AI and Shield Wall

[redknight38]

I've looked everywhere in the forums, but have not found a clear answer. I have been messing around with some units in the EDU file and gave the "shield_wall" formation. The merits of this aside, I'd just like to see the AI actually using it, badly or otherwise. How do I edit the config_ai_battle file? I tried copying the "phalanx" and schiltrom entries but that didn't work.

[Germanicu5]

Since I popped by already - it's possible to make AI use shieldwall (I made a simple script ages ago), but it doesn't adjust the depth of formation accordingly and ends up performing poorly - usually the formation is so deep, that AI's unit sinks into player's unit in a way that player's soldiers flank it.

I may have a look at it again if I find some spare time.

Regards

[redknight38]

Ah... I figured it would be more complicated than just adding or editing some lines in config_ai_battle. I created a unit called "English Men at Arms" which was just late bodyguards with long spears (not pikes, shorter) I found somewhere. I wanted to give them the "shield wall" ability to simulate the close-packed formations that were not phalanxes. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for the reply!

[Taiji]

Here's how to get what you want:

soldier Levy_Spearmen, 76, 0, 1, 0.4

That's the radius of a soldier, it's a hidden setting so add it and then reduce it to make them stand in a tighter formation.

0.4 is default, so try 0.3 and see how you get on.

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As for the shield_wall question that you probably don't care about any more: You can create formations that use it, but that causes the AI to forget how to form a schiltrom when it detects a cav charge coming. If due to balancing the schiltrom vs charge is a bad move anyway then using formations can be a good idea.

[redknight38]

The formation change worked much better-- thanks! Even when I was using shield wall it was wonky and I can imagine the AI wouldn't do so well with it on the offensive. I'll miss the "push" bonus, but at least now they look and act more like what you can read in Froissart. The tightly packed blocks are vulnerable to missiles, but they are at least better able to stop a cavalry charge.

Thanks for the responses-- they've been very helpful.

As an aside, I was surprised nobody had ever made a spear-armed British knight unit. All the descriptions of Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt have the French and English dismounting and fighting with their lances on foot.