Can AI be modded to reduce weight placed on command stars?

[Dunadd]

One problem i always found playing mods of Rome Total War was that the AI places ludicrously weak forces under generals with lots of stars, because it assumes all battles will be autocalced.

Of course any player faces by an inferior force under a superior general will not autocalc - they'll fight the battle out - and usually win it easily.

Is there any way to mod the AI in Medieval II so it greatly reduces the weight given to a general's command stars when assigning them troops and when deciding whether to besiege or attack or withdraw ?

Historically the side which had more veteran troops generally won, no matter how brilliant the generals involved (e.g. Cannae - Hannibal had mostly veterans, the Romans mostly green troops ; Zama - Scipio had mostly veterans, Hannibal had mostly green troops, with only a few thousand of his Italian veterans; almost every battle in Alexanders' campaigns - he had Phillip's veteran army - his opponents mostly had green troops)

[Appius Pulcher]

I generally agree with you, however the problem (as I see it) is in the auto-resolve. I fear that the auto-resolve is hardcoded, but you proposition might be a good workaround.

I do, however, think you underplay the role of generals in battles when you conclude that Hannibal, Alexander and Scipio won solely because their troops had more experience. It does play a huge role, of course, how experienced the troops are, but there are infinitely other variables also playing a part in the outcome of a battle.

[carbonem vestigium]

I do, however, think you underplay the role of generals in battles when you conclude that Hannibal, Alexander and Scipio won solely because their troops had more experience. It does play a huge role, of course, how experienced the troops are, but there are infinitely other variables also playing a part in the outcome of a battle.

This is true, the general understanding the right tactics, terrain and conditions in which to offer battle is more or less what wins the day. Haninibal's Libyan troops were probably his best but they found themselves equally matched with the Romans at battles such as Trebbia. While his army was better trained than the Romans, Hannibal himself withdrew from the conflict with Minucius once Fabius committed his troops to battle, rather than feeding in more troops hoping to gain a victory, because he recognized he could not win the engagement. Other generals might have continued until they were ruined.

At Gaugamela Alexander's troops were much better trained, and their tactic was superior, but it took someone of Alexander's genius to win against such a massive force. It does take the right combination of a general and troops that have a well established drill, command structure and experience fighting with each other in the ranks. Even then things can go wrong. If Hasdrubal had not been able to keep the cavalry together at Cannae, Hannibal might have lost.

[Dunadd]

Thanks for the replies. I might have exaggerated a bit in my first post and made it sound like i was saying generals made no difference. I agree they often did make a big difference, but i don't think they made nearly the difference that command stars tend to in auto-calcs. What troops they had made at least as much difference (and usually more) than the generals - and mostly veteran troops were worth several times their number compared to mostly green troops.

[Appius Pulcher]

Thanks for the replies. I might have exaggerated a bit in my first post and made it sound like i was saying generals made no difference. I agree they often did make a big difference, but i don't think they made nearly the difference that command stars tend to in auto-calcs. What troops they had made at least as much difference (and usually more) than the generals - and mostly veteran troops were worth several times their number compared to mostly green troops.

I think we are somewhat in agreement now...
And i also completely agreee that the autocalc is an instrument of satanic origins... Words cannot describe how much I hate it, and yet I cannot be bothered with playing every little skirmish, so more often than not, I cheat. Using the "autowin" function to ensure the right amount of casualties on my own side.

Editing the AI to relying less on general and more on troops, would be a welcomed step in the right direction, but I kind of fear it's all hardcoded...