The strangest detailed battle ever...

[Tanaka]

Im currently in a battle where I set up my defenses and day after day no one moves.

The AI for whatever reason never comes to attack me.

And then on the third day my supply routes for no reason

...and then the enemy units all of the sudden appear out of the blue...but then dont really do anything...i shoot at them a few times but thats its... [&:]

....then my entire army routes!!!

Is this a bug???

[Tanaka]

Im now on day 5 still waiting while my supply is just running around all over the place....

Everytime I press skip turn all units my supply routes...

[bluemonday]

Save the saved game file for Matrix, I guess.

[Tanaka]

Now on day 6 and all my infantry are routing for no reason...

[Tanaka]

My whole army retreats for no reason....

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: bluemonday

Save the saved game file for Matrix, I guess.

how do i attach the save game file here??? it says its not supported...

[Hard Sarge]

were you the attacker ?

your troops lose morale each round of the battle

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: Hard Sarge

were you the attacker ?

your troops lose morale each round of the battle

yes i was. i guess that would explain it.

i guess i was just shocked the computer never came to attack me. ive never seen the computer play defense!!! [:D]

[jchastain]

In my mind, this is EXACTLY how it should work. The attacker should lose a bit of morale each turn and the AI should know that it can be patient and sit back on defense knowing that time is on its side. If you do not take the initiative, your troops should slowly lose morale until one by one they break and begin running from the field of battle.

The Tactical AI just generally isn't at all patient so we've all become accustomed to the fact that we can just sit back and wait for them to charge us so that we can slaughter them and take our guaranteed win.

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: jchastain

In my mind, this is EXACTLY how it should work. The attacker should lose a bit of morale each turn and the AI should know that it can be patient and sit back on defense knowing that time is on its side. If you do not take the initiative, your troops should slowly lose morale until one by one they break and begin running from the field of battle.

The Tactical AI just generally isn't at all patient so we've all become accustomed to the fact that we can just sit back and wait for them to charge us so that we can slaughter them and take our guaranteed win.

yep i hope eric can get it so that the AI plays on the defensive side more especially when being attacked....

it was a nice refreshing change to find this out!!! [:D] that i actually have to get off my butt and go after them!

[Naomi]

ORIGINAL: jchastain

In my mind, this is EXACTLY how it should work. The attacker should lose a bit of morale each turn and the AI should know that it can be patient and sit back on defense knowing that time is on its side. If you do not take the initiative, your troops should slowly lose morale until one by one they break and begin running from the field of battle.

The Tactical AI just generally isn't at all patient so we've all become accustomed to the fact that we can just sit back and wait for them to charge us so that we can slaughter them and take our guaranteed win.

Would the defending side experience gradual deterioration in morale?

[jchastain]

ORIGINAL: Naomi
Would the defending side experience gradual deterioration in morale?

This is just my opinion, but I would say yes they should have some degradation, but at a far less severe rate than the attackers. That said, if we must make a binary decision then I think it would be far preferable for them to suffer none rather than to suffer the same as the attackers.

[Naomi]

ORIGINAL: jchastain

ORIGINAL: Naomi
Would the defending side experience gradual deterioration in morale?

This is just my opinion, but I would say yes they should have some degradation, but at a far less severe rate than the attackers. That said, if we must make a binary decision then I think it would be far preferable for them to suffer none rather than to suffer the same as the attackers.

Hmm, in face of numerically superior opponents coming close in on them, would the defenders not suffer any loss of morale faster?

[jchastain]

In my mind it is a game balance issue, not a case of attempting to model things perfectly. The attacker should be forced to take the iniative knowing that time is working against him. At the same time, you need some mechanism to ensure battles don't go on and on forever. You accomplish all of that by weakening the attacker faster than you weaken the defender and setting a threshold at which troops flee the field of battle.

If a defender sees great forces aligned against him, the player might decide to retreat. Otherwise, after a few rounds of fire the defender will be shaken and will run anyway. So in the end, the desired outcome in your example is accomplished anyway.

[Queeg]

If you're the attacker, you shouldn't expect to be able to sit back and wait for the AI to attack you. Sounds to me like it's working as it should.

[ericbabe]

ORIGINAL: Queeg

If you're the attacker, you shouldn't expect to be able to sit back and wait for the AI to attack you. Sounds to me like it's working as it should.

As jchastain suggests, I'd like it to work like this even more often. The AI does take a defensive stance, but I don't think it does it often enough right now.

[2gaulle]

If you're the attacker, you shouldn't expect to be able to sit back and wait for the AI to attack you. Sounds to me like it's working as it should.

not realy because you could have a offensive stance at strategic/operational level and to have a defencive stance during a battle.
Move in enemy teritory, take a good position and waiting for the enemy is one of Tzun Tzu rule

[ahauschild]

That is the exeption to the rule, in general the defending army has a better supply line, unless under complete siege. Also standing beind fortifications or knowing you have fortifications to fall back on does wonders for the Moral of the men, and its all about the Moral.