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I am new to the Ageod engine. As I understand it the underlying engine has been used for several different historical strategy games. What is the strengths of the A.I ? Can someone comment how it works and if there are any improvements made in this incarnation ?

You should really only play against other players in PBEM. The AI is for practising a new game.

That sounds very discouraging. I always play as a single player. Games with very good A.I is for example Decisive Campaigns: From Warszaw to Paris and you don´t need to play against a human. Is the A.I really that bad ?

I own all of the AGEOD games and love them all. I play both against the AI and PBEM. There is no problem with the AI ... and learning about the historical settings they cover is a lot of fun...

I have many Ageod games and play only against the AI. I have fun. Once you get used to it you'll probably win but it can still be enjoyable.

I own a whole bunch of AGEOD games and I only play single player. I enjoy these games immensely. The AI seems to make perfect sense to me, in most cases, and is still able to defeat me.

ORIGINAL: saintus

I am new to the Ageod engine. As I understand it the underlying engine has been used for several different historical strategy games. What is the strengths of the A.I ? Can someone comment how it works and if there are any improvements made in this incarnation ?

The AI is fine. Pocus has suggested that they use early feedback to see if it can be tweaked etc.

You might find this post useful:

tm.asp?m=4080974

Its for Wars of Napoleon but the focus is on how to use the various set up settings to get a good AI game.

ORIGINAL: saintus

I am new to the Ageod engine. As I understand it the underlying engine has been used for several different historical strategy games. What is the strengths of the A.I ? Can someone comment how it works and if there are any improvements made in this incarnation ?

If you don't have unrealistic expectations then Ageod's AI is ok as PC strategy gaming AIs go. Further, you can boost-up the single-player difficulty through the options menu which offers both AI boosts (cheats) and ways for the player to handicap himself such as ramping-up the attrition and activation levels.

However, Ageod's AI often fairs best in smaller to mid-sized scenarios. Where it struggles, though, are the monster campaign scenarios which are often an Ageod's game biggest selling point. Those monster scenarios require long-term planning as to recruitment, army composition, and overall strategy and Ageod's AI does not do long term planning. Like almost all strategy gaming AIs, it has no ability to plan ahead. So, the longer and bigger the scenario the more "cracks" appear in the AI. It just seems to get overwhelmed by the massive amount of options available.

It does well at creating powerful stacks and often hitting you where you're weakest. Also, it can drive you up a wall by spreading penny-packet armies all over the map which it often uses to lay siege to your towns.

Still, it can be frustrating and immersion breaking especially in those monster scenarios. It repeatedly does head-scratching stuff that reminds one that you're taking on a PC program with very limited strategic capabilities.

Best thread I've ever read on Ageod AI. I also play against the AI only.

I'm interested in playing against the AI but how do you prevent it from sending very small stacks without leaders trying to siege everything at once and then getting defeated in detail. Not occypying important objectives with enough Combat Power or such? Any special settings I should use?

see the linked thread above - it goes over the set up options and how they affect the AI.

Oddly don't make it too aggressive and make sure it has only a small advantage in terms of visibility. Both will go a long way to stopping it self-suiciding in small raids etc

I'm playing AGEOD games mostly against AI ... there is possibility to choice "give AI more" time and some small advantages and then is AI good and challenging. Don't worry about AI competence ... it is good

What would be a way to stop AI from lossing its whole army in winter mots and lack of suppy?

Should i make it that it does noth have historical attrition?
Should i make it less agresive and have smaller visibility andvantege as Loki said?

ORIGINAL: loki100

see the linked thread above - it goes over the set up options and how they affect the AI.

Oddly don't make it too aggressive and make sure it has only a small advantage in terms of visibility. Both will go a long way to stopping it self-suiciding in small raids etc

Your settings didn't help after I tried 10 turns. Maybe I will try low aggressiveness to really make the AI sit tight and save it's men.

I might try something novel an try playing an AGEOD game solo as a two person hotseat (or equivalent). Lose a lot of FOW, but might be able to glean a lot more of the gameplay than I have to date.

I have found the A.I. to be quite competent when tweaked properly with the settings as posted above. Currently playing Alea Jacta Est Parthian war and the A.I. managed to surround and destroy my main column (Trajan's 3 legions) while it was advancing deeper into Parthian territory. A.I. also managed to recapture some of it's cities I had taken from them. I left the cities with good garrisons after my main forces moved forward quite surprising for me. I have gotten used to horrible A.I. so I find Athena quite refreshing.

Go to WSS/Settings and backup GameLogic.opt. Then take a look with Notepad++. I always make a number of changes in this file to fit my playing style. A lot you can do in there - for single player only of course. Same for all Ageod games.

Later scenarios -1706,1709- will be more challenge for Bourbon side and can be good for versus AI play and can be perfect for more experienced player in pbem.

Play Pike n Shot instead or Field of Glory II; you'll enjoy the ai play much better than ageod games.

I must confess, I have always found the AI a challenge, so do not have an issue myself.