How about AI vs. AI battles?

[Vlad Tzepes]

We all know and tested Human vs. AI battles and have our conclusions. Total War AI cannot be smart as a human... yet (though, reading through posts here, I kind of doubt sometimes ).

I've witnessed today a weird AI vs. AI siege battle. I was helping Spaniards, my allies, being sieged by a Scottish army. Spaniards were obviously outnumbered and outgunned: 2 units of some heavy infantry and a 4 stars general. The Scotts displayed a heavy pike army (7 units), archers, 3 units of mortars and 1 trebuchet, add 2 generals.

I joined the battle form one side of the map. As I marched to the city, I checked the battle line (no restriction on camera movement for me). The Scots were bombarding the walls from safe distance. The Spanish marched back and forth through the gates, unable to decide if they would want an engagement or a retreat to city square.

This bizarre dance continued as my pavois arbaletriers, Chevaliers Portuguese and Milice d'epeistes (French version...) reached the city center. By that time, I decided the Spanish are too dumb and will get shot to pieces before me being able to deploy on walls and behind.

The Spanish deployed in Scotts flank immediately after I occupied the center (prompting a joyful announcer: Monsieur, bonnes nouvelles! Nous sommes en controle de la ville!... I know, I know... duh!) and stayed there, in point blank range, as mortars, trebuchets and highland archers excercised their skills on living targets.

It took longer than I expected. Finally, I decided to risk and quickly moved outside the walls (with the panicked announcer yelling: Monsieur! Nous avons perdu le controle de la ville!), deployed for battle and, of course, caught Scots attention.

The Spanish pitiful remnants charged only after I engaged the Scots. They didn't make much kills and didn't even manage to chase routers correctly (stopped every 10 steps or so to think again... uh... senor... are you sure these are the guys? Seems there are other soldiers around here as well...)

Conclusions:

AI vs. AI was like one side unable to decide if it was to retreat or charge, and the other unable to decide a quick charge and finish the battle before me being able to deploy correctly.

AI stoped in point blank range in the most defavorable position, just waiting to be shot to hell. Admirable determination to be silly, IMHO.

AI not able to chase AI routers.

But it was fun to watch and I felt good for saving the poor bastards - relations improved to excellent after the battle.

[Kobal2fr]

A possible reason for this is that they were waiting for "the cavalry" (that's you) to save their skins, and trying to buy some time :)

I had a weird situation involving allies too, and can only explain it that way : your allies actually wait for you sometimes... and sometimes not.

Two sample cases :

Number 1 : I, as the HRE, am assaulting a bridge held by rebels, helped by the Polish who have a large army right in their back. I figured, heck, they can have them, I'll crossbow their backs, and if the Polish get butchered in the process, more's the pity.
Well, the Polish deployed in a nice battleline, lots of heavy cav forward, right in the back of the rebs but just out of range of their crossbows... and just sat there. I waited, waited, turned time compression x6 and waited some more before sighing and sending some crossbows halfway across. Then, and only then, when my men got the attention of the rebels' missiles, did the Polish charge in and butcher them from behind.

Number 2 : also as the HRE, the Venetians pursue a Milanese army right up to the gates of one of my cities. I decide to help them with the garrison (5 units of Spear Mil.). The Milanese forces are some italian infantry, a few depleted crossbows and some battered cavalry, while the venetians have 3 full knights, some inf and lots of crossbows... Yet this time my allies decided to close in as fast as possible on the Venetians and got mauled, while my spears were in a perfect position to do some damage if only they had been given the time to get there :/

[Vlad Tzepes]

Battle with allies are always fun, though it was even better in MTW 1, when you could always backstab your ally on the battlefield ( ) or they could backstab you (happened to me more than once).

In open battles, AI vs. AI reacts better, usually - though your AI allies hesitates a lot or pick worthless targets... But in that siege I witnessed, AI was nuts...

[Kobal2fr]

Battle with allies are always fun, though it was even better in MTW 1, when you could always backstab your ally on the battlefield ( ) or they could backstab you (happened to me more than once).

Yup, I miss that sooooo much. Nothing was sweeter than realizing your "ally's" whole family tree was right there...in front of your arbalesters ... with their backs to you...