Clever AI

**Polemists** · 02-22-2009, 05:26

For my part RTW and MTW 2 seemed to function similiarily in that if they had ranged units they went up on walls and 1-2 units would guard gate with majority holding the city center. I havn't had a chance to test out the Ai yet so no opinions at the moment.

The Ai does sound more clever then in the past, if anything I would say do not judge the AI postively or negatively bassed on the scripted battle.

The fact the AI seems to pull some tactics once the scripted events ends leads me to believe AI is improved (as do superior tactics videos), the fact the artillery never gets moved I assume is do to a scenario bug as even in mtw2 the Ai moved it's artillery at times.

**peacemaker** · 02-22-2009, 07:05

....hold up. Light infantry can set up stakes? That would explain all my cavalry getting slaughtered....Is there a specific button for this? Or does it go automatically? I'm gonna go on the demo right now to try out this naval battle strategy.....

**quadalpha** · 02-22-2009, 07:20

The artillery definitely moves (there needs to be a sign saying that or something). The Americans redeployed two units of artillery to the farmhouse and kept two facing the other ford when I tried to encircle.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 02-22-2009, 07:36

quad, I've noticed the AI doesn't move their arty well.

I usually move my entire army through the second ford (no sense using half measures, I figure). Their arty can continue to harass (but mostly miss) my army the entire way - the batteries are blocked by hills but continue to fire. I've only ever seen it move the arty until after the real fighting by the town hall was effectively over. Then I just mop them up.

**Polemists** · 02-22-2009, 07:43

but isn't sneaking through the ford supposed to be the whole point of scenario?

**peacemaker** · 02-22-2009, 07:49

that's the point but since you can play the scenario over and over, you come out with lots of different ideas since "oh, I've already tried this method so I'll go try something else"

**Phog_of_War** · 02-23-2009, 23:18

I posted this in the Poor AI thread because i didnt see this one at the time.

The AI has been ok IMO. I lost the first battle even after reading up on the Brandywine battle.

My second fight I won, hewever it was a Phyrric victory. I used the historical movements of the British army. Both General Howe and Washington were KIA. Howe was killed out of hand from a lucky musket ball and Washington was killed by a well aimed cannon volley.

I won the third fight when I forded the alternate crossing with my entire force. We both set up in the field to the US rear and had a merry firefight. Only thing is that the AI did not move its cannon at the first crossing to engage me. If it had my victory would have been in question.

I tried a full frontal assault on the main American force. Put my cannons on a small ridge to the British right with Dragoons for protection. Everything was going swimmingly until I crossed to the opposite bank. My line inf and Hessians had crossed and made their way forward a bit. My Hussars were following close behind the foot inf. Suddenly, the cannon on the left, and on the ridge to the right, let loose with canister shot at the same time and turned my Hussars and their mounts into finely chopped hamburger. 2 full Cav units knocked down to a 9 and 13 man unit.

After that the US forces pulled back to the house and put up another fight. I did win eventually but took VERY heavy casualties.

I have also had the AI counterattack me from the hill a time or two.

My 2 cents, but I think the AI is much improved from some of the crazy stuff I saw in Med 1, Rome and Med 2. Med2 not so much tho. The best AI of all of them IMO was Shogun. Sometimes I think that CA went a little too fast developing the last few tatical AI, but in the end they are trying to keep up with the demands/requests of their consumers (us) and their Management. On the bright side, I bet they are already working on a patch and with Steam it auto-updates.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 02-22-2009, 07:50

Yes, but at some point the scripts that lock down the AI shut off. The AI almost always gets all their infantry down to the town hall in time to meet the British infantry. If they dragged along even half their artillery they could shoot down the "alley" created by the hills and really hurt the player.

**Polemists** · 02-22-2009, 08:20

Yes but if the Ai dragged those artillery peices along wouldn't you just ride them down with calvary?

Again I don't think this is a "AI" issue, I think this is a historical battle issue.

**quadalpha** · 02-22-2009, 09:05

Originally Posted by Alexander the Pretty Good

quad, I've noticed the AI doesn't move their arty well.

I usually move my entire army through the second ford (no sense using half measures, I figure). Their arty can continue to harass (but mostly miss) my army the entire way - the batteries are blocked by hills but continue to fire. I've only ever seen it move the arty until after the real fighting by the town hall was effectively over. Then I just mop them up.

Hehe, I have to admit they only got their arty in position because I was typically slow and cautious.

(BTW, Alex, where in Jersey do you go to college, if you don't mind my asking?)