In battles the AI is far too impatient

[Arctander]

Even if I'm attacking, all I have to do is wait a few minutes and they'll abandon whatever defenses they've setup and come at me.

The only time they don't attack is if they can hole up into the buildings in town, and then they often only do that with a handful of units, the rest of them will trudge up whatever hilltop I park on in order to give me an advantage.

I have the battles set to an hour, it's rare they go more than 15 minutes.

Does the AI even consider the fact that I'm attacking their city? They can sit and make me come to them?

[Praetorian_BGX]

AI know that you are attacking their city, but he is just too damn brave to let you came to their positions. AI don't use defenses cause he can get Heroic victory playing like that and he knows it.

[Reiver]

I've found it'll hang back if it's defending and has arty. It may be getting absolutely destroyed by my arty but it'll hold on as long as they've one 12 pounder spitting a ball once a minute. Soon as that's destroyed it'll suddenly lurch forward.

[nate895]

I agree. Sometimes, though, their units are heavily melee and therefore it would be stupid for them to defend under any circumstance. Also, if they lack artillery it would be stupid for them to defend.

[priam11]

Yes. Arty seems to be the key (especially if its fixed guns). I have had a few battles where they held the better ground and did not move off it. Forcing me to push forward (bastards!)

If they outnumber me, they are a bit more aggressive.