A Big Rave and a Small Rant...

[wasaaabi]

Saw some very intelligent behavior from the AI last night that was worth repeating. Playing H/H, I was holding Helsinki - a backwater outpost to my Danish empire, garrisoned by a depleted huscarl unit, a squadron of scouts and a unit of peasants.

Suddenly the Russians show up with a smallish stack and beseige me. I've got reinforecements on the way, a palisade to hide behind, so I don't get too concerned.

Next turn, the Russians assault. When the battle opens I'm facing two catapult units, 2 trebuchets, and three russian infantry units. While I cower behind my walls, the AI methodically:

• Punches a hole in the wall with the catapults,

• one by one, destroys all arrow towers in range of the hole,

• then uses the trebuchets to launch dead cows into the settlement,

• then begins the assault with the infantry, supported by trebuchet fireballs.

I held out pretty well until a fireball made a tiki torch out of my commander, then all was lost. Pretty impressive tactics from General Athlon!

Oh and the rant? There's a tiny lake just south of Novgorod, no more than one square big. It must be a very nice lake, because the Russians have built a boat there.

Just when the AI does something to make you go "Oooo!", it turns around and makes you go "Awwww..."