WTMAS, Way Too Many Armies Syndrome

[sirfiggin]

I've seen a trend in mods for Medieval 2 ever since Kingdoms came out, being that the AI and the player can easily raise multiple armies, the outcome being that during the mid-game, few battles are very decisive. Now, I'm not saying that it isn't fun to fight several battles every turn, but it does get tiring, basically, this is a plea for more expensive upkeep, to ensure that both the player and the AI are far more careful in every battle.

[roy34543]

The problem is twofold
Typically in an equal or even moderatly inequal battle the player always beats the AI
The AI is terrible in money management once you alter the prices of units so it typically bankrupts itself requiring the modder to increase its king purse for it to be effective in which case it just builds a lot of armies again anyway.

[jsktrogdor]

Im not sure what he's talking about, but I think ive noticed it too. Playing SS 6.1 as ireland, i noticed that scotland had 3 full stacks of armies. It makes it pretty challenging but a little bit unreasonable.

[Gigantus]

The modders have been battling with this issue from the beginning. Altering prices for buildings and units, changing the building\recruitment times and writing mile log 'money scripts' have all not had the desired effect. There seemed to be always a trade off somewhere.
Hopefully tihs will be addressed in the next release.

[Viking Prince]

The time and era is one with very few decisive battles. It is conquest castle by castle -- seige by seige. Look at the Reconquista in Iberia -- hundreds of years. The fall of constantinople was a very long drawn out process also. If anything in game terms simulates a decisive decision it would be the vassal status and that is only temporary at best.

[Gigantus]

Oh yeah, you might want to try Lusted's AI - it makes things a bit more interesting. The guys on the other don't wait until you have finished unloading your missiles and artillery on them for starters.

[SPARTAN VI]

I know Ultimate AI has an income script that takes a chunk from the player depending on settlements and army sizes. The financial report would say something like 20,000 florin for next turn, but in actuality, you'll only get 5k. It keeps you guessing, but you'll eventually be able to predict your income.

Also noticed teching does not come as quickly. The mongol invasion seems to be a requisite for many of the later units to become available. Your starting settlements have also been nerfed so they're usually small towns for a very long time. It doesn't look like the author did the same to everyone else's settlements, so you're pretty much zerging militia\levy spearmen and peasant archers. Somewhat forces you to expand if you want to tech, but at the same time, you cannot expand too quickly.

The result, I only have one full stack. I work toward "quality' versus "quantity" of units to get he most out of what I have. I have two half stacks roaming the fronts to provide reinforcements to the many under-garrisoned settlements.