Yes, this was so hard to code to prevent.

If "General"
..then "stay"
....else "attack"

Yes it is overly simple but it explains what could be done which is better than the instant death that happens with them mostly now. Also the general would never attack that way, but I'd rather a general that doesn't attack than one that will barrel headfirst into a row of spartans (as nice as it is for me to kill a faction heir this way, it loses its wow factor when it becomes expected). Some simple additions to that "code" above could have the general wait until he is needed or to avoid certain enemies (those with long pointy sticks generally). Not an issue of can't fix it, it is an issue of them not wanting to fix it.