Good post gollum,

The TW series should be leading the field in AI. A game like ETW should sell itself on recreating realistic battles - and not just visually.

AI has always been a vital component of the strategy game and with TW games CA have twice the work with campaign map AI and tactical AI, but the only time they've ever got anywhere near to decent standards in both of these was back in the days of STW/MTW. Since that time the games have been sold and marketed around the graphics alone with AI and game balance taking a back seat.