How good is Path Finding in M2TW?

[Freddie]

One of the biggest gripes I had with RTW was if you laid siege to a large city witch had a full garrison it would take ages for the A.I to empty out of the city because of path finding problems. This was especially a problem for me because I liked to play SPQR which has massive numbers of A.I controlled battlefield units.

I just wondered if the programmers have corrected this problem in Medieval 2 or at least improved it considerably?

[johnhughthom]

I can't say I've noticed this problem myself. I recently had a battle where the AI sallied forth and I barely had time to get my troops organised before the enemy where in missile range(my spearmen were still getting into position actually). The AI only had 6 units, but they all came out together and attacked me very quickly.

[DavidtheDuke]

Pathfinding is good and siege AI evenly spreads out its forces and can hold (at least alot better than RTW) a battleline. You can tell they've worked on the AI, but it's nothing that I'd call a revolution or 'major' improvement.

[mandar]

Pathfinding is good and siege AI evenly spreads out its forces and can hold (at least alot better than RTW) a battleline. You can tell they've worked on the AI, but it's nothing that I'd call a revolution or 'major' improvement.

I agree with DavidtheDuke. AI pathfinding has been improved to the point where you can see a clear difference.

[Lord Phoenix]

The Pathfinding is pretty good, though there are some occurances though where one of the units will find its way into an enclosed corner (like behind a gate door) and can't figure out how to get out. Sometimes they will get stuck at odd places on castle walls, like the little keeps attached to the walls in some places.

[Modestus]

I must disagree I think path finding is the worst I have ever seen, units getting stuck on rocks and preventing a reinforcement entering the battlefield never in my life did I see this happen in RTW.

http://img352.imageshack.us/my.php?i...playersqs8.jpg

Units not responding to orders I think this is related to path finding, units cohesion breaking up to the point where they become effectively beyond your control. There is a long thread on this matter unit cohesion and path finding somewhere.

[Germanicus75]

Things like exiting castles is rather better than in RTW, but this game has several pathfinding issues in siege battles on the walls and using siege equipment. Units often also get stuck on boulders, trees, catapults and farm fences on the battlefield.

[Furin]

Imo the pathfinding is exactly like in RTW concerning quality. The only thing that changed is where your units get stuck (less in doors more on obstacles). Units react different than in RTW too, it took me some time to get used to it. After playing MTW2 for some time now I must admit i prefer the RTW unit behaviour, not meaning MTW2 is bad or flame or whine or whatever, it is purely a point of preference. I will change my mind happily if the upcomeing patches improve the unit handling.

[Scarlett Letterman]

Honestly I have to say, concerning the pathfinding in sieges, it is worse than with RTW. Placing calvary in the deployment phase is near impossible as it allows you very few spots to place them, so you constantly clicking and dragging vainly everywhere. Even placing infantry is frustrating, often i'll click and drag and get the little dots to show, but when I let go the troops wont appear there (this is deployment phase remember). Placing troops on walls is weird too, its like they have to be touching a tower on one side.

Mid battle can be crap too, ordering troops to move along walls and they outright ignore. I have NEVER seen a successful cavalry charge in a siege either. Also when the AI is sieging, but is broken and retreats, it often routs one direction, then stops and goes all the way back the other way, right across the face of my walls so that they shot up badly.

Also when I am sieging and have given orders for all units to withdraw, often ONE unit will go rogue and retreat across a different side of the map no matter what I do. This can be problematic as it sometimes takes it into the enemy.

So yeah extremely buggy in my experience. (ditto on the forum right now )

[Scarlett Letterman]

Honestly I have to say, concerning the pathfinding in sieges, it is worse than with RTW. Placing calvary in the deployment phase is near impossible as it allows you very few spots to place them, so you constantly clicking and dragging vainly everywhere. Even placing infantry is frustrating, often i'll click and drag and get the little dots to show, but when I let go the troops wont appear there (this is deployment phase remember). Placing troops on walls is weird too, its like they have to be touching a tower on one side.

Mid battle can be crap too, ordering troops to move along walls and they outright ignore. I have NEVER seen a successful cavalry charge in a siege either. Also when the AI is sieging, but is broken and retreats, it often routs one direction, then stops and goes all the way back the other way, right across the face of my walls so that they shot up badly.

Also when I am sieging and have given orders for all units to withdraw, often ONE unit will go rogue and retreat across a different side of the map no matter what I do. This can be problematic as it sometimes takes it into the enemy.

So yeah extremely buggy in my experience. (ditto on the forum right now )

[Scarlett Letterman]

Honestly I have to say, concerning the pathfinding in sieges, it is worse than with RTW. Placing calvary in the deployment phase is near impossible as it allows you very few spots to place them, so you constantly clicking and dragging vainly everywhere. Even placing infantry is frustrating, often i'll click and drag and get the little dots to show, but when I let go the troops wont appear there (this is deployment phase remember). Placing troops on walls is weird too, its like they have to be touching a tower on one side.

Mid battle can be crap too, ordering troops to move along walls and they outright ignore. I have NEVER seen a successful cavalry charge in a siege either. Also when the AI is sieging, but is broken and retreats, it often routs one direction, then stops and goes all the way back the other way, right across the face of my walls so that they shot up badly.

Also when I am sieging and have given orders for all units to withdraw, often ONE unit will go rogue and retreat across a different side of the map no matter what I do. This can be problematic as it sometimes takes it into the enemy.

So yeah extremely buggy in my experience. (ditto on the forum right now )