Where do routing enemies go?

[Fisherking]

There is something odd about the whole thing.

I know that I have tried to retreat from battle only to have my whole army die.

What the heck was that? It wasn’t like I was cut off or anything. There is something that needs to be looked at.

I suppose in that particular case they wouldn’t retreat through France, even though I had military access. Still it needs looked at…

[SpencerH]

Might it have to do with whether the retreating stack has any movement points?

[Fridgebadger]

Second Spencer's point - for the player, if you don't get the option to retreat before the battle, ie you're surrounded or have run out of mp, then you won't have any survivors after the battle. Definitely applies to naval battles - if you can't retreat, and then just run away on the battle map without ever taking a shot, you'll still lose your fleet.

Btw, has anyone seen the AI retreat from a battle, ever? Not once the fight has started, but when you first attack them on the campaign map? Certainly did in Rome and Medi... 'nother bug?

[Feanaro]

Although there's something to the idea of fleeing units losing men to desertion, disease, wounds, and such, I find this aspect of the game rather annoying. It makes cleaning up enemy armies much easier than before, sure, but it takes out the possibility of a tactical retreat. I'd like to see a distinction, or more of one if it exists, between units that withdraw(via the withdraw button) and units that route. Units that withdraw in good order shouldn't be subject to total destruction unless they are very badly mangled.

[Fisherking]

Movement really doesn’t need to play a part in retreats. The movement is just a game mechanic. In 6 months time an army could move a lot more than they do in the game and ships could be halfway around the world.

Retreat should always be an option. The AI always knows where you are and can see things you can not. You should not loose fleets and armies to technicalities. It is not Law, it’s a Game!

That makes it an AI Exploit.