Aztecs build Warriors in Conquests

[bluebox]

I observed Aztec Warriors in previous games and stumbled across them again in a COTM13 test game. This time a question came to my mind: Why do Aztecs build Warriors? They have a UU that should replace Warriors, shouldn't it?

'Because they can', says the Editor! They can both build Warriors and their UU, Jaguar Warriors. But this is not what the Civilopedia says, telling me Aztecs should build Jaguar Warriors instead of Warriors.

Probably because Warriors are cheaper, the Aztecs never make use of their UU and play below their optimum. Shouldn't we change that for upcoming COTM's?

 

[Gato Loco]

Are you sure they didn't get the warriors from a goody hut? If it's just one or two, that's the most likely explanation.

 

[DaveMcW]

The Aztecs can indeed build warriors.

But the AI doesn't know how to do an effective Jag rush, so it's just as well they aren't paying 50% more for them.

 

[bluebox]

A Scout with the strength of a warrior isn't worth the 15g? I doubt that. Just because the AI cannot perfrom human strategies it shouldn't do without the advantages it can get: faster exploration, gh popping, contacts, ability to retreat in case of attack .......

But before we get to the pro's and con's of such a 'fix' I'd like to know something about the aztec warrior building ability in general: It is a bug noone has found out about since c3c is out?

 

[chunkymonkey]

Hmm, I have wondered about this too, but I always just assumed the Aztec warriors I have seen were just popped.

Perhaps, the AI doesn't see the advantage of the extra movement point for the extra 5 shields. Just as AI will tend to exclusively build swords over horses when given the choice, in my experience.

However, I have definitely seen Aztecs build Jags before, so they must build them sometimes. I wonder why?

 

[Doc Tsiolkovski]

That's by no means a bug, but another fixed exploit in C3C.
Jag rushes with Jags @10spt are considered broken in MP. That's why they cost 15sp in C3C. That OTOH would also mean Aztecs have no cheap 10sp unit (which would be as broken...), so they now have Warriors.
The AI will very well build Jags. In sufficient numbers.
But they build Warriors early if they want a defender (remember, the AI decides about the flag for a unit upon building it; a 'defence Jag' wouldn't be used to attack anything but a redlined warrior anyway - but, he would pillage).
Once the Aztecs have BW, they'll switch to Jags and Spears (and Archers), no more Warriors.

Bottom line: That change is well-balanced, and doesn't hurt the AI at all.