Got a comment about your settings. I've used them and know that games are challenging that way but I just don't see how it improves the AI. Those settings just makes things more difficult for you. It doesn't present you with a more challenging AI. To me a challenging AI is one where I don't have to handicap myself in order to get a good game. If you play an AGEOD game using the default settings where you and the AI play by the same rules it's almost a guarantee that you will eventually win. I own every single AGEOD product and it's the same with every game. I'd much rather have an AI that can challenge me on an equal footing than to play against AI where I have to handicap myself. Your settings bring a challenge but it really doesn't improve the AI. It's a little like playing a Civilization game on higher levels. I'd much rather have an AI that's on an equal footing and can beat me without bonuses for it or handicaps for myself.ORIGINAL: loki100
generally good advice some of those settings make a huge difference.
If I am going to play any AGEOD game vs the AI I tend to give myself the hardest activation rule (ie inactive=immobile). If you play a side with poor leadership (Reds in Rus; Union in the Civil War, Austria in RoP) this will result in teeth grinding levels of frustration as you see an opportunity just slip away. On the other hand if you do this with a weak side but better leadership (Confederacy in Civil War, Prussia in RoP, France in WoN), when putting together a bold move you run a hell of a risk.
This setting also makes you very careful about campaigning up to winter as you risk having an army immobilised.
Add on the worst attrition setting (ie you can only replace if static and on a depot).
What you do is to create a situation where the AI becomes a challenge and where you face pretty realistic command problems. Using this setting I've had a couple of vs AI Rise of Prussia games go the full Seven Years (something you never see in PBEM) and it makes France in WoN into a challenge.
That's not saying that Athena is bad AI. I've seen it pull off some brilliant moves and make some really dumb moves too. But it's predictable after awhile. I just wish AGEOD would spend a little more time perfecting their AI. They make great games that I want to play. But I don't want to have to play with settings to get a good game from the AI. Like I said, I own all AGEOD titles but I really haven't played them because the AI doesn't really present a challenge anymore. I know the option to play against others is always open but I prefer to play against the AI. Games that provide a challenging AI get played more than those who don't. Command OPs and CMANO are two of my staple games. As far as I know neither AI cheats. So on the occasions where the AI beats me I know that I've just been outsmarted or outplayed and it's not because of some bonus or handicap. Just my opinion. I'm not saying anything is wrong with your suggestion or settings. I do sometimes play that way and lose but then I start thinking that the only reason I lost was because of the settings I chose.
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