Fairest difficulty level?

[Sirrvs]

Another quick question guys...which difficulty level gives no handicap to either side? And does putting it on 'Expert' actually improve the AI on the battlemap or just during the realtime battles? Thanks again!

[Procrustes]

Hi,

This is what it says in the "beginners guide":

===========================================

On difficulty
There are four difficulties, easy, normal, hard and expert. Your difficulty will decide how much money you start off with, any bonuses given to you or the AI and what tactics the AI will use on the two maps. Starting funds are as follows:
Easy = 10000 florins
Normal= 8000 florins
Hard = 6000 florins
Expert = 4000 florins
On easy the player will get an extra +4 to morale in battle, making it harder for the AI to rout your troops. On expert the AI get this bonus. Normal and hard don't give anyone a bonus. The AI will use different tactics on the battlefield depending on your difficulty. Here is a list provided by GilJaySmith, one of the developers of Total War:
- 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 that 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 sh00ting 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

In addition to these changes LongJohn (another developer) says the following: The combat strength of the a.i. units is affected by the difficulty level.
On easy its combat effectiveness is reduced by 30-40% (can't remember the exact figure).
On hard it's increased by 10-15%, and on expert its 30%. 30% being around 75% of the increase you'd get from 1 valour upgrade.

[Sirrvs]

Ah, I didn't think of looking at the Beginner's Guide, thanks. I'm gonna stick with the hard difficulty level then. Maybe next game I won't use the 'worksundays' cheat. :P

[EatYerGreens]

Thanks for the info Procrustes. Most illuminating. I thought I'd read the guides but must have missed that bit.

For my first campaigns, I've started on 'Normal'. Aside from battles, I might stand a chance with expert as I found myself chugging along with just 4 grand in the coffers for many a year. Even with trade going well, I've yet to see much above 30 grand but that's because I keep spending it all.... ~;)


In the meantime, could somebody explain to me what "enfilade fire" means?

[Procrustes]

Enfilade fire is fire that rakes a line of men or a fortification from one end to the other.

Yes, the guides here have been a great help to me, too.

Best,