Rebels not playing the game!

[Bregil the Bowman]

Anyone else encounter this one?

As Denmark (posted on Pics & Hoistory thread) I am fighting on all fronts and need all the breaks I can get. So I notice Ryazan (held by Egyptians) is having a rebellion, and think that if I send in a few of my boys I can capitalise on this situation.

Now remember, the rebels are attacking. This means if they don't beat the garrison before the timer runs out, they are destined for the slave block - no retreat, no second chance. I reckon I can sit back and wait for them to make a move.

But no - they are as happy to sit out the full half hour as my troops (who have cocoa and slippers waiting back in Chernigov). Likewise the Egyptians. Basically, neither army will engage the other until one of them has had a go at my troops. Not only this, but neither will come for my guys if they are in a defensive position.

Why is the AI wired this way? Surely the rebels should act aggressively, knowing that failure will result in certain capture, even if making the first move risks the possibility of being beaten in battle? It seems to me the AI is using its forces in concert, even thought hey are nominally enemies.

Does this always happen - that the AI will act in ways that disadvantage the human player even to the detriment of its own "factions" - except where one AI side is allied with the player?

[Martok]

That's an odd one, Bregil. Not only have I not seen that before, but often I see rebel armies act when it's clearly not in their best interests to do so. Perhaps the difference is that the rebels this time are facing armies who are also enemies of each other?

[caravel]

I've seen this many times. It is very frustrating when the mutual enemy goes after you instead of your main enemy - especially if you're further away from both. Whether this was intentional or not, it is a good thing. If you could keep your distance and let the AI armies go at each other and move in to clean up and win the province every time it would soon get dull.

[ULC]

Seen, been the brunt of it. Stalemates tend to happen when army numbers are about equal on all sides, and the Rebel A.I. goes after you if you force is a wee bit under the other one, my experiance anyway. The most riducilous multifaction battle I've had was the Battle over Constantinople: Sicilians, Serbians, Turks, Rebels, and Me (Byzantines). The greatest staring contest ever, until the turks started firing arrows; Then it became the greatest trash compacter battle, with everyone trying to squeeze 800+ troops into a 2x2cm square. Needless to say, it was a bloody mess afterwards.

[macsen rufus]

I've had a few multiway battles (ie three or more unallied forces), and they don't all go the same way. What seems to count is who takes the first shot at who. It's always good if one or other of your enemies has artillery or long-range missile troops. Once one of your enemies fires at the other then they usually set to, and you can sit on the sidelines to mop up later. I think in this case though, Bregil, the important factor was that you, as the human player, were an attacker and had to actively win. The Egyptians as defenders just had to survive the time limit - in a sense the ball was in your court. I find a useful trick to stir things up between the others is when you have an expendable unit of light cavalry - run them between the other two armies, they both start to chase your horses, and eventually collide or come into missile range, then they fight it out whilst you watch. However, it doesn't always work - usual case is when your cav lose their nerve and rout straight back to your lines dragging two armies behind them . Come to think of it, I have actually had battles where rebels have been "attacking" me on my own, and still just stood there staring across the field. I just wind up the clock and sit it out, knowing I'll get the prisoners anyway

[The Unknown Guy]

the rebel AI is... terribly inefficient.
It´s not just a matter of cash. I managed to give them a "huge revenues building" (which they did, in fact, build) but they did naught nonetheless.

Has anyone tried changing the AI of the rebel faction to a normal one? (IE: catholic expansionist)