Evolution of the TW battlefield - what next?

[Samurai Waki]

So aside from the vague response of "Improved AI" could you tell us what you would want to improve about it? Everyone already knows the AI sucks, so what could be done to make it more... shall we say... human?

I'd personally like to see the AI more as a learning module, think of it as a complex game of chess. The AI sends a unit forward to scout/skirmish, you meet it, the AI evaluates the situation and sends it's next best option to secure it (or keep you at bay). Whilst doing this, the AI spots your main battle line and by a rough estimate, determines what forces you have, and the best way to counter it. The AI determines that because you are holding a good defensive position, it might be better to split forces and try to draw your army into two different quadrants, whilst keeping a force of cavalry hidden from you're eyes as best it can. When your battle line decidedly splits to meet your enemies, the cavalry burst out of the forces, and right into the flanks or rear of your rear... game set and match... AI. The better battle expirience an AI general has, the better it can evaluate the situation in which it faces. So a good general doesn't boost so much as moral(only a really influencial general can boost moral), as probability of winning in an open engagement against you by doing nasty tricks, and the like. Also generals need not be close to a unit to get the job done, the General can keep a respectable distance from the main battle, but you/it will send couriers to lieutenants for orders, the further the distance between the general and the battle, the longer it takes to relay a message.

[PseRamesses]

So aside from the vague response of "Improved AI" could you tell us what you would want to improve about it? Everyone already knows the AI sucks, so what could be done to make it more... shall we say... human?

It was just a rant, sorry! I just want the AI to be a bit more smart like not charge his best general into a 8 row deep phalanx unit, running back and forth inside a settlement for good target practice when besieged AND break formations. Have you ever seen the AI hold formation? I haven´t and I must have played tens of thousands of battles with RTW. MTW was better in that way.

I'd personally like to see the AI more as a learning module, think of it as a complex game of chess. The AI sends a unit forward to scout/skirmish, you meet it, the AI evaluates the situation and sends it's next best option to secure it (or keep you at bay). Whilst doing this, the AI spots your main battle line and by a rough estimate, determines what forces you have, and the best way to counter it. The AI determines that because you are holding a good defensive position, it might be better to split forces and try to draw your army into two different quadrants, whilst keeping a force of cavalry hidden from you're eyes as best it can. When your battle line decidedly splits to meet your enemies, the cavalry burst out of the forces, and right into the flanks or rear of your rear... game set and match... AI. The better battle expirience an AI general has, the better it can evaluate the situation in which it faces. So a good general doesn't boost so much as moral(only a really influencial general can boost moral), as probability of winning in an open engagement against you by doing nasty tricks, and the like. Also generals need not be close to a unit to get the job done, the General can keep a respectable distance from the main battle, but you/it will send couriers to lieutenants for orders, the further the distance between the general and the battle, the longer it takes to relay a message.

Couldn´t agree with you more m8!

[mfberg]

Battle field communications
The ability to ask your allies to flank or wait until ..., or any other simple command.
The ability for your AI allies troops to refuse.
Reduced command ability if your army is too big (see above)
More involved logistics (Some empires have found winter supplies in Russia can be hard to obtain)

Campaign
Not for the TW games, but ones like it. Start as a lower ranking officer/soldier and work your way up to commander of the armies. While you are a lower soldier the AI takes over your empire, when you reach a certain level you are the governor of a city/province, and after another level you get to be the (omnipresent) king until you die. (And restart as another low ranking officer).

mfberg

[Muska Burnt]

i would like to see messopotamia total war or american revalution or compton naw just kidding that would be funny though well actualy seeing like a gang war one would be cool your settlement are hoods and etc that would be a good idea