AI overconfidence

[p_nutter]

Hi guys,

If you want to punish the AI for its impudence, try this battle:

Province: Kawachi
Mode: Expert
Weather: Fine day
Attacker: You. 1 Samurai Archers, 2 No-Dachi (180 men)
Defender: AI. 3 Yari Samurai, 4 Samurai Archers (420 men)
All units H1, no armour/weapon upgrades.

It's winnable, although I can't win it consistently. It's winnable because the AI gets cocky and sends its army over the bridge - it could win easily if it stayed on its own side. I'm trying to work out what makes the AI cross the bridge, as it would be very useful to deliberately provoke this AI "feature" in the single-player campaign. I think the decision is based on just numbers, and does not depend on the composition of each army.

My best result for this one: 309 kills, 104 losses

SamuArch... Kills: 60, Lost: 6
Nodachi...... Kills: 100, Lost: 52
Nodachi...... Kills: 149, Lost: 46

Not a bad result for a bridge fight. If this was a campaign battle, I'd have got a few more kills from the surviving 22 ND chasing the routers.

Has anyone else seen a defending AI cross the bridge?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Yeah, they seem to cross the bridge when they have a numbers advantage. Enemy daimyo seem a lot more willing to cross bridges.

BTW, which were the taisho units in that battle?

[p_nutter]

My taisho was the archers, enemy taisho was one of the yari samurai units.

Hmm... if the AI just counts numbers, will it cross the bridge to attack 16 kensai? That could be fun (although not quite so useful for campaign purposes.)

[p_nutter]

Interesting.
AI will not cross bridge vs 16 kensai.

A slight variation: Replace ND with H9 monks. Select arrowhead formation. Do not move anything. AI does not cross the bridge.

Another variation: Replace ND with H0 monks. Select arrowhead formation. Do not move anything. AI does cross the bridge.

Yet another variation: Replace ND with H9 monks. Select arrowhead formation. As soon as the battle starts, move monks backwards, so they are facing the wrong way and a few meters back. AI does cross the bridge.

AI bridge crossing seems to depend on enemy army size, enemy army composition, and distance from bridge to enemy army.

[Drisos]

Welcome to the .org fellow STW-player P_nutter!

Please introduce youself in the topic: 'HAIL New Members (introductions)', that way, you'll be a full member soon!

Great thread you made here! Thanks for sharing that info!

btw: I've slaughtered the AI crossing the bridge sometimes too, it's fun! Lately I've been laughing at the AI quite much, it's quite an idiot!

[Irinami]

And here I am, thinking the AI is giving me a good run for my money almost half the time. It must be that whole "timing" thing.

...

I keep looking for the "End Turn" button in battles.