which .exe is best for EB?

**Slaists** · 03-10-2009, 21:06

sorry if this has been posted already. which of the 3 .exe files is best for playing EB 1.2?

original rtw.exe
bi.exe
alexander's exe?

**/Bean\** · 03-10-2009, 21:43

Define 'best'.

EB was built for Vanilla. It does not officially support the BI or Alexander .exe's. There are, however, supported mini mods that deal with both with dedicated players for each.

BI opens up the world of AI naval movement, though it tends to be wild and random. Alex is meant to build on that, but is still not particulary effective. BI and Alexander also give you acces to night battles and some more unit formations (shield wall etc). To be honest I miss none of these playing on the RTW.exe. My AI still has reasonable naval activity (though they tend to neglect naval recruitment from time to time) and the formations like shield wall are not really needed in my opinion with the EB team's work on the phalanx.

Hope this helps.

**Aemilius Paulus** · 03-10-2009, 21:56

The smartest AI is arguably alex.exe Perhaps the only argument for rome.exe is familiarity. We humans always stick with familiar, and prefer it to new, as a general trend.

I have yet to see any coherent AI naval activity in RTW. Rare as a black diamond it is. Alex.exe is different, and it features quite a bit of it. The battlefield AI is a mark above as well, in both of the expansions. Alex.exe seems to have the best and most refined AI. Flanking movements are a good example.

But generally, if you want better battlefield AI, just get the Darth, Camillius (sp?), etc mod. They improve the AI much more.

**Slaists** · 03-10-2009, 22:44

Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus

The smartest AI is arguably alex.exe Perhaps the only argument for rome.exe is familiarity. We humans always stick with familiar, and prefer it to new, as a general trend.

I have yet to see any coherent AI naval activity in RTW. Rare as a black diamond it is. Alex.exe is different, and it features quite a bit of it. The battlefield AI is a mark above as well, in both of the expansions. Alex.exe seems to have the best and most refined AI. Flanking movements are a good example.

But generally, if you want better battlefield AI, just get the Darth, Camillius (sp?), etc mod. They improve the AI much more.

well, but my understandin is that darth mod is a standalone and cannot be used with EB. my interest is specific to the EB mod.

**Ludens** · 03-11-2009, 13:21

Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus

I have yet to see any coherent AI naval activity in RTW. Rare as a black diamond it is. Alex.exe is different, and it features quite a bit of it. The battlefield AI is a mark above as well, in both of the expansions. Alex.exe seems to have the best and most refined AI. Flanking movements are a good example.

I still haven't tried alex.exe, but I am positive that the battlefield AI in BI is identical to standard R:TW. I have yet to see any evidence to the contrary.

Originally Posted by Slaists

well, but my understandin is that darth mod is a standalone and cannot be used with EB. my interest is specific to the EB mod.

Aemilius is talking of Darth Formations, not Darth Mod. The former can be adapted to EB. Search the unofficial EB mod forum for "AI formation mods", and you shall find an adapted version.

Originally Posted by Ravenfeeder

I was under the impression that alex had the best AI overall, but that BI had more and better naval invasions. Is this not so?

"Better" is not a word you can use to describe BI's naval invasion. They are often pointless and seem to be carried out mostly because the AI can, not because it makes sense.

**Ravenfeeder** · 03-11-2009, 13:32

Originally Posted by Ludens

"Better" is not a word you can use to describe BI's naval invasion. They are often pointless and seem to be carried out mostly because the AI can, not because it makes sense.

I can see this statement applying to KartHadast actions early in the game, after that, not so much.

Invasions of Rhodos and Kyprus always make sense. Romani invasions of Korsim and Sardin and the KartHadast counter-invasions tend to make sense. The landing of an elite full-stack by KartHadast in Italy makes much more sense than trying to walk from Iberia.....

**A Very Super Market** · 03-11-2009, 23:48

Eh, sometimes they send Hasdrubal and his two militia units over on the 20th turn or so.

By then, there is usually a full-stack of Allied elites and Samnite heavies.

**Ludens** · 03-13-2009, 20:04

Originally Posted by Ravenfeeder

I can see this statement applying to KartHadast actions early in the game, after that, not so much.

I was perhaps a bit too emphatic, but I have seen more pointless than appropriate naval invasions when playing western Greek factions.

Originally Posted by Slaists

From your own experience, would you recommend Darth's formations for EB 1.2?

To be honest, I have played very little EB since the release of 1.2. I simply don't have enough time available. However, I have no reason to believe that A.I. performance has significantly changed since 1.1, so yes, the EB-adapted version of Darth's formations improves EB. I personally use Sinuhet's adapted formations, but I believe Darth's are about as good.

**Slaists** · 03-13-2009, 15:15

Originally Posted by Ludens

Aemilius is talking of Darth Formations, not Darth Mod. The former can be adapted to EB. Search the unofficial EB mod forum for "AI formation mods", and you shall find an adapted version.

From your own experience, would you recommend Darth's formations for EB 1.2?

**Slaists** · 03-10-2009, 22:43

Originally Posted by _Bean_

Define 'best'.

EB was built for Vanilla. It does not officially support the BI or Alexander .exe's. There are, however, supported mini mods that deal with both with dedicated players for each.

BI opens up the world of AI naval movement, though it tends to be wild and random. Alex is meant to build on that, but is still not particulary effective. BI and Alexander also give you acces to night battles and some more unit formations (shield wall etc). To be honest I miss none of these playing on the RTW.exe. My AI still has reasonable naval activity (though they tend to neglect naval recruitment from time to time) and the formations like shield wall are not really needed in my opinion with the EB team's work on the phalanx.

Hope this helps.

I guess, my main concern was the AI. I wonder the AI plays any better (especially on the battlefield) if alexander or bi's exe is used.

**antisocialmunky** · 03-10-2009, 22:46

Alex AI is the best because it allows the AI to do naval operations intellegently. Otherwise not too much of a difference.

**Decimus** · 03-10-2009, 22:57

alex.exe has the smartest AI. Albiet, it is not much better, it mainly does a better job at flanking. It also, improves naval invasions.

**Atraphoenix** · 03-11-2009, 11:43

for AI yes best exe is Alex.exe . but believe me you will not like being outflanked by AI in battle map.
and if you play as a neighbour of A.S. you will be get tired of endless battles. but if you like challenge you can stick with VH/N difficulty setting. if not use H/N.