Why does the AI always advance

**canadian** · August 06, 2012, 07:30 PM

I like to think of myself as a veteran total war player, and lately I've noticed that even when I attack an enemy they usually advance to face me, allowing me to basically fight defensive battles all the time. Is this a tendency of the AI or just the Very hard difficulty settings Im playing?

**Duck of Death** · August 06, 2012, 08:46 PM

In my experience, the AI only sally out to attack if they think the odds are even or in their favor, or of course if you siege them until thier hold-out timer runs out.

Are you attacking cities with what appear to be even odds?

**TWWolfe** · August 07, 2012, 12:14 AM

I think he means in open field battles, and yes te Ai will often advance if the terrain is fairly even with no big hills. if there is a hill, expect them to camp on it and taunt you endlessly, because they will not come down.

**Delvecchio1975** · August 07, 2012, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by TWWolfe

if there is a hill, expect them to camp on it and taunt you endlessly, because they will not come down.

oooooh i hate that.

**Gulatr** · August 07, 2012, 08:46 AM

It might also be connected to the "firepower" of either side - if the player has a larger amount of ranged units, the AI will often charge the player even if it is defending, it makes sense to because having a skirmish when the enemy has complete superiority is not a very good idea.

**tudor93** · August 08, 2012, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by Gulatr

It might also be connected to the "firepower" of either side - if the player has a larger amount of ranged units, the AI will often charge the player even if it is defending, it makes sense to because having a skirmish when the enemy has complete superiority is not a very good idea.

Yep, I think this is it.
In my current Crusader States campaign I don't have many archers; in fact, I only have 2 units of crossbows in one army and another 2 units of crossbows in another army. Whenever I fought against Egypt they played defensively because they had a superior number of archers.

**GiddeeUpp** · August 07, 2012, 03:03 PM

when playing the AI and there's hills, try to get into defensive battles. Usually cant work with europe vs europe factions as little use of horse archers, but when playing with horse archers going full gallop for the hills at the start can often win a battle.

**Ichon** · August 08, 2012, 02:27 AM

There are several reasons in my experience- on VH main reason is AI outnumbers players army and is confident. The fact human players also tend to have more ranged units is a factor where the AI won't always sit and let player use all the ammo and kill 30% of the army. Time limit is definitely a factor as well because with no time limit AI still advances more than 50% of the time but battles where AI sits still at the top of a hill become noticeably more frequent.

It is more difficult to explain why AI with only 3 units attack enemy with 20 units but I guess AI is programmed to try and cause as many casualties as possible when facing overwhelming odds and all out attack is more likely to cause at least some casualties than sitting still.

**Byg** · August 08, 2012, 02:48 AM

Yes that is true, in the old days the ai used to just sit there and let you pelt it to death with arrows. Charging at least causes the player some damage.

**Chazz1225** · August 08, 2012, 10:25 AM

what i find most weird is that when the AI starts advancing, usually the GB or any HC with a Captain will shortly charge right at my infantry line, RIGHT into my middle where i have my spears, that doesn't seem right to me...

**makute** · August 08, 2012, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Chazz1225

what i find most weird is that when the AI starts advancing, usually the GB or any HC with a Captain will shortly charge right at my infantry line, RIGHT into my middle where i have my spears, that doesn't seem right to me...

As Ichon said, install Germanicus AI and be amazed (and delighted).

**Chazz1225** · August 08, 2012, 10:31 PM

I'll look into it then, thankyou

**raven63** · August 08, 2012, 02:09 PM

One thing I saw in BC which I really liked was that if the AI has the odds against it, it will retreat (rout) its army before engaging. That makes it preserve its armies.

**Ichon** · August 08, 2012, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by raven63

One thing I saw in BC which I really liked was that if the AI has the odds against it, it will retreat (rout) its army before engaging. That makes it preserve its armies.

Germanicus AI later versions will do that. Actually even in the middle of a battle it does that and it can be quite interesting on VH if you try to chase the retreating enemy. Cavalry don't charge as well into unit spread out running away and if your infantry get tired chasing enemy the AI will turn and rout your tired units since due to VH morale bonus AI being exhausted means less.

AI charging the BG and HC too early is probably the most constant problem of BAI in MTW2 in my opinion. Germanicus AI help that somewhat were AI will at least try to flank sometimes and more often holds its cavalry in reserve if player has more cavalry but if AI has advantage it will usually charge straight in wasting that advantage- though if your army is on open ground and has few HC of its own such a charge can be fairly devastating. Only large battles I have lost has been due to something like that or accidental death of my own general from friendly fire.