Hard Rules of war: Another look at AI

[DensterNY]

If they would succeed in making a generally competent AI I would already be afraid, actually. Because competence already implies being able to handle different tactics. And when you really get down to it, there are no such things as sneaking or smashing, there are only positions, vectors, attack rolls, casualties, etc.

I meant competent as opposed to completely incompetent which is what we've had since RTW with the AI. As it stands it cannot cope with nearly any tactic that the human player has to offer so it would be a refresher for the AI to behave at a minimum as it did in MTW. At least then it fought as an army and moved and positioned itself to its maximum advantage as opposed to attacking pell mell with no strategy at all.

And the AI has the possibility of calculating all possible outcomes in advance, vastly outweighing any historical general. Perhaps not during battle, as it is constrained by time. But that will be the only safeguard against an AI simply outsmarting us.

Although I understand your concept that the AI has the computer's raw calculating ability at its disposal it really wouldn't benefit in this situation even given a fast enough processor. First, it could evaluate the troops, terrain and quality of general of its opposition then guess what the enemy may do and then calculate from there but this is only effective against another AI general who'd behave in an expected manner. However, a human AI can and will do any number of unexpected things which would mean the AI's original calculation would be thrown out. And as it was busy trying to recalculate what to do the human general would be butchering their troops and routing them from the field.

I believe it was Julius Caesar who was asked about field strategies and he answered something to the effect, "Show me my men and show me my enemies and then I'll give you strategy and tactics." So in order to have a challenging AI we would need one schooled in the arts of war, disciplined, intuitive and battle experienced.