29-01-2005 17:25									#1
	Rome:Total War AI question Full PM-box? Change here!

I was wondering whether the AI in Rome Total War actually gets better as the commander of enemy troops does, or whether this a constant that is improved only by difficulty level (or just stays the same altogether).
This is a result of an especially stupid action by a rebel captain my troops had faced recently. The captain, with his 120 Barbarian fighters, wisely placed his troops on high ground. This was common sense and a good move.
HOWEVER, what he did next can only be termed the height of stupidity.

Because I wanted to lure him from high ground, I decided to use my 2 generals (I brought 2 along for the heck of it) to lure the fighters into open ground. Though I outnumbered them, the very fact that they had the high ground worried me, so I sent the two cavalry units marching up the hill, a little way from the two barbarian companies, who meanwhile did nothing but turn around to face them.
Next, I used one of my generals as bait, marching him right next to the units. I thought that this cheap trick would fail and that I would have to use some other one to win the day. It worked. I gaped in disbelief, but the AI captain sent his units charging towards a cavalry unit that could outrun infantry in its sleep. Meanwhile, my other general's bodyguard marches further up the hill, charges down, and promptly wipes out the entire enemy force without a single casualty.
Now tell me there is something horribly wrong here. Please. Tell me this never happens except with a captain whose command rating is non-existent. Otherwise my hopes for a great game may be dashed.

	30-01-2005 00:01									#2
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Barbarian units have the "attack without orders" ability where they will charge any units coming nearby, I think.

I hate those units.

-Jam

	30-01-2005 07:44									#3
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It's not Rome Total War, but I remember one time in Shogun where the enemy troops ran around in front of my troops for literally 15 minutes. Looked like they were doing calistenics out there. I guess they were trying to tempt me off my good defensive position, but... it was kinda funny to watch them get all tired out. That was on "ultra-stupid" mode with a general with no experience, which may explain their persistance in the tactic.

	30-01-2005 21:50									#4
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quote: Originally posted by appleciders It's not Rome Total War, but I remember one time in Shogun where the enemy troops ran around in front of my troops for literally 15 minutes. Looked like they were doing calistenics out there. I guess they were trying to tempt me off my good defensive position, but... it was kinda funny to watch them get all tired out. That was on "ultra-stupid" mode with a general with no experience, which may explain their persistance in the tactic.

that would be funny


I kinda like the way in a game where the interaction is more on a sarcastic side versus no or yes in a response

Gramps

	09-02-2005 09:47									#5
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Hey, it cracked me up. I swear, running back and forth until half their army ran away in terror without getting anywhere near bowshot range... I enjoyed it thoroughly.

In a more helpful vein, you probably could never get that situation to repeat- the conditions probably had to be just right to make the AI do something that stupid.

	09-02-2005 22:42									#6
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AI is supposed to improve gameplay at hard and VH with AI unit morale increases. I'm not sure that anyone has concrete evidence that it actually improves though.