For show only! No touching!

Just had the funniest encounter with the Byz. Playing as the Hungarians, I finally besieged Constantinople. Then the Emperor attempted to lift the siege with an army mad mostly of UM and BI. My army of Szekely and FS technically stood no chance, but when the Battle started the AI did the funniest thing. First, it marched towards me, but did so in two seperate wings. When it reached within arrow distance it proceded to form up into three neat rows. As my Szekely fired away, they retreated by forming into three long columns. They then returned yet again, but now the Emperor stradled the middle of a very large infantry line. They then fored into two strait lines upon my flanks, and after a few seconds of simply STANDING there, they withdrew from the field.

I all can make of this is a) The Byzantine Emperor has gone compeletly mad, b) I was treated as victors to a greek dance show, and/or c) The AIs' first attempt at manly intimidation. Honestly, what happened :inquisitive: ?

Personally I like the sound of "b" :laugh4:

All this, and last night I had a battle where a single unit of spearmen decided it could hold a bridge against a full stack of longbows, horse archers, heavy infantry and chariots. What gives with the AI's tactical decision making? :dizzy2:

Actually "a" might not be a bad guess, sometimes the AI can withdraw if the general has bad-morale vices :idea2:

I think the AI sometimes gets into a situation where two or more courses of action completely balance each other and as soon as it moves one way or another, the balance tips against that course of action and it tries another - or none. Then, when it can't see a good move especially if it's taken a few losses, it withdraws.

I've seen the column thing before, but usually in seiges. The AI is on attack but can't see how to proceed so lines its troops up waiting.

Okay, reloaded the battle, and the Emperor did the same with a twist: Instead of lining up on my flanks, the Emperors' unit CIRCLED my entire formation once, and then withdrew his entire army in "parade" like fashion. After the battle, I checked our apparently strange emperor; He had several pro-battle skills, all increasing morale/valor. But he also had "Pride" and "Crack-Brained". But I thought such things as "crack-brained" had no other effects besides reduceing morale (besides, he had enough pro-morale virtues that he still had a positive morale modifier)? Is the computer role-playing the Emperor? If so, it's doing a better job then me :laugh4: .

Did he have any units capable of running down your Horse Archers? If not, he may have decided that given he can't close with your units in combat, he'd be better off to retreat than have them all become walking pin cushions?

I have seen some pretty odd battles, including the enemy withdrawing from very strong positions, but I don't think i've come across one quite like this.