Praesutagos massive command stars

[Danest]

As the Casse, I attacked a roving band, led by Praesutagos, near Brigantae. He, for some reason, appeared to have 6 command stars, though none of his traits granted stars (he was green, too). But, when I attacked him, he then had 9 full stars, and still no traits to grant stars (I don't even think he had nine traits total). Only a clerk for ancillaries. Is this a bug, or just a way of boosting the AI?

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Yeah, that is a standard EB boost for the AI. It's not enormous, but the guy was very good to begin with, so it will be a tough battle!

[Danest]

9 free stars is a standard boost??? None of his ancillaries or his traits grant a single command star. I'd hate to see a general with actual real bonuses...

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Oh. No. I meant that the discrepancy from what you saw at 6 stars then going up to 9 for the battle itself is standard. I don't know what other issues helped him. Maybe our trait guru can give input, but not having a screenshot of his traits (this character) is going to prevent any firm answer from being able to be supplied.

[Malrubius]

Depending on what the AI general has been doing, he can get a variety of hidden bonuses. The player is able to do things the AI can't, so this counteracts that player advantage and also increases the challenge a little bit and makes the generals a bit better at surviving.

[Danest]

Ok, I see... yeah, I wasn't complaining, just wondering. It's not a big deal, since the AI needs help sometimes. I beat him with a much inferior general anyway. I sometimes wonder if command stars are merely "trophies", a record of successes, and not actual bonuses, especially after seeing 9 starred praestagus' men run like startled goats. ;)

[Malrubius]

You're right; they don't really do much--make the men near him fight better, but that's about it. The TroopMorale attribute is more important; it affects every man on the battlefield.