This is the only place I could ask!!!

[WinsingtonIII]

I think the M2TW AI is better than RTW, but it's still not great. Megas is definitely right that the campaign AI is much better about maintaining alliances and accepting reasonable proposals, however, it can still be very stubborn. The changed recruitment (with recruitment pools) also helps with AI army composition, because it cannot simply recruit the same unit over and over, especially with elites. In terms of battle AI, it's roughly the same, however I've personally found that the AI generals are a bit less suicidal.

Of course, the biggest improvement in the M2TW AI over RTW is that it is moddable.

[Duguntz]

M2TW AI is moddable? gosh, that is a wonderful new!!! i can't wait EB 2 to come out... what about NTW battle and campaing AI?

[WinsingtonIII]

I don't have NTW so I can't tell you for certain. ETW campaign AI was decent in my opinion. It was a bit too passive and had issues with making full stacks (it liked sending 2 units at a time to raid), but in terms of diplomacy you could actually obtain ceasefires, maintain long-lasting alliances with borders, etc. I believe NTW campaign AI is pretty much the same.

ETW battle AI was pretty bad. Units tended to charge to melee far too often, sometimes after only 1 volley, the generals were even more suicidal (I think this was mainly because general's bodyguards are very weak in ETW as opposed to being the tanks they generally were in RTW and M2TW), and the AI couldn't even form a straight firing line (they bunched up). From what I've seen of NTW videos though, the battle AI seems a bit better. It actually manages to form straight lines, it charges to melee less often, and it attempts to flank. One problem is it tends to hone its cavalry in on your artillery and charge at it regardless of what's in way (like lots of bullets/canister shot), and general's are still suicidal maniacs. Also, the AI always attacks if you outclass it in artillery, even if it has a great defensive position and you are the one who should be on the attack, but I guess on some level it needs to do this because otherwise you could just shoot it up with your superior artillery (which have unlimited ammo btw). I definitely want NTW though, I actually enjoyed ETW, despite the bugs and issues, and NTW looks miles better than ETW when it comes to those things.

ETW and NTW AI are also moddable as well I believe, I know I've seen CAI and BAI mods for Empire, and I've heard about ones for NTW. My biggest advice when it comes to NTW is don't listen to the people who are still feeling burned about ETW, have never played NTW, and talk about ETW issues as if they are in NTW. ETW was a big mess in terms of bugs, but I don't understand why some people refuse to acknowledge that NTW is a superior game, it's like they want to be disappointed. That said, I'm personally waiting until the price of NTW drops a bit before getting it myself.

[Megas Methuselah]

Oh yeah, and M2TW measures your relationship with the AI factions, too. "Abysmal" or "friendly" and so forth. Moreover, the diplomacy scrolls state if your offer is a "good offer" or "bad offer," so the idiots in the crowd won't have much of a reason to complain when the AI won't accept 1 Mnai for a city. I find that these factions really help in the arts of diplomacy.

It's the small things that I liked about M2TW. Other than that, it's a pretty crappy game. But with all these minor add-ons, it has a lot of potential. EB2 is going to be freakin insane.

Megas is definitely right that the campaign AI is much better about maintaining alliances-

Yeah, but only because of the marriages. Their purpose is to cement alliances, and that's what they do.

[WinsingtonIII]

Yeah, but only because of the marriages. Their purpose is to cement alliances, and that's what they do.

I've found it much easier to maintain alliances even without marriages, although longstanding allies will sometimes betray you.

[Megas Methuselah]

I've found it much easier to maintain alliances even without marriages, although longstanding allies will sometimes betray you.

You're probably right, seen as I haven't played M2TW for a couple of years. But maybe it's because you can view the measure of your relationship with your ally (i.e. "abysmal" or "good"), so you know when to keep it happy and so forth.

[Macilrille]

I have not played ETW and NTW as I am on my usual low income. However, I also have to disagree with the crowd here. MTW II KDs' strategic AI is only 3% or so improved over the Artificial Idiot from RTW as I see it. I have many a time seen a marriage allied turn on me. And the battle AI... do not get me started.

However, there are minor details like marriage alliances, Guilds, Merchants and Priests that I do like. And even if the Grand Campaign is a diplomatic mess, some of the Kingdoms campaigns are in fact quite good. I have played Teutonic and Crusades through a couple of times and they are OK.

EBII should vastly improve it though and it should vastly improve EB by being better than RTW in its own right; a marriage made in heaven.

BTW, from what I hear here I will not buy ETW even on bargain, but probably NTW- I too have a weakness for the Napoleonic era with Wooden Ships and Iron Men, and I look forwards to teaching those Brits a lesson when they come to claim the fleet of my beloved country and bombard my capitol.

[Ludens]

Of course, the biggest improvement in the M2TW AI over RTW is that it is moddable.

Could you explain to me what can be modded about it? I know there are several A.I. mods available, but I have never tried them (in fact, I barely played vanilla M2:TW). I do remember the fuzz made about Darth's formations for R:TW; and while they were good, they didn't exactly live up to the hype.

[Duguntz]

Are there mods solely for AI enhencement?

[WinsingtonIII]

Could you explain to me what can be modded about it? I know there are several A.I. mods available, but I have never tried them (in fact, I barely played vanilla M2:TW). I do remember the fuzz made about Darth's formations for R:TW; and while they were good, they didn't exactly live up to the hype.

Truthfully I'm no modder so I'm not the one to ask... I don't really understand the mechanics of what's going on. It's been awhile since I've played vanilla M2TW so I cannot tell you for certain if the difference is all that noticeable, but I would suggest checking out these threads for Lusted's BAI and CAI and the XAI mod. They should have some reactions, plus they should list what has been changed from the vanilla AI (although that information might be vague).

I also found this youtube video comparing XAI BAI and vanilla AI. It does appear to show better behavior on the part of the AI.

I believe this answers your question as well Duguntz, as Lusted's AI and XAI are mods solely for AI enhancement. I believe most M2TW mods use one of these AI mods, though some tweak them a bit or make their own improved AI.

[vartan]

Reply to Duguntz: I'm not going to be modest with you. There is no AI. AI is artificial intelligence, and intelligence is all but nonexistent. Playing NTW, the computer acts as foolishly as it has done since RTW. On the bright side, you'll find plenty of people to play with online. Enjoy.

[Duguntz]

HAAAAAAA Vartan, so harsh words, that none the less must be accepted for thruth... the walls of my hopes crumbeled in front of the tsunami of the unexpected fact of the very definition of the abreviation -----> AI : Ain't Intelligent...

[Drewski]

Getting my custom-purpose-built new gaming rig on Wednesday, I'm like a little kid waiting for Christmas again ...it should easily play anything yet released at highest possible settings. (I'm not planning on anymore upgrades for 4 yrs at least)

Thanks for the info in this thread, think I'll pick up M2TW first, give that a good few weeks playing time, then go for NTW, and not bother with ETW...


(Btw Sorry, if this sounds like a gloat post, just stupidly excited, which at my age is both silly, sad and good all rolled into one)....;)

[Megas Methuselah]

Thanks for the info in this thread, think I'll pick up M2TW first, give that a good few weeks playing time, then go for NTW, and not bother with ETW...

If M2TW wasn't so damn cheap nowadays, I'l tell you to just forget about it.