Disabling Skirmish Mode

[PatWest]

I'm trying to find out how to permanently disable, skirmish mode, for the 'heavy peltast' class units, just like some mods have done for the roman hastati.

[Lord Adherbal]

give them "prec" attribute like all the roman infantry in RTW, that's the only way.

[PatWest]

Thank you very much. I just checked and it did the trick. The descriptions at the top of the EDU file only said that attribute determined when they threw their missile.

I believe this will help the AI put up a better fight. Do you think I should change the unit class so the comp will place it in the right place in formation, perhaps light, like the Hastati.

[Duke John]

The problem with adding 'prec' is that the AI occasionally "forgets" to throw their missiles. Especially when it's attacking, not that it's much different from the current kamikaze missile units.

In the formation tutorial I wrote a reply about disabling skirmish. However I have not tested yet wether the AI keeps the 'skirmish' mode.

[PatWest]

Part of the issue for me is my unit stat changes. I increased defensive stats relative to attack stats in the melee department. I left missile attack stats the same. Most importantly, I differ from LT1956 here, I increased many shield stats especially large square or hexagonal ones with a small decrease in armour or skill. The effect of this is that as long as a unit, like say Naked Fanatics, maintains formation and doesn't allow fire from their right hand side, they resist missile fire fairly well. If on the other hand a unit such as Merc Peltasts, which gets a higher shield rating in my system too, keeps skirmishing it gets mowed down pretty quick by missile fire. This combined with the fact that Heavy Peltast type units can defend fairly well means it's best in most circumstances for them to never skirmish.

Thats why I went with this idea. They fight like Hastati now. Limiting the AI's choices in most cases improves it's odds of making a better if more predictable decision IMHO.