Insanely Pointless Aggression by the AI on VH

I realise that to make Medieval Total War 2 harder for a player they simply let the computer cheat, give it loads of cash fast growth population make it far more aggressive, but since the patch I’ve noticed that not only is the opposition super aggressive but it will go miles out of its way to attack you for no reason what so ever…

… don’t get me wrong I love a challenge but there’s a point where you just have to shake your head and realise just how silly the AI is being… this isn’t even about diplomacy I know some people say that there is a certain way you can keep allies and lead a peaceful nation but honestly I think that’s total blind luck; if the AI has a large stack and it happens to be near one of your cities they’ll attack it regardless of your standing relations or general hygiene, but I digress…

(honestly be “Very Trustworthy” and have “Outstanding” relations with another nation then put a lone family member near one of their larger armies, its like waving a red flag to a particularly angry, mad bull)

I was playing as Milan and was trying to be a good Christian and not kicking my neighbours heads in (until I could get away with it anyway) I was allying with everyone (because I knew they’d attack you anyway and that it would ruin their reputation, evil lil scamp aint i) but as of yet everyone was playing nice with me… then Sicily attacked by sea… ok I thought not the best idea but I can see where they’re going with it, so I beat off their invasion and settled down to deal with them.

3 turns later a Byzantium boat arrives with an invasion army… alright, I mutter to myself they are a little far away but I guess it makes sense, (this is despite being allied with them with very good relations and a reliable rep and also being at war with venice who are a much more obvious target)

10 turns after that… and here’s the kicker… an English ship turns up; well im allied with the english but these ships are loaded with an invasion force; for a moment I wonder if I’ve gone colour blind or possible a synapse has burnt out from too much game playing but no… ah must be a mercenary ship… no no its an English ship alrght, 3 infact, and they’re pretty battered none of them having more than 20/75 crew. And im not bloody surprised! They’re at war with France and Spain so they must have got kicked around while coming down to see me with their 1 family member 2 spear militia and a billman militia... they land outside Genoa and lay siege to my city… a city with half a flags worth of troops in it…

At that point I gave a long sigh and exited the game, I don’t mind the AI being overly aggressive but why 15-20 turns worth of sea voyage in hostile water just to break an alliance and declare war with a tiny attack force that isn’t going to do anything (they were at war with Scotland, France and Spain so god KNOWS why they decided they needed to be at war with me as well, they were just about to lose London to the Scots as well)

So in summery its not that I’m complaining VH is… well, very hard; but that the AI is just unbelievably stupid on the campaign map, weakening itself for other computer players just so it can go and run screaming towards your heavily defended city walls with 50 men all wearing under pants on their head waving sharpened twigs screaming defiance at the fact you had the audacity to ally yourself with them, its so... frustratingly stupid!

Yep, thats 1.1 campaign map AI for you. 1.2 has it improved, but too much. 1.2 = M2TP (Medieval 2: Total Peace)

just bump up the values a bit close to what was suggested in 1.1 diplomacy file? maybe that will make it less peacey for ye :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Durallan

just bump up the values a bit close to what was suggested in 1.1 diplomacy file? maybe that will make it less peacey for ye :)

---

Actually I'm only using the 1.2 campaign_db_ai which determines the AI's campaign map behavior. Still using the 1.1 diplomacy file :)
I'll prolly tweak the ai file later, but I kind of like it at the moment because it hinders me from expanding uncontrollably.

Actually im using 1.2; the leaked patch anyway. I dont mind the aggression i like having to fight tooth and nail, but its the insanity of England attacking Milan when they're about to lose London it makes absolutely 0 sense, its crazy, theres obviously something seriously wrong with the AI programming or its missing something somewhere.

Its really not me complaining about the level of aggression its the frustration of seeing an ally travel half way across the map to attack you for absolutely no reason.

It's not without a reason though, its trying to attack you. It's silly, but vh campaign is you vs the ai, with the ai going out of its way to attack you. It's why with 1.2 i play on medium.

tbh this has been a problem since rome. i mean i know the game is called total war but theres an extent when it goes too far. i personally draw the line when factions make stupid decisions. I dont mind being at war with almsot everyone BUT for example. in my turks campaign, i was allied with egpyt, smashing byzantine, i had perfect relations with egypt, military acess, alliance etc etc inc a diplomat there offering gifts whenever my relations dropped below perfect. i had fairly trustworthy rep world wide too.

after about 20-30 turns of alliance, with egypts lands being ravaged by crusades, a few of which i stopped for them, they march about 4 full stacks into my land start besigning my towns, while leaving their homeland to be taken over by crusaders.

ive seen similar things countless times and its really dissapointing. heres hoping 1.2 is better when it comes out -.-

Cheers Knoddy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Debe2233

So in summery its not that I’m complaining VH is… well, very hard; but that the AI is just unbelievably stupid on the campaign map, weakening itself for other computer players just so it can go and run screaming towards your heavily defended city walls with 50 men all wearing under pants on their head waving sharpened twigs screaming defiance at the fact you had the audacity to ally yourself with them, its so... frustratingly stupid!

---

The thing is .. VH is not VH for the reasons you describe.. the AI is so intent on attacking you it does a S%^* job of it. Its like ... lets make the game very hard by making the AI attack lots... guess what .. that makes the game very easy not very hard... If they wanted to make the game very hard they should have the AI make lots of alliances, build up, and then all attack you at the same time with their entire armies. It could be like everyone loves everyone....till you expand into one of your neighbours, then they all declare war and attack you... *goes off dreaming about how good the game couldve been*

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by knoddy

tbh this has been a problem since rome. i mean i know the game is called total war but theres an extent when it goes too far. i personally draw the line when factions make stupid decisions. I dont mind being at war with almsot everyone BUT for example. in my turks campaign, i was allied with egpyt, smashing byzantine, i had perfect relations with egypt, military acess, alliance etc etc inc a diplomat there offering gifts whenever my relations dropped below perfect. i had fairly trustworthy rep world wide too.

after about 20-30 turns of alliance, with egypts lands being ravaged by crusades, a few of which i stopped for them, they march about 4 full stacks into my land start besigning my towns, while leaving their homeland to be taken over by crusaders.

ive seen similar things countless times and its really dissapointing. heres hoping 1.2 is better when it comes out -.-

Cheers Knoddy

---

This kinda reinforces the message that diplomacy is a waste of time and effort as you know something stupid is going to happen to ruin the alliance / relations. better concentrate on war at the start and then there will be no suprises.

Trust noone.

a bit paranoid in my opinion. I've never been that patient to do a full campaign but why england lost half it's fleet trying to get to you I don't know.

I don't think the AI gets the message that you're trying to help them by attacking crusading crusades against your ally.

Is there a fix to make the AI more intelligent on the camp map ?

strange... I'm playing with venice on vh/vh and nobody has in mind attacking me(i have tons of spies :P ). Am I just lucky or what? Played around 20-25 turns

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tex_-

strange... I'm playing with venice on vh/vh and nobody has in mind attacking me(i have tons of spies :P ). Am I just lucky or what? Played around 20-25 turns

---

You must be. Because Im playing Venice on vh/vh to and despite my best efforts, Im at war with Sicily, the Byzantine Empire, Milan and the HRE who actually broke our alliance in an attempt to kill my faction leader. And it's turn fifteen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Quickening

You must be. Because Im playing Venice on vh/vh to and despite my best efforts, Im at war with Sicily, the Byzantine Empire, Milan and the HRE who actually broke our alliance in an attempt to kill my faction leader. And it's turn fifteen.

---

lol, lucky me:2thumbsup: , i think that being allied with pope helps because no other factions(milan,sicily,hungary) don't want to risk excommunication(HRE already excommed :music: )

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tex_-

lol, lucky me:2thumbsup: , i think that being allied with pope helps because no other factions(milan,sicily,hungary) don't want to risk excommunication(HRE already excommed :music: )

---

I am allied with the Pope :shame:

Maybe it's just me. They all hate me. It's personal :sorry2:

yesterday was friday 13th, so...~D

I got upset when I did a sea landing at palermo with a full stack and found the citadel abandoned with 2 full stacks of crack troops sitting calmly right next to it. A bit of anticlimax really... took the town without a shot fired and the 2 sicilian stacks have melted storming MY new citadel since.