ICP & Bonus Squares

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Theseus
BTW, we finally figured out why there were no AI Armies in stock C3C, and have fixed it in the AU Mod with single-unit Armies. We see them all the time now.

what was the problem? why wasn't the AI building many armies?

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by vmxa1

I do not have a shot of an army, but here is a rare one of the AI sending bombardments on the attack.

Is the evidence of the AI sending bombardments on the attack the appearance of two artillary pieces in the contact list? If so is that posted because the AI almost never even builds bombardment units much less make use their bombardment ability?

[Solomwi]

The AI will build bombardment units just fine. They just, in my experience, keep them in cities for defensive help. Between bombardment units and archers/longbows/guerillas/TOW infantry, with defensive bombardment, the AI seems to love the free potshot at attackers.

[punkbass2000]

Originally posted by Geronimo


what was the problem? why wasn't the AI building many armies?

The AI is hard-coded to not put units in an army if their movement points are lower than the armies'. This made sense in Van/PTW, because it would slow the army down, and it would usually help the AI make better offensive armies, as there are rarely units with more than one HP that aren't the best offensive unit of the time. In C3C, an army automatically gets +1 to its MP, ruling out many units of the time, especially around Cavs, when MGLs start getting formed a lot, as there are no four MP units. Usually most armies that are seen in C3C started with a Swordsmen and later received two Knights.

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by Geronimo


Is the evidence of the AI sending bombardments on the attack the appearance of two artillary pieces in the contact list? If so is that posted because the AI almost never even builds bombardment units much less make use their bombardment ability?

It is one of the few times I have seen the ai send a stack with any bombardment units. They tend to keep them in the city and let you capture them. I see them added to units on defense around the ciy or in transit, but not actually atacking my cities.

BTW that stack had three iirc.

[aksully]

Originally posted by Xorbon
One thing noticed missing from aksully's last post:
Paratrooper armies don't get airdrop. (I mentioned this on another thread as well.)

That's right X...thanks for picking up on that!

I had the AI mount a counter attack against one of my damaged Armies last night. First time I'd seen it.

I've tied a personal high of 5 MGLs generated last night as I whittle down a strong Incan empire as we approach 850 AD! One more to go!

Sully

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by aksully
I had the AI mount a counter attack against one of my damaged Armies last night. First time I'd seen it.

I mentioned that the ai would attacked damaged armies in the field. If they are yellow, it depends on many factors, but if the army is red and they can reach it......

Only full health are safe.

[TimBentley]

Obsolete armies also will be attacked. For example, I think I've read that medieval infantry will attack archer armies.

[vmxa1]

I doubt it. I would need to see it to accept it. I have had AC armies not attacked my modern units and they had scores of them.

I have had an army in every game since the game came out and I have never seen any army at full health attacked FWIW.

Remember I am talking about armies in the field, not in a city. The AI will attack any type of army in a city, once it goes for that city.

I have had several MI armies backed by infantry armies and tank armies in a city, but the AI atacked anyway. Move any out in the open and they will stream by as it they were invisible.

That is the reason SirPleb used the corridor of death. Have a bunch of armies lined up blocking access to a city with only one path open. Now th ai will run its troops down the guantlet taking ZoC shots all the way. Never attacking those armies and they were mostly made up of calvs.

[aksully]

Originally posted by vmxa1


That is the reason SirPleb used the corridor of death. Have a bunch of armies lined up blocking access to a city with only one path open. Now th ai will run its troops down the guantlet taking ZoC shots all the way. Never attacking those armies and they were mostly made up of calvs.

WOW, Talk about a meat grinder! But I do hope this AI aversion to attacking Armies in the open will be corrected in Civ 4! In the meantime...Grind them up, Spit 'em out!

Sully

[Geronimo]

does anybody ever bother disbanding armies then? Even when they are grossly obsolete? it seems to me as if even an army of horsemen might be worth keeping given that ZOC free attack ability that was mentioned.

[Solomwi]

I'll disband them if they're completely obsolete and I need extra room under the unit support cap. By that time, my MA city is churning out armies every 3-4 turns, so odds are by disbanding, I'm replacing a horse army with a tank army, or knight army with a modern armor army. I almost never disband a 4xCav army, as you can never have enough four-movers, and 12 attack is sufficient against everything short of mech infantry.

[vmxa1]

I will disband in a game where I had hit the army cap and want generate or build more.

I will disband them to speed up a build, if I have enough (like there is such thing as enough).

I have a leader on another land mass and I do not need one of my armies that is on another land mass. This may not be an obsolete army.

So there are times where it is done, but in a game where you only ever build say 2, it probably makes no sense to disband.

The old ones can still go sit on a new city for MP or quell resisters.

[Xorbon]

Sometimes, instead of disbanding obsolete armies, I'll send them up against redlined (1 hp) units. Sometimes they get lucky, and other times...well, it's no huge loss.

[vmxa1]

Not huge, but 100 shields that can be used in any city can be useful at times.