Allied assistance

[Taiji]

Is it possible to set the AI to ask for assistance from allies more often?

Or are there any settings I can play with which may relate to this?

[Krieg_Boy]

That would be most needed! Im sick of the AI, that just dont give a f##k about their allies.

[konny]

Check out descr_campaign_ai_db:

<trusted_ally_enemy_auto_war bool="false"/>            // flag to indicate if a faction automatically goes to war with a trusted allies enemy

I haven't worked with that so far, but it sounds promising if you can prevent the AI from forging alliances with everyone and his brother; otherwise each conflict would always result in a global war.

[The Border Reiver]

Check out descr_campaign_ai_db:

<trusted_ally_enemy_auto_war bool="false"/>            // flag to indicate if a faction automatically goes to war with a trusted allies enemy

I haven't worked with that so far, but it sounds promising if you can prevent the AI from forging alliances with everyone and his brother; otherwise each conflict would always result in a global war.

Konny, which campaign_db file did this come from? My Kingdoms Britannia 1.5 Patch does not have this line included? Or should I just add this to the <ai> section?

[Taiji]

I have had experiences of a pop-up asking me if I want to help my ally in battle, my army is then transported to assist my ally on the battlefield. Obviously this only happens during the AI turn.

How can I make it happen more often? (I haven't seen it for a long time)

BTW that's quite interesting, Konny, world wars between alliances breaking out, sounds like it could be a fun interlude (it's not related to my inquiry though, sorry I wasn't clear enough.).

[Krieg_Boy]

"a pop-up asking me if I want to help my ally in battle" That is what I thought... And I think you must be near the battle.

[konny]

Yes, you must be within the red square to be asked.

[Krieg_Boy]

If only the red square could be raised...

[Taiji]

Yes, you must be within the red square to be asked.

No, that's not what I am talking about. And anyway if you're within the red square it's automatic, you don't get asked you just get drawn into war.

To be asked you need enough movement points to get there, so you can be as far away as movement allows.

But it's still very rare to be asked, so I'm wondering if anyone knows what might improve the chances of it occuring.

I suppose this makes it possible:
Having an ally that goes to battle within movement range of my army.

I suppose these at least help:
At war with allies enemy.
Offer of assistance vs allies enemy.
Ally is outnumbered by enemy in the battle in question.

I've seen this so rarely that I'm expecting many others to have never seen it.

[Taiji]

Has anyone got a clue about this gameplay-mechanic I am dicussing?

Has anyone even experienced it?

[The Border Reiver]

Has anyone got a clue about this gameplay-mechanic I am dicussing?

Has anyone even experienced it?

Yes, I know Taji, and this is the Holy Grail of MTW2 mods. I'm not sure if any AI mods have found it, but one thing that may control it is the descr_campaign_ai_db file. This discusses the invade priorities, and I wonder if you increase all defend minimal, deep, normal etc to defend frontline if this would help.

I haven't tried it, but I know that in ETW this works like a dream!

EDIT: An afterthought here, is there a way to increase the line of sight for all generals in the traits that may make them aware of this?

[Taiji]

That's a great idea, The Border Reiver, it didn't occur to me that the ally would require line of sight on my army.

Thanks for that

[The Border Reiver]

That's a great idea, The Border Reiver, it didn't occur to me that the ally would require line of sight on my army.

Thanks for that

Please let me know if this works because this could be a crucial development that could really emphahsise campaign AI. It only actually occured to me when I thought about defending frontlines instead of deep defending.

I guess, if you have increased movement points combined with increased line of sight and fontline defending this might work

[konny]

Konny, which campaign_db file did this come from? My Kingdoms Britannia 1.5 Patch does not have this line included? Or should I just add this to the <ai> section?

It is not in campaign_db, but in campaign_ai_db

Yes, I know Taji, and this is the Holy Grail of MTW2 mods. I'm not sure if any AI mods have found it, but one thing that may control it is the descr_campaign_ai_db file. This discusses the invade priorities, and I wonder if you increase all defend minimal, deep, normal etc to defend frontline if this would help.

Check out this posting: http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/f...t&f=9,6718,,10

This file seems to be as tricky as it is powerfull. The interesting thing is that you can set up different ai_lables and change the faction's ai_lable throughout the game by the campaign_script. That way you can make faction A highly aggressive when it is allied to B and B is at war with C. That might cause a war between A and C.

EDIT: An afterthought here, is there a way to increase the line of sight for all generals in the traits that may make them aware of this?

You could add a massive line of sight bonus to traits like religion_starter, or others that each character has. You could also add a trait of that kind that is automaticaly acquired at CharacterTurnStart when it is missing.

[Theodotos I]

You could add a massive line of sight bonus to traits like religion_starter, or others that each character has. You could also add a trait of that kind that is automaticaly acquired at CharacterTurnStart when it is missing.

Just remember what I found when trying to design the Palantir Mod. LoS bonuses don't go over +5, which is really crippling.

[The Border Reiver]

Konny, thanks for your help with the above, I really appreciate the feedback. I'll take a look at that thread at the heavengames.

[Krieg_Boy]

This is the real deal isnt it?

[The Border Reiver]

This is the real deal isnt it?

Ideally yes, I've only ever had it a couple of times!

[Krieg_Boy]

Usually I have them one or two times for each campaign. Maybe because I always have an Army near the weakest allies.

[konny]

Judging from that picture I would say that it has nothing to do with LOS because the Byzantine army should not be able to spot the Russians inside the woods. Also, the Russian army has no movement points left to reach the battlefield, what would exclude that as a requirement too. Battle odds seems to be excludable too because the two Byzantine armies should already outnumber the Milanese.

Obviously it should be related to being close to the battlefield. But for other factors? May be diplomacy, such as faction standing, already being at war with the attacker, military access granted? May be command stars of the ally; the Byzantine general requesting help seems to have 8 Command?

Needs some testing.