You'll see the AI do this even if all the units are of the same type. I don't know what kind of matchups it's looking for. I can march my line of Roman swords up close to a line of AI phalanx units, and when I get close the AI units go in all different directions with some even marching away from my line. I have no flanks exposed, and all the matchups are the same. I can't make any sense of what the AI is trying to do unless it perceives that a frontal fight is not to its advantage and is trying to use indirect attacks, but units that turn and expose their flank are ignoring the fact that an enemy unit is right in front of it and can charge into its flank. If it's trying to hit the flanks of my units, it can't because all my flanks are covered except for the two ends.Originally Posted by Red Harvest
The AI in original STW v1.12 is more intelligent than the AI in RTW. If you get close to an AI unit in STW v1.12, it will turn into and charge you frontally even if it has the weaker unit. Initially, it will maneuver for an indirect flank attack until the enemy unit starts moving toward it. It does this frontal assault because it knows that it's the best choice given that the human saw the attempted flank move and came forward to confront frontally. If the AI unit doesn't turn to fight, it will get hit in the flank, and the AI knows that's worse than charging the stronger unit. Once that unit is engaged, it will attempt to flank the enemy unit with a second unit if it has one available within the activation distance. I've never seen the AI in STW v1.12 try to hit a flank that's covered by another enemy unit. In RTW, I see AI units exposing their flank to enemy units as they try to charge into unexposed enemy flanks.
Basically, the AI in RTW cannot defeat the human player with tactics. It beats you only if it has the stronger units.
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