Tactical AI (and how it breaks).

**Monk** · 03-05-2009, 07:11

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.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 03-05-2009, 07:45

Probably has the priorities too high in the "goals" system.

**A Very Super Market** · 03-05-2009, 07:48

As dissapointing as that may be, its still a step up from the earlier games.

Field battles are fine, right?

**Polemists** · 03-05-2009, 07:53

Well I think it sounds like a loose system.

I mean if you were in a small city setting, the wide flanks around and garrisoning buildings in the center would be a legit tactic.

Yet most of the time you are out in the open, during a field battle

The odd time you run into a building on end of the map though, the Ai seems to say, Garrison priority number 1.

Nothing's perfect, i'm sure Ai fixes will be in patches. It's not a life killer.

**Monk** · 03-05-2009, 07:56

Originally Posted by Polemists

Well I think it sounds like a loose system.

I mean if you were in a small city setting, the wide flanks around and garrisoning buildings in the center would be a legit tactic.

Yet most of the time you are out in the open, during a field battle

The odd time you run into a building on end of the map though, the Ai seems to say, Garrison priority number 1.

Nothing's perfect, i'm sure Ai fixes will be in patches. It's not a life killer.

Buildings and stone-wall fences (cover) on your field maps are more likely than you think. I wasn't suggesting it was a death knell, but its something that needs to be addressed.

It's not something that cannot be patched or modded and may be as simple as a priority listing.

**AussieGiant** · 03-05-2009, 07:59

Hi Monk,

From your description it does seem these "New" tactical components are causing a few incoherent choices.

Hopefully it's just a question of rebalancing priorities and reaching a few thresholds earlier or later in the decision making process.

It certainly seems like it is "thinking in the right direction" which is a huge thing in itself.

*fingers crossed*

**Monk** · 03-05-2009, 07:52

Originally Posted by Alexander the Pretty Good

Probably has the priorities too high in the "goals" system.

I believe this is indeed the case, yes. Priorities are likely far too high for cover, and the Ai is unsure of how to react when it finds some. Sometimes it ignores it altogether, which can be a good thing, other times it just huddles near it despite its objective (me) being far away.

Field battles tend to be much more cohesive.

**Malkut** · 03-05-2009, 13:33

That's funny. I besieged Berlin on Normal, and it reacted entirely differently. They rallied around the fort, and left some garrisons in the town to inconvenience me.

What they did not do, however, was garrison the command HQ building inside the fort. After I breached the wall, I raced a unit of line infantry through, and into the building. They took some losses in the process, but they easily survived the battle.