Why does the war AI think this is Civ3?

[ChaotikVisions]

I know the thread title probably has you thinking this is some anti-Civ4 post, but its not. I do enjoy the game and consider it the best of the series, but theres one glaring issue that stands out and thats how the AI wages war. It treats it like Civ3 in that it just masses units and sends them at a city. It hardly ever takes advantage of siege weapons and when it does, it doesn't bring enough of them or wait to bomb defenses down all the way.

What this translates into is the AI not taking any cities unless they have overwhelming forces or if its on the coast(the AI handles sea bombardment well in the industrial/modern era since most units can do it). It also still trickles units in at time, even on the intial attack. Is this a pre-programmed thing to prevent collateral damage devastating large stacks or does it just not plan ahead that well?

In any case i'd really like to see something where the AI doesn't sacrifice its siege weapons so readily, or least trys to reduce the defensive bonus by half before attacking. This would make the AI much more of a threat in war or at least keep it from wasting its assault force on the first heavily fortified city it encounters. Maybe i've just had bad experiences in the few games i've played, but considering how much trouble the AI has taking cities even from other AI civs this would seem the likely cause.

Is anyone has any thoughts/complaints/similar results feel free to post, and heres hoping Firaxis improves the war AI in the expansions.

[Diplomatic]

I just got sneak attacked by the Romans playing on noble and they swarmed my 2 "border cities" with tons of catapults, macemen, and riflemen. It was during the medieval era.

So it may not happen often, but the AI definitely does it sometimes.

Oh and yes I lost both of the cities because I absolutely trusted they would not be attacking and they were the only nation between me and the rest of the continent... doh!

[xxFlukexx]

The AI uses siege, it just doesn't use enough siege. It will bombard my defenses then go in for an attack, but either it catches a city with not much defense and easily takes it or I have my own army there and fight him off.

I agree, the AI needs to build and use more siege offensively. I've seen the AI take 1-2 siege with thier stacks, while they should be using 3-5 like me.