Does the AI switch to use secondary weapons in BI / RTW 1.3?

**Jambo** · 10-06-2005, 13:43

Does the AI switch to use secondary weapons now in BI and or RTW 1.3?

My initial experience fighting against the WRE generals is that they unfortunately still didn't change to their swords. If this is indeed the case, then this is a shame as the ERE generals appear to have maces as their secondary weapon and clearly these would be preferable to use after the initial impact of the spear charge...

**Puzz3D** · 10-06-2005, 16:16

In an RTW v1.3 custom battle test with AI controlled cataphracts, they did not switch to their secondary weapon in melee. They did switch when I controlled them and used ALT. Their secondary weapon now looks like a sword and not a mace.

**player1** · 10-06-2005, 19:59

Now only Clibinarii (both roman and sassanid) have mace as second weapon.

**CBR** · 10-06-2005, 21:30

Its actually Catafractarii/Cataphracts that have secondary weapons and not Clibinarii.

The two Roman bodyguard units have secondary weapons too: The western type with +1 attack and eastern type with -1 attack but AP.

Going through the BI unit list I did find a few others:

Paladins and Frankish bodyguard have a +3 attack secondary weapon
Desert Chieftain +1
Graal Knights +1
Warlord (Romano British) +1
Generic/Eastern rebel General +1

CBR

**Kraxis** · 10-06-2005, 23:11

Originally Posted by CBR

Its actually Catafractarii/Cataphracts that have secondary weapons and not Clibinarii.

CBR

Well, it depends on which Clibanarii we are speaking of. Since the Sassanid Clibanarii have a bow as their main weapon I would say that it too have a secondary weapon (also good AP).

The two types of cataphracts both have swords as their secondary weapons.

**CBR** · 10-06-2005, 23:15

Originally Posted by Kraxis

Well, it depends on which Clibanarii we are speaking of. Since the Sassanid Clibanarii have a bow as their main weapon I would say that it too have a secondary weapon (also good AP).

Yes but that goes without saying as they are missile cav so AI will switch to secondary weapon and the player will use it too as he know it has a secondary weapon.

CBR

**Kraxis** · 10-06-2005, 23:24

Hehe... Just being pedantic.

In any case I actually at times do experience units use their secondary melee weapon. Well, I have only experienced it once a far as I have noticed. But a unit of my bodyguards did whip out their rollers when I didn't have my hand anywhere near the Alt button.

**professorspatula** · 10-06-2005, 23:34

Cavalry units automatically use their secondary weapons if they are attacked and they don't have orders, or in defence as far as I can see. This was the same in RTW before BI though. It would be nice if there was a check going on in the background that made cavalry switch to secondary weapons after the initial charge dies, but CA still thinks otherwise it seems.