db tables do not change recruitment behaviour

[Fridericus Secundus]

Hey all,

I tried to adjust the recruitment behaviour of the campaign AI, especially that of the barbarians, in order to get less slingers and more infantry/cav. in the respective armies.
I tried tweaking the following tables:
cdir_unit_balances_tables
campaign_ai_personalitiy_junctions_tables
cdir_military_generator_unit_qualities_tables

No single change I made to the respective values (i.e., increasing the worth of speramen and reducing the worth and recruitability of slingers) had a visible effect in the game. I tried it with Iceni and watched, how AI would build up its armies. Same as before 10 levy spearmen, 9 slingers. According to my adjustments, it should have build about 15 spear units and 5 (or less) slingers.

So: did I do something wrong or are the db's just up like hell? CAn someone help me which values I need for my purpose?
Thanks.

[Vanda]

exactly, we need to change this..but how?

[Fridericus Secundus]

Hehe, that's the question. After another round of tweaking and testing, I really assume it's just hardcoded. At least AI recruitment over the first dozens of turns is simply not moddable. Maybe changes apply after a certain number of turns, but I didn't notice any changes especially in barbarian faction's recruitment apaprt from slower recruitment when raising the worth of slingers to a ridiculously high value.

I even have to say that any mods/modders promising converse effects in their work apparently have not sufficiently tested this statement, but instead simply rely on the theoretical changes they have made in the db tables. These changes, however, have no influence on the game, although the respective mod's feature list tells the contrary. I had to experience that myself and I've read other people's posts reporting the very same. Sorry guys, no offense of your work, but it just doesn't work

[GnaReffotsirk]

Just change the cdir_military_generator_template_ratios. Reduce the missile units ones.

The qualities are a mystery to me. It seems these values are considered by the AI as a weight over what missile, melee, cav, siege, etc. unit to train in that category given its current finances.

edit: there's a value that is given a value of "1" somewhere which seem to be a Boolean as to whether the AI is given random values to what to recruit or something. So, it is still possible for the AI to suddenly throw a full-stack of missile troops.

[GnaReffotsirk]

Auto-double post.

Papaya!

[Fridericus Secundus]

Well, I did that. Doesn't change a thing, anyway. After a small conversation with Darth Salad, I think it really has to do with missing alternatives for the AI to recruit. If I get it to work I'll give better barracks to a dummy AI faction and watch what happens.

[GnaReffotsirk]

It worked for me, though I edited almost everything known that has to do with recruitment in the DB. And also, given the AI has upkeep and tax bonus in this version of my mod, perhaps it is able to consider retaining units considered expensive.

I had this thought after lowering the upkeep bonus, and seeing the AI retain 3 stacks of light troops and militia spearmen. Very cheap, almost costing 50% of its gross income.

I think it has something to do with costs. The alternative part comes with what buildings it produces. For example, an Italian one only has levy to produce. It will recruit those levies, when the AI is told it needs military units.

So, yeah, I suppose we both are seeing glimpses of how the AI works and perhaps be able to find the best way to have it recruit better further down the road.