So. I got ETW today and the first thing I wanted to do was test the AI. It's been promised that it's improved and true enough it was. Discounting the RTI AI which would not even attack me, the Grand campaign AI (on hard) showed early signs of promise. However, after more and more battles I am starting to believe the Ai is not properly coded to handle the new additions to the tactical side of the game.
I'm talking about garisons and cover. The example of which is a recent battle between me (Austria) and Prussia. I pushed on Berlin after Prussia declared war on me, but Prussia intercepted my army. No problem, since I had a lot of artillery and strong line units, i'd make them march into a death trap! Right? Eh..
Prussia immediately deployed in a nice formation, but it didn't last. It soon sent a unit to some cover near by, sent one to garrison a building on the opposite end of the map, as well as sent the rest of its army in a peice meal attack against my line. while sending its cavalry on WIDE flanking maneuvers. Ones that, once in position, never moved. The garrison and cover systems seemed to divide the AI's mind, it couldn't decide whether it should attack me, flank me or make me come to it. It decided to try to do all at once and subsequently was defeated easily.
I wasn't very satisfied with my victory.
I've been experiencing this sort of thing a lot, and whenever cover or garrisons seem to be lacking on the battlefield the AI does amazing! But when they're present, it acts as if it doesn't know how to respond to in regards to them.
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