Anyone else noticed how AI uses merchants as vision-providers?

[Mechuraki]

I noticed that AIs have been using merchant units to be stationed in my territory during a war and just leave there to obtain vision of my settlements. Because merchants cannot be plundered or destroyed, there is no way for me to stop it from happening.

I assume something got messed up with the addition of the trade lens, but funny to see how they are exploiting the game's mechanics.

 

[Morgawr]

I did notice that consistently, but it’s likely because one arm isn’t talking to other, ie the merchant is ordered by operations AI to establish trade route but it can’t because it didn’t get the memo from strategic AI that they’re at war. Check every turn until war is over and trade route established . (Too dumb to send merchant elsewhere)

 

[stealth_nsk]

I did notice that consistently, but it’s likely because one arm isn’t talking to other, ie the merchant is ordered by operations AI to establish trade route but it can’t because it didn’t get the memo from strategic AI that they’re at war. Check every turn until war is over and trade route established . (Too dumb to send merchant elsewhere)

Or there are just nowhere to send them. I think AI tends to use all trade route destinations where possible and during war rarely have enough influence to improve number of trade routes with someone they can trade.

 

[user746383]

In other games on this same engine all AIs had complete vision all the time. Are we sure that isn’t still the case?

 

[Morgawr]

Or there are just nowhere to send them. I think AI tends to use all trade route destinations where possible and during war rarely have enough influence to improve number of trade routes with someone they can trade.

Yes that’s more likely!

 

[Cedbird77]

In other games on this same engine all AIs had complete vision all the time. Are we sure that isn’t still the case?

That is only an urban legend.

 

[Mechuraki]

I did notice that consistently, but it’s likely because one arm isn’t talking to other, ie the merchant is ordered by operations AI to establish trade route but it can’t because it didn’t get the memo from strategic AI that they’re at war.

I'm also suspecting that is the case. But then I learned from the AI and started spamming out merchants for recon

 

[Krikkit1]

To solve the player doing it, perhaps any unattackable Civilian unit that ends its turn
1. inside the territory of a civ it is at war with
AND
2. adjacent to one of those civ's military units or fortified districts
AND
3. not adjacent to a friendly military unit

gets expelled back to its capital

 

[user746383]

Or, let us pillage merchants and other civilian units of countries we are at war with.

 

[MutilationWave]

I'm also suspecting that is the case. But then I learned from the AI and started spamming out merchants for recon

I know they come out later but missionaries are the ultimate recon unit.

 

[ggalindo001]

I noticed that AIs have been using merchant units to be stationed in my territory during a war and just leave there to obtain vision of my settlements. Because merchants cannot be plundered or destroyed, there is no way for me to stop it from happening.

I assume something got messed up with the addition of the trade lens, but funny to see how they are exploiting the game's mechanics.

I do the exact same to explore the map. Good strategy. Annoying but until there is a bonafide way of trading maps for all civs -- esp. in Modern Era -- this is going to be something I keep doing.

 

[Morgawr]

I know they come out later but missionaries are the ultimate recon unit.

Totally - I always leave one charge on my missionaries and have them explore the new world because they have a lot more movement