cannot_skirmish with heavy skirmishers

**Cute Wolf** · 07-29-2009, 16:31

As weird as the title, but that's true, in M2TW kingdoms, certain skirmisher units get cannot_skirmish ability in the EDU (such as Deisi Javelinmen, Welsh Skirmishers, and Kurdish Javelinmen). I wonder if this ability could be used to represent heavy skirmisher class such as Peltastai or Archer Spearmen, who also expected to stand and fight. In this situation, the AI will treat them still as missile units, and use their missiles effectively, but they won't run easily when some enemies goes near them. This was doubly true for Archer-Spearmen, since IF they run, they didn't get their expected role to withstand (light) cavalry charges. And peltastai with skirmish mode on (as the AI often does in sieges, and even some field battles), actually messed up their staying powers.

**moonburn** · 08-01-2009, 09:33

according to my understanding skirmish mode can be turned off and not having the hability to use it to save a few precious units like my kretikoi so they can witrawh behinde your batle line "automaticallY" when necessary would be an hassle

**Cute Wolf** · 08-02-2009, 03:16

Just look when you remove Deisi Javelinmen's cannot_skirmish ability. The AI become ridiculous with using their attacks so rarely. And withdraw when they saw even a pitchfork armed peasants that they should be really easy to kill w their stats.

**JMRC** · 08-02-2009, 03:19

I'm not sure if we really need the cannot_skirmish.

The main purpose of cannot_skirmish is for the AI. Since it doesn't know when to turn on or off the skirmishing mode by itself. However, the javelinmen units can have the "prec" which is much better for non-skirmishing types of units which have javs as primary weapon. The others which have arrows and slings will probably be better with skirmishing ability to optimize their longer range.

However, the Archer-Spearman is good example of a situation where we may adopt the cannot_skirmish attribute because we don't want the AI to have the Archer-Spearman skirmishing against cavalry.

**Cute Wolf** · 08-02-2009, 04:57

Originally Posted by JMRC

I'm not sure if we really need the cannot_skirmish.

The main purpose of cannot_skirmish is for the AI. Since it doesn't know when to turn on or off the skirmishing mode by itself. However, the javelinmen units can have the "prec" which is much better for non-skirmishing types of units which have javs as primary weapon. The others which have arrows and slings will probably be better with skirmishing ability to optimize their longer range.

However, the Archer-Spearman is good example of a situation where we may adopt the cannot_skirmish attribute because we don't want the AI to have the Archer-Spearman skirmishing against cavalry.

Well, afterall I said Cannot skirmish with heavy skirmishers class. So most light archers and slingers are just fine. Aside for archer-spearmen, consider peltastai upwards, as they are supposed to hold the line.