Quote Originally Posted by Kull
Capping human generals might make sense (though it's likely impossible to discriminate), but the AI has a bad tendency to toss it's general units into battle early on, and that makes them quite susceptible to early loss of the general, with subsequent morale hits and easier routing of the entire enemy army.

Personally I prefer a tougher opponent, and it's infrequent to encounter the "general-who-will-not-die", although certainly a fair number escape to fight again. And on one level it IS frustrating to defeat an enemy and then see him return to battle a turn or so later leading a massive force of newly recruited mercenaries. But there's a certain extra *something* about those battles, isn't there? I mean usually the AI army is led by just one more semi-faceless enemy family member. But fighting the same guy 2 or 3 times is a whole other story. It's almost personal. This guy escaped against all odds and he DARES to return and fight again? You can almost feel the adrenaline flowing. How can that be bad?
It's frustrating cause the AI dosen't feel the loss. If an army of the human player gets wiped out, you feel the loss. Worst case you loose two or three cities depending on the protection of that single army and general.
For the AI it's like: OK. I lost. No big deal. I still got a ton of money and since the first assault didn't work I'll just try another one. Only this time I'll do with two stacks of elites and regulars and one merc. stack.
Historically when the AS lost it's field army against the Romans their whole empire started falling apart. Here it's like. No big deal we will just make a new one.
I know the AI generals are often couragous to the point of foolishness. But I've also seen the AI adapt it's armies to better face up to human players. One of my stacks was almost all skirmisher cavalry. After beating a couple stacks with them the AI brought a stack of phalangites, slingers and those bolt throwing warmachines. My poor cavalty got it's ass handed to it in that battle. Same if you use lots of skirmishers the AI will eventually throw a more cavalry heavy army against you.
While far from being competent it's apparent that the AI has atleast faint glimmer of intelligence.
I'm not asking you to make the AI generals into wimps. I'm asking you to make them human instead of supermen. Who knows the AI might actually start to use it's generals in a more sensible way than as early shock units.

Compared to AI generals Gaesatae are a walk in the park. Drugged up and religious zealots they may be, but they still have only 2 HP compared to the AI Superman general 6+ HP their weak. Best part is the bastards on foot. Archers, slingers, JavCav and HA can get on their exposed side easily and hurt them before the Gaesatae hit you. The generals take an insane amount of pounding, and when they finally rout, it's a one turn reprieve unless you manage to kill him. Even then the AI will get a new candidate for adoption and the whole circus starts all over again.