Combat AI: Absolutely Weird AI "Marching" Behavior

**lampros69** · January 29, 2015, 06:39 AM

I've run across an extremely strange behavior while testing infantry effectiveness in 1 v. 1 unit clashes. Basically, in the midst of combat, the AI infantry unit turns its back and marches back to a distance and then re-enters the melee. This is NOT a retreat, and there is no seeming reason to do this, as the AI is actually WINNING. But as a result of this "marching" shenanigan, the AI infantry unit ends up losing big, because it loses a big chunk of its units when its back is turned and marching back. So in essence, the AI commits a suicide.

This does not seem to be a bug, as it is a repeated, persistent behavior. I have no idea why the AI does this. Two theories present themselves, but they are not at all satisfactory. First, perhaps the AI unit is marching back to catch its breath; but this seems unlikely, as the time the AI gains to purportedly rest is very short. Second, perhaps the AI wants to gain the bonus from charging, but I cannot believe the benefit of charging is worth the loss of some 20-plus percent of its manpower.

So what in the world is going on?

For the record, I am playing SS, but I don't know enough about the game/modding to know whether it's an issue with the vanilla AI, Germanicus (sp.?) AI, or SS issue.

**Comrade Roboto** · January 29, 2015, 07:29 AM

I think I've seen the AI do this in vanilla too. To me it looks like they fall back to avoid getting surrounded or something.

**lolIsuck** · January 29, 2015, 07:32 AM

Well, it's quite common AI cavalry behaviour, although I've seen it with infantry too. No idea why they do it though, the cavalry doesn't seem to be using the charge and retreat tactic as they often stay in combat for a long time before retreating and don't charge most of the times.

**lampros69** · January 29, 2015, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by Comrade Roboto

I think I've seen the AI do this in vanilla too. To me it looks like they fall back to avoid getting surrounded or something.

But this was 1 unit v. 1 unit melee battle; and the frontage was the same - so absolutely no possibility of getting surrounded.

Originally Posted by lolIsuck

Well, it's quite common AI cavalry behaviour, although I've seen it with infantry too. No idea why they do it though, the cavalry doesn't seem to be using the charge and retreat tactic as they often stay in combat for a long time before retreating and don't charge most of the times.

Yeah, I'd want cavalry to do this actually, as it has fewer men, and it doesn't want to be sucked into prolonged melee anyways. But the fact that infantry units - and infantry units who are neither surrounded nor losing - are doing this puzzles me.

Edit: Now this has been even more puzzling. I've been testing essentially 3 units - Dismounted Chivalric Knights, Spartharii, and Hashshim; and they've been fairly extensive (about 20 melee combats). And Dismounted Chivalric Knights do not do this - regardless of whether they are losing or exhausted. So I assume something about these units prevents this odd behavior.

Can anyone who know the AI well comment?

**mystang89** · January 29, 2015, 09:42 AM

I've seen this done a lot in my campaign andialways just thought they did this to find better ground our too try and make my troops exhausted. Very freakwn annoying

**lampros69** · January 29, 2015, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by mystang89

I've seen this done a lot in my campaign andialways just thought they did this to find better ground our too try and make my troops exhausted. Very freakwn annoying

Does anyone know how to stop this "tactical retreat" type of behavior? It really hurts the AI, as it gets slaughtered once its back is turned.

**mystang89** · January 30, 2015, 11:54 AM

I'd like to know as well. I just got done losing a fight, (on purpose for once) against rebels. The rebels had 3 units of spearmen, 2 units of infantry and 1 cav. I had 2 units of peasant infantry. The Ai all ran away to the top of a hill when they could have simply crushed me. Don't get me wrong. There are times when running to the top of the hill and turtling is a good idea but this was stupid. Just a waste of time. Tell me this is a bug.

**Exsurgo** · January 31, 2015, 06:26 AM

I think they do this with the general's unit to try and keep him safe. Normally to test units it's best to do a 2v2, they the front units will fight away and the general's units will hang back.

They don't seem to do it in normal battles (with G5 Really Bad AI 5.7)

**lampros69** · January 31, 2015, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Exsurgo

I think they do this with the general's unit to try and keep him safe. Normally to test units it's best to do a 2v2, they the front units will fight away and the general's units will hang back.

They don't seem to do it in normal battles (with G5 Really Bad AI 5.7)

Hmmm, I find it that they do it all the time during campaign battles, too. And I do use the Germanicus' AI as well in SS (though I can never tell if it really is active, since I don't get that Germanicus' AI icon briefly in the beginning of battles any more).