If only....

**Jambo** · 10-05-2004, 11:45

If only...the AI blockaded ports nullifying the human player's trade income and also relieved their own blockaded ports, then we might see a more competitive and seriously tricky AI opponent.

For instance, consider the Spanish when the player is Julii. They have completely useless land armies and are easy to conquer, but they have an absolutely awesome navy! The Spanish could cause absolute mayhem to a human player's trade routes, should he/she decide their poorly defended cities are an easy touch.

If only...the AI used their top Generals with extreme caution in battle situations, then we might really be bothered by their one or two 8 star Generals invading our land. As it is, if you win, you invariably kill their General in the first battle.

If only...

**Sjakihata** · 10-05-2004, 12:06

my ports have been blocked on several occasions, by the egyptians and by the gauls

**Basileus** · 10-05-2004, 12:20

Playing as Carthage, Spain blocked my port in Cordoba and Scipii blocked my port in Carthage, it does happen not as often and the AI doesnt keep it blocked for long.

**Longasc** · 10-05-2004, 12:38

This is interesting, as this is the only advantage the AI has over me in my Julii Campaign.

Their fleets outnumber me more than 10:1. I need only 1 ship to ship my armies to their destination, even if they are attacked, they are rarely sunk and well...

the only reason to have warfleet would be to stop the blockade of ports.

The AI also does not really stop me blockading their ports... even if they had the ships to do so, strange.

**Ulstan** · 10-05-2004, 15:59

Yes, these are both changes I'd love to see. The AI badly needs to use its generals and fleets better.

AI generals are often going to lose battles, so they need to be able to live through that and not just die always.

**Lord Ovaat** · 10-05-2004, 18:31

Not only haven't I had a port blockaded, but I've found if I keep my ships "garaged" in port when not being used for transport, the AI, for the most part, ignores them. Just kinda sittin' in port, chillin", and waving at the enemy Spanish and Greek fleets as they row by.

**ShadesPanther** · 10-05-2004, 18:57

Usually I get blockaded to start a war by my Allies. The Numidians did it and the the Gauls did it (about 4 years apart)

**zentuit** · 10-05-2004, 19:24

Wow I wish the AI blockaded in my campaigns. Right now Egypt owns the Eastern Med, as soon as I set sail I'm jumped; my ships can get out, but they cannot get back in without sinking from so much losses. Now if the AI just moved a couple of fleets into my ports... as Bill Paxton said "Game over, man... game over".

**Red Harvest** · 10-05-2004, 19:25

Originally Posted by ShadesPanther

Usually I get blockaded to start a war by my Allies. The Numidians did it and the the Gauls did it (about 4 years apart)

Same for me. However, my enemies rarely blockade. So why will friendlies blockade a trading partner to start a war while enemies will not blockade? This is a carryover from the bad old days of MTW friendlies attacking your boats just because they have naval superiority in a given sea zone.

Cathage will probably become unplayable on "very hard" if the AI starts using blockades, and the naval auto-resolve is left as is (where your two gold chevron stack takes a combined 40 casualties dishing out 10 casualties to a lone boat...) Because of autoresolve and the cost of retraining boats, I don't even attempt naval dominance--it is a money losing proposition where the AI can attrit my squadrons away. I work more like a pirate and dart in for invasions.

If they do fix the naval AI weakness, they also need to give an option to set the naval difficulty setting separately (for auto-resolve.)