well, that's my problem with higher difficulty (everything above noble) - huge stacks of assasins - instead of less units, but very strong ones, let's say crossbowmen and such.
So far I am happy with the AI on noble, it builds sometimes mages, even archmages, and the stacks are about 10 units a max. the only problem on noble is, that the AI is not very good at economics. I can "cheat" by restricting myself to a lower tech rate, 50% or something like that, but if I use higher difficulty I only have to fight stacks of 30 axemen, and that's really not my idea of civ..
I think higher difficulty should mean more intelligent behaviour. I think GalCiv had an approach by making more difficult AI using more programmed subroutines. A really good MP-human could say what he does. The question is, could the AI be programmed to do the same, and only on higher difficulty levels?
let's say we know CS and SE and maybe also a Aggriculture/Aristocrazy-strategy. What if the AI could be teached not by giving him countless free units, but by using these strategies to afford an army that is strong, but fair.
I want to need to use Shield of Faith. Not to kill 30 axemen, but to kill one vampire on lvl 12. backed by 3 paladins and a high priest of the order. 5 units that mean something, instead of 30 units that only give xp.