Everyone is poor

[devide-et-impera]

I'm still playing my England campaign, but it's starting to get a little dull. Why? Because all the other factions seem to be going bankrupt. They're still churning out less advanced armies (it's 1260 and I still haven't seen any feudal knights besides my own, only light men-at-arms). It's not the mod's fault I know, because it was also happening in the vanilla game. I only have 10 territories and I somehow have by far the largest population, and most money.

[Sir Walter]

I'm still playing my England campaign, but it's starting to get a little dull. Why? Because all the other factions seem to be going bankrupt. They're still churning out less advanced armies (it's 1260 and I still haven't seen any feudal knights besides my own, only light men-at-arms). It's not the mod's fault I know, because it was also happening in the vanilla game. I only have 10 territories and I somehow have by far the largest population, and most money.

Playing on what difficulty?

[Warmaster Tibs]

The AI has unseen money so they can have infinite armies. Why they spam mediocore armies there nothing you can do.

[Spartan90]

The AI has unseen money so they can have infinite armies. Why they spam mediocore armies there nothing you can do.

This.

Going on with what the OP stated, I am also confused as to why my population sky-rockets over the rest of Europe - regardless of how tiny my empire might be. I can comprehend that the AI spends all of its money on useless units and crap, and the game immediately gives them thousands extra per turn to combat this, but I can't understand why it seems like their cities never grow, or that they never upgrade their cities.

I've played M2TW since it first came out, and regardless of what year it is in the game, the only huge city I've ever taken over is Constantinople. Every other cities are still in the Large City bracket. Would love to know why.

[devide-et-impera]

Yeah, I'm playing on Normal difficulty. It's not the worst thing, but I want to be genuinely challenged. Maybe the next patch can do something (if even a little money sense on the AI's part) to do this.

[Sir Walter]

This.

Going on with what the OP stated, I am also confused as to why my population sky-rockets over the rest of Europe - regardless of how tiny my empire might be. I can comprehend that the AI spends all of its money on useless units and crap, and the game immediately gives them thousands extra per turn to combat this, but I can't understand why it seems like their cities never grow, or that they never upgrade their cities.

I've played M2TW since it first came out, and regardless of what year it is in the game, the only huge city I've ever taken over is Constantinople. Every other cities are still in the Large City bracket. Would love to know why.

When the AI is always recruiting armies, this detracts from population?

[Caesar Clivus]

The AI will often (if not always) appear to be bankrupt because the AI doesn't save any of it's income. Each turn it will spend all of it's money and wont keep any aside for a rainy day.

[Goofy]

Not in M2TW. That is a feature from RTW.

[Byg]

This.

Going on with what the OP stated, I am also confused as to why my population sky-rockets over the rest of Europe - regardless of how tiny my empire might be. I can comprehend that the AI spends all of its money on useless units and crap, and the game immediately gives them thousands extra per turn to combat this, but I can't understand why it seems like their cities never grow, or that they never upgrade their cities.

I've played M2TW since it first came out, and regardless of what year it is in the game, the only huge city I've ever taken over is Constantinople. Every other cities are still in the Large City bracket. Would love to know why.

I often hear the ai does not upgrade settlements so I have just checked:
The first building is on turn 18 the second is from turn 48 (so 30 turns later)

Caesareas fortress - fortress
Aleppo - wooden castle - stone castle
Diyarbakir - castle - fortress
Antioch - large city - large city
Winchester - castle - fortress
Urgench - minor city - minor city
Esztergom - minor city - large city

so more than 50% upgraded in just 30 turns.

By comparison, I have not managed to upgrade any of my own settlements because I am using a decent level of difficulty and appropriate mods to match my skill level. vh/vh & the RRRC 6.2 compilation with BGRIV.

The reason you guys are not seeing settlements upgraded for the ai is that you have your game setup too easy. The ai deliberately plays stupid to give you a chance on lower levels and if you are using an umodded SS then the ai is likely to leave you at peace for long periods, giving you time to build up while the ai factions struggle against each other.

I'm not suggesting you use the same setup as me, but use a setup appropriate to your skill level.

Yeah, I'm playing on Normal difficulty. It's not the worst thing, but I want to be genuinely challenged. Maybe the next patch can do something (if even a little money sense on the AI's part) to do this.

Why not simply play vh/vh?

When the AI is always recruiting armies, this detracts from population?

No, it doesn't affect population like it did in RTW.

[Sir Walter]

That's a good thing. They never took into account people not in cities!