How do I get these guys to attack me!?

**Aemilius Paulus** · 11-19-2008, 02:06

Originally Posted by Irish

! They were the ones who instigated the battle, so I thought the AI had the mindset of "kill kill kill!"

I you haven't noticed it already, AI units who have the skirmish mode special ability do not normally attack you in melee. It is very annoying, as I have fought countless battles with rebels who had some missile units and those were a pain in the rear to catch. They will always run from you, unless one of your units happens to stray away from the main force and AI feels like it is stronger than that unit, which is when it will gang up on you.

The AI can be pretty smart with missile units as I have noticed. I have repeatedly noticed that AI archers will refuse to target a really high armour units that I specifically moved into the AI missile range in order to drain the AI ammunition. But the moment I send in a normal or low armour unit, the AI unleashes all hell. At other times I have observed the AI simply stand by as my unit entered their range, and then as soon as that unit of mine turned its backs to the AI, they began discharging their missiles.

EDIT: Does anyone play EB campaign with the timed battles turned on? That would be rather stupid/shortsighted IMHO. EB battles often take so long that one would lose several times in the middle of the battle. Especially on huge unit scale. Also how would one deal with chasing missile units in 40 minutes?

**Praetor Diego** · 11-19-2008, 04:03

Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus

I you haven't noticed it already, AI units who have the skirmish mode special ability do not normally attack you in melee. It is very annoying, as I have fought countless battles with rebels who had some missile units and those were a pain in the rear to catch. They will always run from you, unless one of your units happens to stray away from the main force and AI feels like it is stronger than that unit, which is when it will gang up on you.

The AI can be pretty smart with missile units as I have noticed. I have repeatedly noticed that AI archers will refuse to target a really high armour units that I specifically moved into the AI missile range in order to drain the AI ammunition. But the moment I send in a normal or low armour unit, the AI unleashes all hell. At other times I have observed the AI simply stand by as my unit entered their range, and then as soon as that unit of mine turned its backs to the AI, they began discharging their missiles.

EDIT: Does anyone play EB campaign with the timed battles turned on? That would be rather stupid/shortsighted IMHO. EB battles often take so long that one would lose several times in the middle of the battle. Especially on huge unit scale. Also how would one deal with chasing missile units in 40 minutes?

I always play with the timed battles turn on (I play on large scale). That prevent that kind of annoying situations that Irish mention. Specially when the enemy have just one or two units remaining in an all-wood map, and you cant find them. Also that force you to be more agressive when you are on attack, specially during sieges. In your opinion, witch is the advantage of the time turned off? More time to maneouver?

Sorry for my english :)

**TruePraetorian** · 11-19-2008, 05:15

I personally don't think of it as cheating, but on occasion I'll turn the battle timer on right before certain battles..such as if the AI is attacking my city. It gets kind of annoying when you get those general units that just stand outside the walls. I mean, when I am beat, and I know it, I hit the w key

(only once tyvm

). Attacking a city for me means try to win at all costs, or withdraw and avoid casualties. The AI..well, they think that if they wait long enough ill get angry and turn off my computer, which is an AI victory.

The AI in RTW is smarter then we think

**Celtic_Punk** · 11-19-2008, 14:29

I never use the timer. I remember the first time I played RTW, I had a huge battle between me and the the Bruttii (omg i remember those names!

) and then the game just randomly ended in the heat of the battle, forcing me to lose, abandoning the invasion of italy!!!! I was well pissed, and have never used timer since. the only thing i can see it being used for is so you can possibly win against like one million persians when you have but a few thousand.

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · 11-20-2008, 08:18

I'm the same way but the other way around. I always have the timer on because of bad experiences in the past. Things like HAs that run circles around the map or enemies that are deployed inside of buildings have cost me battles in the past when I was forced to retreat. I always have the timer on now. Plus there are the occational siege attacks against you where the AI decides against assualting as soon as the battle begins but doesn't retreat either and just sits there.

**El_Poli** · 11-20-2008, 08:31

I always use the timer too. I cant stand when the AI attacks me and then just sits around and does nothing. This way if he attacks but then is too scared to actually attack, he still loses.

Besides, I'd get super bored of a battle if it lasted 45 minutes anyways.