

[Ulair]

Saw some remarkably inept play from the AI last night which made me wonder if it was deliberate...

My Egyptian Saracens were invading Wales, trapping the English king with a bunch of RKs and peasants. I'd formed up in a big line, 8 Saracen companies wide and marched forwards. After a bit of skirmishing made light of by flanking Ghazis and Muwahids I reached the crest of the hill in the middle. Sitting just beyond were some English archers and two RK squadrons, one the King's.

I stop, regroup a little. They sit still, the archers don't shoot... Hmmm, odd... OK, I click my line beyond and we march on towards them. As we get closer I take a closer look at the RKs and they're facing the wrong way. Both companies are looking away from me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-dizzy2.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif

I keep going, hit them and they just go down under my spears: two squadrons of High Royal Knights just disintegrate - they don't even rout, just die I walk straight through, killing 'em all, capturing the King and I've barely broken stride. It's like the wanted to die http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif . Hugely satisfying, though http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif I saved a replay because of that

Anyone seen can't-be-bothered behaviour from the AI like this before? Perhaps the King, being trapped, wanted to be captured ASAP? This was Normal, BTW.

Cheers,
Ulair.

[VikingHorde]

I think the AI is having an off day. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Court Jester]

yes, funny enough, about a month ago I was playing as the HRE (setting: hard) and I had cornered the English king in Flanders. he lined up his troops perpendicular to mine and stayed like that while I ground his army up. Their longbows never fired a shot. Strange how it was also the English; they must have had too much sun.

what is it they said in colonial India? Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun...

[Maychargewithoutorders]

Ive had a similar thing happen to me recently, tho not as drastic as facing the other way.

My crusader army (Spanish) some 1300 strong lands in tripoli to a cornered Egyptian sultan with only peasants and some cavalry. They sat in the corner in mini valley, didnt even try to find high ground I just walked up to them and they only fought when i engaged that particular unit. Perhaps the AI knows when a battle is futile?

(BTW it was early/expert/GA game.)

[katank]

really? not shooting archers and troops facing the wrong way?

only happens to me when I want archers to fire at close range for max effect although I do occasionally accidentally set up the wrong way.

I remedy that now by alt right clicks towards the enemy for all my units now.

Must be a field day for you.

I had plenty of times when the AI would march the general unit up and stoically take arrows. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[son of spam]

Quote[/b] (VikingHorde @ May 05 2004,12:15)]I think the AI is having an off day. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I think the AI always has an off day http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Ulair]

Quote[/b] (katank @ May 05 2004,21:49)]really? not shooting archers and troops facing the wrong way?

Well, I took a look at the replay last night (after winning 60% with the Eggys http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ) and the archers did shoot, but not at the advancing Saracens. They turned side-on to my front and shot across at some flanking Muwahids... It was like "oops, we're being flanked; better focus on those guys over there" and they'd completely lost track of which direction my battle line was actually coming from... The RKs really were facing 180 degrees away.

The great thing about replay was zooming in and watching my front close down on the archers and RKs - it really was as if the AI had rotated its internal coordinate system 90 degress and was looking for me in the wrong place.


Quote[/b] (katank @ May 05 2004,21:49)]Must be a field day for you.

I took ghoulish delight in watching the replay close up http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Really was like watching a steamroller...

All hail the conquering Sultan Think I'll try the Byzantines next (hey, maybe even on hard http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif )

[HopAlongBunny]

I believe the AI is (sometimes) easily confused and prone to wandering. If you use HA's, it is quite common for the opposing general to make a bee-line for your troops...w/o anyone else.

Royal Knights facing in the wrong direction and just standing to be slaughtered is a new one. If you figure out how you did it, I hope you'll share http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[SpencerH]

I've also seen this type of behaviour when flanking the AI with HA. It seems to either pin the AI units or they will focus more troops than necessary and ignore the larger threat of a spearwall backed by archers attacking and firing from their front.

[Xiphias]

I've had huge AI armies just sit there and be picked off by one unit of projectile troops (or artillery). They always attacked when I got close though.

[Accounting Troll]

The AI often likes to sit there and wait for your archers and artillery to run out of ammo. It never adjusts its tactics if you go for unlimited ammo - its amazing how much valour a unit of Jinetes can then pick up in a single battle.

When I tell my archers and javelinmen to fire at will at any enemy troops in range, they ALWAYS ignore an enemy unit that has got behind them, even if nobody else is in range. I've taken to using a couple of good anti-cavalry units to defend my rear unless I can use the terrain to prevent flanking.

[katank]

@ troll, I think this has to do with the fact that the missiles would have to turn to shoot and the AI frowns upon needing to turn.

[son of spam]

ow turning...hard...strains...neck...