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OK, anyone have the necessary cojones to actually use the "Put Battle Group under AI control" feature regularly?
Results when reinforcements are under AI control, make me cringe; I'm terrible at using Pause and stopping a battle, so sometimes I'll get too focussed into one part of the action.
Do you find AI unit control gives useful results?
No - from my perspective it's pointless from almost every angle. Leaving the AI there causes them to make a complete mess of all plans/tactics, acting fairly stupidly against the foe. It makes much more sense to command them yourself in most cases.
There is one situation where it can be useful though - some forum members have in the past placed their entire force under AI control but one unit. They then command this unit solely throughout the campaign and, in some cases, chart its history and value.
~:)
Hmmm.... that's a fascinating idea. I really should try that out sometime-- a limited scope AAR.
Guess I should have asked (hypothetically) if it handled a task reasonably well would you like to be able to use it (at least until you're less busy)?
For instance hunting down routers, rather than looking like it will and then giving up, allowing them to return to battle later.
I'd use the feature for fun if the AI was fairly good at it, but not in critical battles.
Sometimes I use this option - when I got a big reinforcement I don't feel like messing up with. I place it under AI's control and although it acts not like I would, it still creates a thorn in the enemy's side.
I experimented in an Historical battle, which with Play Balance Mod, I was not able to win (the opposition army looks far better balanced). Part of reason, was that the battle appeared to run double speed, making it impossible to give orders fast enough, unless I kept using pause key, which I didn't manage to make myself do.
So trying the AI Group feature, it re-arranged the cavalry putting some on left flank opposite Ele's (oops), and lined up the lines, rather than using Quincunx formation. It caused far fewer casualties to enemy, than even my worst performances.
I like to have my armies under my control. The AI can do things wrong and mess up the battle. Pontus was my ally and i was attacking Ancyra. They arrived at the last breath of the battle,the rebels had near 10 naked fanatics left.