Does the AI get any better?

[Lobster]

New player here (for about a week) and so far loving the game. I play the vanilla version, and am not interested in any mods unless it will resolve this issue.

The one complaint I have with the game is the AI on the battlefield. The AI on the campaign map seems OK, and I can live with the minor stupid moves, but some of the AI that I see on the battlefield just takes a bit of the fun out of it for me.

I won’t get into a lot of detail about the horrible things I see, but here are some...

1) My archers shooting at infantry, and the infantry just standing there until all are dead

2) My ballista shooting at any enemy, and the enemy just standing there until all are dead

3) Enemies assaulting my stronghold, dropping all their siege equipment, walking in front of it, and just standing motionless out in the field.


That third one just happened and it was a real kicker. I then sent my cavalry out in the field BEHIND them (they were ALL spearmen by the way), they continue to face my castle while my cavalry keeps running and charging at them from behind. Only once did a unit turn around to face me.
Now, I’ve been playing on nothing but Easy mode while I am learning and getting my feet wet. Well, now that they are soaked, my big question is, does the battlefield AI get any better on the harder difficulties? I mean, does the computer play “smarter”, or is it still as stupid as it is, only with stronger or more troops?

[Conquistatore]

On harder difficulties the AI gets more aggresive on the campaign, but no change in the battle AI.
What version of the game are you playing, sounds like you are suffering from frozen siege AI and other AI problems.
Try patching your game up to the latest version and see if that helps.
THere is a mod that is strictly designed to bolster the AI and make it challenging both on the campaign map and in battles.
The mod is called Darthmod and it can be found here. I recommend you download it, it is only small and easily installed.

Hope this helps!

[Lobster]

Thanks a lot for your reply Conq.

I thought I was on the latest version, which is 1.03. I downloaded both the "1.2" and "1.3" patch from Sega right from the start and applied them both. The version that shows in game is 1.03.

I'll download and install the Darthmod, which I assume is this one:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downl...o=file&id=1610

I have a question which may seem dumb to you however...this will not alter the appearance of the game at all, will it? I mean this is just an AI improvement, and I will not be fighting stormtroopers and ewoks on the battlefield, will I?

[kannwar]

Thanks a lot for your reply Conq.

I thought I was on the latest version, which is 1.03. I downloaded both the "1.2" and "1.3" patch from Sega right from the start and applied them both. The version that shows in game is 1.03.

I'll download and install the Darthmod, which I assume is this one:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downl...o=file&id=1610

I have a question which may seem dumb to you however...this will not alter the appearance of the game at all, will it? I mean this is just an AI improvement, and I will not be fighting stormtroopers and ewoks on the battlefield, will I?

LOL no but it does have some Star Wars themed splash screens so if you don't mind that you'll be fine. I have just installed it today myself and the default campaign map seems wayyy more populated with settlements especially in the British Isles.

The mod changes the feel of the game quite dramatically i've found so if you have gotten used to Vanilla be prepared for the fighting to look and feel a lot different.

Oh and if you play as England keep in mind you start out at war with France which actually makes quite a lot of sense.

Aside from that i can't yet comment on the battlefield AI as i have only played 1 siege so far. Looking forward to trying out more but seeing how Spearmen are no longer as effective against cavalry i'm sort of wondering how the hell i'm gonna defend my settlements...

[Dewy]

Battle AI does get better in the higher levels. Much of the battle AI can't be changed by mods its mostly hardcored in the game engine. The game is only fun when playing VH/VH. The best mod i think for AI and overall is broken Cresent but it is about the middle east medieval and that turns alot of people off.

[Conquistatore]

Battle AI does get better in the higher levels. Much of the battle AI can't be changed by mods its mostly hardcored in the game engine. The game is only fun when playing VH/VH. The best mod i think for AI and overall is broken Cresent but it is about the middle east medieval and that turns alot of people off.

I have to disagree here, I don't notice any improvement in the BAI as you increase the difficulty. They still seem to be the same stupid, unmoving no tactics mess that they are on easy..

The only noticable difference is the aggression on the campaign map and diplomacy. Diplomacy is virtually impossible on VH, the AI will not honour treaties and alliances and will attack you for no reason.

It is sad and funny at the same time.

[Pink Beard]

I have to disagree here, I don't notice any improvement in the BAI as you increase the difficulty. They still seem to be the same stupid, unmoving no tactics mess that they are on easy..

true. on harder levels your morale is lower (or the AI's higher). still under debate
nothing else changes. If your playing VH there's even a chance your cavalry may route just because of the sheer presence of all the spearmen.

[Sascha]

Diplomacy is virtually impossible on VH, the AI will not honour treaties and alliances and will attack you for no reason.

I disagree. In the games I have played on VH/VH, diplomacy was more difficult but still manageable by deployings diplomates to AI factions and offer them "Attack Rebels" plus sometimes small amounts of money each turn.

IMHO diplomacy on VH/VH is not difficult, but just a chore, because you have to cycle through all those diplomates and initiate negotiations each turn, and ultimately pointless anyway because the AI only attacks you to get beaten profoundly.

[Monsieur Alphonse]

Since your game is version 1.03 you don't need any patch. Patch 1.3 is the same as patch 1.03.

[Conquistatore]

ultimately pointless anyway because the AI only attacks you to get beaten profoundly.

Hence, any meaningful diplomacy like alliances or promises for aid is are hardly honoured in any difficulty, least of all vh.

[Conquistatore]

Yes that is the correct version Lobster (1.4D), and if you don't have kingdoms then your game should be patched up to 1.3 as you say

The mod basically enhances the AI and changes some of the battle mechanics. Spearman have been tweaked a little but the big difference in cavalry is their charge's. They have been made much stronger and they will easily plow through all but the strongest infantry.

The mod also adds some much needed regions and drastically overhauls the CAI and BAI. Really quite a good mod, especially if you don't have kingdoms.

Hope I helped and enjoy!

[tuore]

There are some other mods that improve AI... or at least there were some back in 2007...

Have you patched the game? Do you have kingdoms?

[Sorkenlol]

By just standing there, do you mean that they run to your front until they're about 20-25 meters away, and then just reform and stand still right there untill you make the move? That happens to me aswell sometimes, but as far as I know, the new SS (Stainless Steel) patches fixes it. Haven't had it in a while.

[Dewy]

By just standing there, do you mean that they run to your front until they're about 20-25 meters away, and then just reform and stand still right there untill you make the move? That happens to me aswell sometimes, but as far as I know, the new SS (Stainless Steel) patches fixes it. Haven't had it in a while.

Ok people stop thinking mods change the AI that much. The AI like that is hardcoded in C++ into the game engine. AI is alot harder to make then you think, so when you know C++ and made a good AI for a game you can bag out CA AI

[Kennel]

I've played Darth mod on hard/hard and it is a good improvement, very nice diplomacy!

[Lobster]

Thanks to all for your help and your comments.

To answer some of the questions, yes I have Kingdoms, but haven't seriously played the campaigns yet. Just dabbled with the Americas.

And by “just standing there” I meant just that. The enemy would literally drop the siege equipment (they just had a ram and ladder), walk a few paces in front of it, and just stare at my wall. Even when I moved a couple cavalry units behind them, they still just stood there facing the wall (but out of range of tower defenses). Maybe it was a bug, because I haven’t seen them become statues as badly as that in a number of battles.

I did install the Darthmod patch. To be very honest, I didn’t like it. I’ll have to take your word for it that the AI is improved, but just seeing the few apparent changes it made on the campaign map, I have to say I liked the original version better. The ONE thing I did like about it was that you could actually see the movement of your units on the world map before you actually had them move. Meaning after you select a unit you can move your mouse and the path automatically draws before you have them move. That was something I was hoping for on the original. As it stands now, having them move, then pressing backspace to make them stop a bad or unexpected move is a bit annoying.

I currently moved up and am playing on medium/medium, and have to say the battles do seem just slightly more challenging for some reason. Maybe it’s my imagination though . It does make it a bit more fun however. I will try a hard/hard campaign next, because on easy mode, the ratios of 1 to 25 being killed battle after battle was a bit unrealistic.

Here's to hoping Empire will have some improved AI, because after being introduced to this series, that will be a definite purchase when it's released.

[Pink Beard]

Thanks to all for your help and your comments.

To answer some of the questions, yes I have Kingdoms, but haven't seriously played the campaigns yet. Just dabbled with the Americas.

And by “just standing there” I meant just that. The enemy would literally drop the siege equipment (they just had a ram and ladder), walk a few paces in front of it, and just stare at my wall. Even when I moved a couple cavalry units behind them, they still just stood there facing the wall (but out of range of tower defenses). Maybe it was a bug, because I haven’t seen them become statues as badly as that in a number of battles.

I did install the Darthmod patch. To be very honest, I didn’t like it. I’ll have to take your word for it that the AI is improved, but just seeing the few apparent changes it made on the campaign map, I have to say I liked the original version better. The ONE thing I did like about it was that you could actually see the movement of your units on the world map before you actually had them move. Meaning after you select a unit you can move your mouse and the path automatically draws before you have them move. That was something I was hoping for on the original. As it stands now, having them move, then pressing backspace to make them stop a bad or unexpected move is a bit annoying.

I currently moved up and am playing on medium/medium, and have to say the battles do seem just slightly more challenging for some reason. Maybe it’s my imagination though . It does make it a bit more fun however. I will try a hard/hard campaign next, because on easy mode, the ratios of 1 to 25 being killed battle after battle was a bit unrealistic.

Here's to hoping Empire will have some improved AI, because after being introduced to this series, that will be a definite purchase when it's released.

the bolded part is in Vanilla too... i forgot wich button but i've seen a couple of time it draws a line. i believe it's holding the mouse (drawing)

[Lobster]

the bolded part is in Vanilla too... i forgot wich button but i've seen a couple of time it draws a line. i believe it's holding the mouse (drawing)

Ahhh. Thank you. It's done by holding down the right mouse button. Thanks a bunch.

[AytchMan]

AI for the TW series remains problematic. On the one hand, writing decent AI for complex strategy games is extraordinarily difficult. On your other hand, CA has not been making much effort of late. In my view, the AI has actually been going backward. However, CA has (apparently) been putting more horses on AI development for Empire. Alas, we've heard that promise before.

The discouraging thing is that the M2 AI will increasingly disappoint as you become familiar with the game. The battlefield AI is tactically stupid and susceptible to many exploits. In addition, in the vanilla version, campaign diplomacy is essentially meaningless. Fortunately, the modders have greatly improved the diplomatic AI and made some more modest improvements on the battlefield. But, as pointed out, there is only so much that can be done as many aspects of the AI are hard-coded. Still, I give CA credit as they continue to open up more files for editing as the series progresses. For my money, this is the way forward if CA has the foresight to encourage it.

[Conquistatore]

Let's hope that CA puts their trust in their games modders and hard-codes very little in the future. They made a good game in MTW2, the modders made it GREAT.