Passive AI in BI

Not sure if this should be here or in the unofficial modding bit.

After my second RTW disk1 broke (boohoo) and the useless computer store doesn't even have a second hand copy, I finally decided to start a campaign in BI.

I copied the EB folder- that is the copy of RTW's folder for EB- and ran Ferromancer's patch into it.

All looks as you would expect and I restarted my Romani campaign (got to 195BC before by disk broke). It is now 255BC, I've taken over southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. I made an assault on Carthaginian Africa and wiped out their basic fleet and all armies larger than two units this side of the Balearic isles.

So what have the AI done? Not very much. I haven't lifted fog of war to check the rest, but Carthage haven't expanded into Numidia or Mauretania, which they always do. There is a rebel army standing outside Hippo that has been sat there for as long as I've had a spy there. The Iberians have expanded a bit, but I don't think the Carthaginian army has moved outside the province.

To the east of my sphere of influence the Epirotes and Macedonians had a fitful war over Pella, which never fell and now the still huge Epirus army just sits in the hills wasting money. My spies and diplomats tell me that Macedon (and normally I have to work hard to keep them alive) hasn't lost any territory at all.



I know that sometimes factions expand later (mainly due to money), so this could be just the way the campaign is going, but I'm beginning to suspect that I've done something wrong. Ideas?

In all EB campaigns I have played, and they were with BI, the Getai, Sweboz and Casse didn't move an inch from their starting positions. I don't know if it's relevant, just letting you know.

they move plenty for me....

Getai have not moved at all in my current Koinon Hellenon campaign, or my last KH campaign, effectively robbing me of competition from the north. It's a pity that such an interesting faction seems to be broken.

In my current Epieros campaign the Getai are doing pretty good. They send almost full stacks against me from time to time too...

Unless you have the AI balancing Mini-mod the Getai NEVER ..EVER move

I have the Role-playing on and they have a batlic empire and are currently in a tug of war with the Sweboz

Getai expansion is based on their first battle. If they can win their first fight, they will take Sigindunum or Naissos and will have the ability to expand from there. If they lose their first fight they will take 40 years to recover. Right now, Getai tends to lose that first battle. The easiest way of making Getai expand would be to decrease the garrison in one of those cities or moving the horsearcher wanderer farther away. Many other factions are similar, when they stall.

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Originally Posted by Tiberius Nero

In all EB campaigns I have played, and they were with BI, the Getai, Sweboz and Casse didn't move an inch from their starting positions. I don't know if it's relevant, just letting you know.

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Same here, it took 50 years and about 5 million in cash via console to get Carthage to expand 3-4 cities, and I had to defend Swezboz for 30 years and give them 2 million to get them to expand 2-3 cities...which soon got them into conflict with the Averni and nearly destroyed.


I think the BI engine makes Germany and Carthage dormant for a long while

The problem is that it is only 255BCE, you haven't given them any chance. EB is supposed to be played at a much slower pace. Sit back and watch it work its magic.

In my Romani campaign, I'm steamrolling through Carthaginian territories, have taken over all of greece, and AS is starting to fall in anatolia. In the meantime, I have left everything north of Italy alone, and the Aedui and Sweboz send full stacks *every turn*, and try different strategies, such as assaulting different towns on my frontier, using lots of naked dudes, etc. (During battles though when they assault walls they tend to use the exact same strategy when I sally, so that part's a bummer). In short, while Carthage and AS weakened pretty quickly after initial tough engagements, the barbarians to the north are getting increasingly powerful.

Playing as Casse is a different story. Germans and Romans are particularly powerful, but the Arverni are dropping off like flies before my pre-reform army. Aedui have been too scared to attack me, though they've beat up some Arverni stacks. Carthage is expanding in Iberia, and the various Greek civs are expanding far north into Europe.

Another thing I noticed in BI is that the AI will actually attempt naval invasions.

Maybe your script is busted? If you miss the script for a couple turns, things will start to get really wacky.

And as mentioned earlier, try conquering more slowly. I try to take just one city at a time, and build up a garrison before moving on. This makes the game more fulfilling.

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Originally Posted by Ferromancer

Maybe your script is busted? If you miss the script for a couple turns, things will start to get really wacky.

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That's what I was worried about. I do play slowly, but didn't want to play to 220BC and still see no movement.

As it is my fears were unfounded. Carthage are still useless, but Epirus is making some kind of quest to conquer Illyria and Pannonia under their empire.

I had another war against Carthage (early 240's) and beat them decisively in one battle. They sued for peace and I got tribute off them. So I sailed my triumphant army, with my two best Carthaginian hating generals and Blasio's young son- promising young Tribune- along with half of my 4 legion field armies.

Along comes a pirate fleet and wipes them out.:sweatdrop: I didn't tell the citizens this, I said it was a storm and censured the admiral for improper sacrifices prior to the journey.

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Originally Posted by Maeran

That's what I was worried about. I do play slowly, but didn't want to play to 220BC and still see no movement.

As it is my fears were unfounded. Carthage are still useless, but Epirus is making some kind of quest to conquer Illyria and Pannonia under their empire.

I had another war against Carthage (early 240's) and beat them decisively in one battle. They sued for peace and I got tribute off them. So I sailed my triumphant army, with my two best Carthaginian hating generals and Blasio's young son- promising young Tribune- along with half of my 4 legion field armies.

Along comes a pirate fleet and wipes them out.:sweatdrop: I didn't tell the citizens this, I said it was a storm and censured the admiral for improper sacrifices prior to the journey.

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Are you using BI? At least for me, the second I take any part of Sicily, Carthage comes after me with a vengeance.

See my post here...
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=89879

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcantu

Are you using BI? At least for me, the second I take any part of Sicily, Carthage comes after me with a vengeance.

See my post here...
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=89879

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I'm using BI...and Carthage is ummm...dumber and slower than a rock

I am using BI, but Carthage is very passive (actually, they raised a fleet to kill the pirates that destroyed my legions and then landed an army in Roman held Sardinia. Then took it back home to Carthage. They now also send 2-3 units to be killed by the giant elephant army of Numidia every turn).

I'd seen that screenie before and wish that the Carthies had done something like that instead of rolling over like they did with me.

A couple of years after that screenie, I took carthage and another city in africa. Within 3 years, carthage had stomped my ass, killed 3 of my best generals and taken the cities back.

I should add that i'm using the AI Balancing Mini-Mod and corrected EDU...