Can't the AI ever just defend?

[ScubaSteveWA]

Sorry if this has been discussed, but it's just something I've noticed. Every game I've play the AI has never just defended itself. Even when my army outnumbers them 3 to 1 they still send their army one by one to be slaughtered. Every war is a massacre since it's always the same process. I set up my units along their borders in a line with melee units in front supported by ranged units, and just wait. After a few turns the AI comes and I easily pick them off since most of them are isolated and have no concept of tactics, and I usually don't ever lose units. Then the cities are easy pickings, the only resistance I may encounter is archer or cannon left over in some of their cities, but that's it. The damage had been done.

What I would like to see, is when the AI is the defender or has a disadvantage in troops and no intention of taking my cities, that it falls back and creates a defensive line. Have the AI get all of it's troops fortified and wait for me to attack. Now this actually might make a challenge, and certainly make things interesting. The combat can get a bit dull now since it's always the same. However if they actually defended it would certainly give me some losses and maybe even make me to lose a war. Right now, you can only lose by getting overwhelmed by their massive spams. If the AI created a defensive line and keep sending reinforcements to it from other cites, well wars might be a challenge... and much more enjoyable.

I would be nice if AI typically defended when it was attacked, and usually only the aggressor was the one attacking, unless of course the ratio of military power changed. At the very least have the AI defend when it should defend (by just keeping it's units fortified in it's borders would be good enough). Right now almost every war they always attack, sure they retreat once they have taken damage; but their attacks are often just so pathetic and hopeless.

 

[Nosehair44]

What difficulty are you playing on? That usually has an immense effect in AI behavior.

Secondly, No player can have more than 1 land unit stationed in a city at any given time, so no matter what they are probably going to be hopping out of the city 1 by 1 to their inevitable dooms.

 

[smallfish]

They tend to be far more aggressive on King and upwards, on multiplayer (especially 'em barbs) and when they have the space to make 5-8 cities.

 

[The_Quasar]

Often the best defense is attack, although I grant you that the AI isn't the best!

 

[Disgustipated]

I have seen them defend only once. It was the Earth map, and the AI had a city in Turkey area, and I was trying to take that city from my city in Europe (Greece Area). I tried to wait for them to come out and play, but they didn't. They had 3 artillery waiting in their city limits. The artillery chewed me butt up. I was unable to take the city.

Keep in mind this is from one of my earliest civ games before any patches. Lately I see no defense other than a ranged unit, and maybe a swordsman hanging around.

 

[smallfish]

I have seen them defend only once. It was the Earth map, and the AI had a city in Turkey area, and I was trying to take that city from my city in Europe (Greece Area). I tried to wait for them to come out and play, but they didn't. They had 3 artillery waiting in their city limits. The artillery chewed me butt up. I was unable to take the city.

Keep in mind this is from one of my earliest civ games before any patches. Lately I see no defense other than a ranged unit, and maybe a swordsman hanging around.

There are random maps where the AI is handed really nice chokepoints and boy good luck trying to take them out even with artillery.

e: on Emperor, they spam enough units in those places to make you wish you didn't DOW them in the first place.

e2: Incan starts that has every thing within six hex tiles radius be all hills and mountains. Good luck!