Is Alexander worth it for better AI?

**pwnerx** · September 19, 2008, 03:34 AM

First of all, I can't believe how long I've been hooked on Rome Total War! It's at #2 right behind StarCraft! With the XGM mod to revitalize my interest in the game, I think I'll be playing RTW for at least another year. How does Alexander's AI compare to BI's AI? Do you think the difference in AI makes Alexander a worthy purchase?

**Unknown Soldier** · September 19, 2008, 04:05 AM

only another year - you wish! More like 3+ lol. Alex is worth it but you lose BI features sheild wall, hordes, and swimming (a.k.a. drowning in large numbers), the last one not a bad thing actually.

**DimeBagHo** · September 19, 2008, 07:53 AM

I think if you expect to play for another year, then getting Alexander is worth it for the better AI, and no unit scattering bug.

**gennosuke43** · September 19, 2008, 09:35 AM

Also the descr_model_battle.txt has a max of 510 models now so you can double the amount of units just as long as it doesn't exceed the export_descr_unit.txt limit of 500 units. Not to mention the significant AI behavior on the campaign map. It actually retrains units and recruit mercenaries better.

**Stilgar CG** · September 19, 2008, 09:51 AM

... and AI merges your depleted units, whether you like it or not

. Anyway, overall Alex.exe is better then BI.exe.

**Zarax** · September 23, 2008, 07:04 AM

I'm a hardcore BI feature set fan... Alex would be worth it if CA made a 1.10 patch enabling the complete feature set in one exe...

Seriously, no mod has ever managed to fully exploit BI potential, it's literally packed of underused hardcoded switches.
Not all are easy to implement (everybody hates faction renaming) but coupled with the correct environment (aka provincial campaigns to highlight this or that feature) they really allow for lots of vaiety.

**rogergargantua** · September 23, 2008, 10:46 AM

Good topic! It's kinda good to know were the differences are between em.
I only have Rome gold edition ( rome vanilla + Barbarian invasion ). The shield wall and other options are good enough for me.

**Webba** · September 23, 2008, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Zarax

I'm a hardcore BI feature set fan... Alex would be worth it if CA made a 1.10 patch enabling the complete feature set in one exe...

Seriously, no mod has ever managed to fully exploit BI potential, it's literally packed of underused hardcoded switches.
Not all are easy to implement (everybody hates faction renaming) but coupled with the correct environment (aka provincial campaigns to highlight this or that feature) they really allow for lots of vaiety.

I'm curious about these switches, I can't recall even hearing about the faction renaming one. What are they and what do they all do?

I second the call for that 1.10 patch. That would be awesome news!

**Zarax** · September 24, 2008, 02:35 AM

Most switches are about emerging factions/full scale rebellions, like the romano-british, ostrogoths and so on.
Some are also related to tracking factional performance like in the case of the two roman empires, old BI threads can give you most details.

**Webba** · September 24, 2008, 05:06 AM

Thanks Zarax, I'll have a look around and see what I can learn!

**HeroSK** · September 25, 2008, 06:03 AM

My answer is No. The only difference that I faced with alex.exe is flanking enemy units. AI sends some units for you flanks and just waits there.

However, BI.exe has hording ability that makes campaign much more interesting and Shiled wall is good too.

**Webba** · September 25, 2008, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by HeroSK

My answer is No. The only difference that I faced with alex.exe is flanking enemy units. AI sends some units for you flanks and just waits there.

However, BI.exe has hording ability that makes campaign much more interesting and Shiled wall is good too.

Seriously? You didn't notice the strat map ai improvements at all?

**Unknown Soldier** · September 26, 2008, 02:38 AM

With Alex there's no spamming of three unit stacks besieging your cities every turn.

**pwnerx** · September 26, 2008, 06:53 PM

My copy of Alexander has arrived! I have a quick question though. Do I need to reinstall XGM?

**DimeBagHo** · September 26, 2008, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by pwnerx

My copy of Alexander has arrived! I have a quick question though. Do I need to reinstall XGM?

Yes. Install Alexander, and then run the XGM installer again with the Alexander option selected.

**TheSavage** · November 17, 2008, 07:22 PM

Yes, Alexander is worth it.

The battle AI is a little better, but the campaign AI is MUCH better.

If you're use to playing on BI, you'll think Alex is too easy at first, because it's actually possible to be at peace with a bordering faction, especially if your border provinces are well garrisoned (much more realistic). You'll think... "Oh, this is boring, why aren't they attacking me?"

But then, instead of sending a 4-unit stack at some seemingly random time, the AI will wait until you pull your troops away to deal with something else, and then launch a large invasion with 3 full stacks. At this point you will realize that you'll never play on BI again.

Also, the AI retrains its troops. Fighting a truly full stack is much harder than fighting a stack with mostly half-dead units.

**htismaqe** · November 18, 2008, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by TheSavage

Yes, Alexander is worth it.

The battle AI is a little better, but the campaign AI is MUCH better.

If you're use to playing on BI, you'll think Alex is too easy at first, because it's actually possible to be at peace with a bordering faction, especially if your border provinces are well garrisoned (much more realistic). You'll think... "Oh, this is boring, why aren't they attacking me?"

But then, instead of sending a 4-unit stack at some seemingly random time, the AI will wait until you pull your troops away to deal with something else, and then launch a large invasion with 3 full stacks. At this point you will realize that you'll never play on BI again.

Also, the AI retrains its troops. Fighting a truly full stack is much harder than fighting a stack with mostly half-dead units.

This sounds like the solution to my problem. I've been trying to play the Massalia provincial campaign and I just can't get going. Either my ALLIES the Gauls attack me or my ALLIES the Romans attack me.

In my last attempt, I took Aleria from Carthage. I was already enemies with Carthage as was Rome. Yet, the Roman AI decided they wanted Aleria at ALL COSTS and spammed 2-unit stacks at me until I relented and abandoned the island. I killed 2 generals with 5+ stars!

If using Alexander will fix this, I'll buy the White Label edition today.

**TheSavage** · November 18, 2008, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by htismaqe

This sounds like the solution to my problem. I've been trying to play the Massalia provincial campaign and I just can't get going. Either my ALLIES the Gauls attack me or my ALLIES the Romans attack me.

In my last attempt, I took Aleria from Carthage. I was already enemies with Carthage as was Rome. Yet, the Roman AI decided they wanted Aleria at ALL COSTS and spammed 2-unit stacks at me until I relented and abandoned the island. I killed 2 generals with 5+ stars!

If using Alexander will fix this, I'll buy the White Label edition today.

The campaign AI under Alexander isn't great... but it is not 100% absurdly stupid, either, unlike its predecessors.