Passive campaign AI

[mr melo yellow]

This is an issue I've noticed has been around in a lot of TW games, but it seems especially apparent here. The AI simply aren't fun to play against because they never attack. Or at least they'll only attack when they have like a 3:1 numerical advantage and even higher if it's a city. I find the only times I ever get attacked is when I have town garrisons, leading to dull samey battles.

In my current Sassanid campaign, I've got an insane amount of military power and have presented a front of towns and cities each with a full stack garrison in the Levant and Eastern Anatolia for the ERE to fight. Even with their multiple stacks and ability to outnumber me in sieges, they do nothing, except force march back and fourth in their territory, occasionally sending an army to have a holiday up in Crete then sending them back the next turn.
I'm not expecting them to attack me when their odds are super low, but I do expect them to be a lot ballsier than this. it really isn't fun being stuck in this completely one-sided war. I could end it any time because of how they seem content doing anything other than fighting. Anyone else suffering from this?

[L337 NUB]

Meh it is always an issue to some degree. Improves slightly as the difficulty increases, but never substantially. The best solution is usually offered by mods

[mr melo yellow]

Meh it is always an issue to some degree. Improves slightly as the difficulty increases, but never substantially. The best solution is usually offered by mods

My Sassanid campaign is on VH. It feels as though the harder the AI gets, the more they become self aware at how crap they are at battles and they therefore will only commit when it's near impossible for them to lose.
But yeah, it looks like mods are the answer. Any recommendations?

[Aeratus]

Maybe its because your army has too many elite troops. Many AI factions field hordes of low level units, and even if they outnumber you 3:1, they might perceive that your army is stronger.

For example, in one time during my Sassanid campaign, I had an elite stack in an unwalled settlement (stack with elite immortals, gyan avspar, elite daylamites, 2 large onagers), and the AI had 4 stacks nearby, consiting mainly of basic spearmen. Even though the AI had 4 stacks, reloading the turns only resulted in them attacking the settlement about 1/3 of the time. When they did attack, they came in with all 4 stacks together.

[RedGuard]

Maybe its because your army has too many elite troops. Many AI factions field hordes of low level units, and even if they outnumber you 3:1, they might perceive that your army is stronger.

For example, in one time during my Sassanid campaign, I had an elite stack in an unwalled settlement (stack with elite immortals, gyan avspar, elite daylamites, 2 large onagers), and the AI had 4 stacks nearby, consiting mainly of basic spearmen. Even though the AI had 4 stacks, reloading the turns only resulted in them attacking the settlement about 1/3 of the time. When they did attack, they came in with all 4 stacks together.

how would they be able to know until they engage your army?

[Lugotorix]

how would they be able to know until they engage your army?

Sometimes they'll attack and then disengage once they see the garrison or army size. This will happen over and over again until their movement points are spent.

[RedGuard]

Sometimes they'll attack and then disengage once they see the garrison or army size. This will happen over and over again until their movement points are spent.

hmm. in my 200 hours of play I've never seen that happen. The AI seems to magically know your strength at all times, even if their three armies to your are another province away. They'll swoop in like they knew you were there all along and then I'm just left shaking my head at the fake challenge. Its better than Rome 2 though, because I've actually fought one on one battles against the huns, but its still unrealistic when it comes to that.

[Totalheadache]

Yep in most of my campaigns have seen this. Something that is a real negative for me, along with the celtic DLC. Although in my Frankish campaign I had to defend Rotomagus over 10 times, every celtic faction wanted it. (mmm scripted).

I dont think have been sieged once by a Hunnic army even if there are say 4 stacks. Am playing on very hard.

This point has been raised by myself and others now in several threads would be nice if CA acknowledged it and attempted a fix!

[barry12]

Can't believe we still haven't heard a single word about this from CA. This is a vital component of the game.

[Little Legionaire]

Campaign AI is so weak and passive since Rome II. Without mods i find totally pointless to play a campaign.