Why is the pathfinding and missile unit AI so horrendous?

[PhoenixFury23]

Why are gunpowder units so fussy about whether or not they'll fire? If you try to move them around and give them orders they seem to fall apart and not function. The only time they've ever functioned properly for me is when I set them in a standard formation and just ignore them.

Why do the kerns keep refusing to throw their javelins? They have such long windup times too.

What happened to the great missile/melee AI of rome? One of the best parts about that game was how seamlessly units could coordinate the use of missiles with melee combat.

Also missing from rome was the superior calvary and infantry AI.
It doesn't matter what size of formation I use, the AI is equally horrendous. Only half an infantry flank will commit to a fight unless babied into a formation facing the correct way, even if you've ordered a charge.

[D.B. Cooper]

I only have the problem with crossbowmen and firearm units. Pathfinding around city walls also makes me want to punch my screen. Have you patched the game up?

I'd like to add that in Rome pathfinding wasn't much better, especially when you tried to make infantry about face sometimes. They'd rush into a little block and then spread themselves out or do something else stupid.

[Landtuber]

The pathfinding and movement AI wouldn't bother me so much if the AI itself didn't seem to be able to manage it perfectly... Except for walking around the outside of the city walls, the AI never seems to have any problems.

[AytchMan]

Why are gunpowder units so fussy about whether or not they'll fire?

What version are you playing? I'm using an M2 mod at 1.2 and my arquies work fine. Sometimes, however, if I move them or change facing, they'll stick for a while with the movement indicator active. As soon as I halt them, they'll start firing. But I agree with you that missile units are handled poorly from a tactical standpoint.

[StalkAndStrike]

Its the way that missles fire "over-head" so to keep people from complaining about how in Rome missles would kill your own men, I mean COME ON! they've rendered them USELESS!

And the pathfinding is due to the substancial increase in gofers,wabits, and rats in the medival eras, so men often lost their paths stepping amoungst them, also rifle men didnt want to frighten the poor thimgs away so they where hesitant with gunpowder,,,

[Dewy]

lol You do know the game engine is the same

[Conquistatore]

It all boils down to poor AI. It is something that we the players are afflicted with, the only solution being to put up with it or try and compensate with mods. We have no hope until empire when all our hopes for better AI will become reality or be dashed again.. time will tell.