Recommended difficulty settings

**Suthseaxe** · July 17, 2013, 08:29 AM

I've started an England campaign, originally on medium (that was all I could handle back when I first started Total War) and soon realised it was far too easy, so I'm playing on hard mode. However, again, nothing is happening. I have Caernarvon and Rennes, a huge ton of cash and not much happening. Scotland have threatened me with war, but not attacked. Is this a calm before the storm, or is hard mode just too easy as well? I was hoping for battles, sieges, stalemates etc. etc. but alas, nothing so far.

**Lord of Shadows** · July 17, 2013, 09:02 AM

I'm playing on hard/hard and BGRII and there's pretty much action around.What campaign AI do you have?

**Chromium** · July 17, 2013, 09:17 AM

I usually play Vh/Vh on BGRII. You may play BGRIV if you're feeling masochistic or lucky...

**Suthseaxe** · July 17, 2013, 11:16 AM

Aha, the exact turn after this post and France attacked Rennes. Scotland then attacked me a few turns into my war with France. I'm playing the "balance between peace and war" AI, whose name I cannot remember. Now I have France sending hundreds of men at me. I keep defeating all of them though and they are not particularly challenging, though I don't want to up the battle difficulty due to the bonuses that the AI get (at least they do in Empire; do they in Medieval?). I'd like to fight them fairly but have them challenge me more. Not sure if that's possible! The fact I'm using cavalry charges is probably why I keep winning (the French have no knights in any of their armies).

Is there an AI fix for diplomacy though? This war has been going on for a few years, during which time I've defeated every French army and even killed their king in battle, and still a ceasefire is "very demanding". The old frustration from Vanilla returns...

**Strengelicher** · July 22, 2013, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Suthseaxe

Aha, the exact turn after this post and France attacked Rennes. Scotland then attacked me a few turns into my war with France. I'm playing the "balance between peace and war" AI, whose name I cannot remember. Now I have France sending hundreds of men at me. I keep defeating all of them though and they are not particularly challenging, though I don't want to up the battle difficulty due to the bonuses that the AI get (at least they do in Empire; do they in Medieval?). I'd like to fight them fairly but have them challenge me more. Not sure if that's possible! The fact I'm using cavalry charges is probably why I keep winning (the French have no knights in any of their armies).

Is there an AI fix for diplomacy though? This war has been going on for a few years, during which time I've defeated every French army and even killed their king in battle, and still a ceasefire is "very demanding". The old frustration from Vanilla returns...

If you feel the game is too easy, use BGR IV and Gracul AI. Concerning diplomacy - you have to watch your reputation. If that goes down, you will find it difficult to enter into any agreement at all with other factions. It does not really matter whether the faction you want to make peace with owns many provinces or is down to the last one - more important is what they desire and your reputation. A faction will desire peace if they have been at war with several other factions for some time. So, if you want to make peace, see to it that your reputation is OK and your opponent is at war with other nations, too. There are several ways to achieve this, most notably drawing your own ally into a joint battle. Then, approach your enemy several times with a diplomat and see if you can see the priority of your opponent. When the conditions are as described, "peace" will show up. If you offer a ceasefire now, your offer will liekly be regarded as "generous", and you can even ask for money on top.

**Lord of Shadows** · July 17, 2013, 11:34 AM

You speak of Savage AI.If you play on hard and very hard I think that AI gets some bonus armies.France gets good knights in high and late era.If you want more challenging campaign then you should play Gracul AI.About diplomacy, maybe they just don't want to ceasefire.You know that England and France have never been in good relations.

**Suthseaxe** · July 17, 2013, 11:47 AM

As an Englishman myself, I am well aware of Wellesley's "we have been, we are and I hope we always shall be detested in France"

Though how can you not want a ceasefire with someone who is busily carving through all of your armies?

I just wondered what the conditions are for a ceasefire form the AI's POV.

I'm good with the campaign AI. Hard suits me well at the moment. It's just the battlefield where it's a bit too easy.

**Lord of Shadows** · July 17, 2013, 01:54 PM

If you want ceasefire you should push France.When they have small number of regions then they should accept ceasefire.

**-SaH-** · July 17, 2013, 03:37 PM

I play with this same Savage AI on hard campaing map and v.hard battles and it is ok, You should try it.
AI act more resonable in battles, but still it ins't very hard to beat certain armies.

Right now I am even thinking about VH/VH or maybe BGII or something like this.

**Lord of Shadows** · July 17, 2013, 04:04 PM

You should try Germanicu5 Really Bad AI.It adds some difficulty to the battle.

**Suthseaxe** · July 18, 2013, 05:50 AM

I started a new Byzantine campaign on hard/very hard after playing a couple of very hard custom battles. This is a bit more like it. Still not particularly challenging, but a good fight, nonetheless.