AI not attacking in melee when it would be a great idea?

from Elemental Forums

So I'm playing my first game on hard with all the AIs on hard. I'm also using 1.01, but I haven't played on hard before 1.01.
I am noticing the AI's armies will not attack if there are any ranged in the army. Even if its just one or two ranged units. They'll have say 4 juggernauts, a few other melee, and two archers. All the melee and juggs will defend defend defend when they could come storming at me and do a lot of damage. So while they're defending I just pick them off with my range or my range spells. Anyone else experiencing this?

5,345 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Yes, tactical AI sucks, but it's improving.  Right now, the AI only cares whether it has range.  It should care whether its range is stronger than the player's and whether its melee is weaker than the player's.

Hell, the original Age of Wonders had tactical AI that was pretty good at figuring out whether it should rush or defend.  I'm sure that Stardock will get their tactical AI fixed, once they focus on it.  Sure, it would have been nice to have it done by release, but that's water under the bridge.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tuidjy, reply 1
Yes, tactical AI sucks, but it's improving.  Right now, the AI only cares whether it has range.  It should care whether its range is stronger than the player's and whether its melee is weaker than the player's.

@#!*% , the original Age of Wonders had tactical AI that was pretty good at figuring out whether it should rush or defend.  I'm sure that Stardock will get their tactical AI fixed, once they focus on it.  Sure, it would have been nice to have it done by release, but that's water under the bridge.
End of Tuidjy's quote

1.0.2 is starting to look like it would be a good release candidate.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

The AI stutter steps to your units unless they can attack the first round, it's crazy when there are archers or obvious spell casters that they don't just race to you.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Viperswhip, reply 3
The AI stutter steps to your units unless they can attack the first round, it's crazy when there are archers or obvious spell casters that they don't just race to you.
End of Viperswhip's quote

No the AI does not stutter step, which I assume stutter refers to the AI's units walking a little at a time until they can use their full movement to reach you. This is not what I was talking about. If the AI has range in a battle ALL the melee defend aka do not move. They do move once you engage them in melee. This is all regardless of they have, say juggernauts or other powerful melee units. They just continue to defend while i pick them of with spells and ranged units.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting TheBirthdayParty, reply 5
No the AI does not stutter step.
End of TheBirthdayParty's quote

It does.

Quoting TheBirthdayParty, reply 5
If the AI has range in a battle ALL the melee defend aka do not move.
End of TheBirthdayParty's quote

I haven't had this happen to me, but it could make sense. If it does happen the AI would need some kind of overmatch setting, to see when its outnumbered by ranged units or not.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

i agree, the AI doesn't seem to know when or how to attack. does need some improving