AI Ransom

[Knight of the Rose]

Just thought I would share a little dilemma I had playing last night as the Italians. I was fighting the eggies and was a little careless with my heir who suddently faced himself charged by nubian spearmen and some ghulam cav. He fought badly, routed and was captured. He wasn't the general of the battle, and I was winning, but suddently I was considering withdrawing.

Because...

If I remember correctly, the AI always offer prisoners for ransom, correct ?

But if they lose the battle, the AI always execute them, right?

AND as a side note: When losing a battle yourself (not that I do it, I had a friend with this problem ) and you forget to kill the prisoners you have taken during the battle: Are they returned to the AI or are the automatically executed?



/KotR

[Martok]

If I remember correctly, the AI always offer prisoners for ransom, correct ?

If it won the battle, then yes.

But if they lose the battle, the AI always execute them, right?

Also correct.

AND as a side note: When losing a battle yourself (not that I do it, I had a friend with this problem ) and you forget to kill the prisoners you have taken during the battle: Are they returned to the AI or are the automatically executed?



/KotR

I believe they're automatically returned to the AI. As I nearly always execute prisoners if I'm losing a battle, however, I cannot be sure that that's the case.

[gaijinalways]

Martok posted

I believe they're automatically returned to the AI. As I nearly always execute prisoners if I'm losing a battle, however, I cannot be sure that that's the case

Sometimes the AI refuses them, in which case you get a message saying the AI refused them and you no longer have to worry about the prisoners (or something to that effect). I assume in that case the AI 1) doesn't have money to pay a ransom 2) or doesn't care about those particular prisoners 3) or both

I have had even a king and other royal family members not paid for, so I didn't net any income from nabbing them.

[Martok]

Sometimes the AI refuses them, in which case you get a message saying the AI refused them and you no longer have to worry about the prisoners (or something to that effect). I assume in that case the AI 1) doesn't have money to pay a ransom 2) or doesn't care about those particular prisoners 3) or both

It's the first one. The AI will always pay the ransom if it can afford it, even if it's only for captured peasants.

have had even a king and other royal family members not paid for, so I didn't net any income from nabbing them.

Yep, that can be very frustrating. You have visions of a 20,000+ ransom dancing through your head, only for the faction in question to be broke....

[gaijinalways]

martok posted

It's the first one. The AI will always pay the ransom if it can afford it, even if it's only for captured peasants.

Wow, my AI factions must often be struggling! I must have something to do with that...., though I saw often they were still able to build buildings, though maybe that was after troop upkeep was reduced.

I guess, paying a ransom is hard coded into the game?

[Knight of the Rose]

I should have retreated then. Ah well, there were other sons, (virtual) life goes on...

Thanks for confirming these fine points of the game.

/KotR

[drone]

It's the first one. The AI will always pay the ransom if it can afford it, even if it's only for captured peasants.



Yep, that can be very frustrating. You have visions of a 20,000+ ransom dancing through your head, only for the faction in question to be broke....

I just had that happen in my Swiss campaign. Money is very tight, and I captured the French king in battle, along with ~750 of his finest. Nothing! Earlier in the campaign, the Italian King had "financed" several new castles, and got the ball rolling somewhat. I was hoping for something similar, but it was not to be.

[rabcarl]

If I capture many prisoners of a faction I intend to ahnilate completely, I often do so. But you have to be cautious: If it's with a general that's valubale to you, only do it once; he'll get a +1 dread bonus. But if you keep on slaughtering prisoners with the same general it will make th emorale of his troops go down. This is often annoying in the situation I mentioned earlier, because I want to take out the prisoners, but I'm using one of my best generals, so I'm forced to either give them their men back to use against me again or take the hit on the morale.

[nzd07]

If I capture many prisoners of a faction I intend to ahnilate completely, I often do so. But you have to be cautious: If it's with a general that's valubale to you, only do it once; he'll get a +1 dread bonus. But if you keep on slaughtering prisoners with the same general it will make th emorale of his troops go down. This is often annoying in the situation I mentioned earlier, because I want to take out the prisoners, but I'm using one of my best generals, so I'm forced to either give them their men back to use against me again or take the hit on the morale.

I almost always execute rebels if the loyalty is low, it will raise a little if you execute the prisoners, but you can also get some nasty vices.