Suggestions to improve battle AI

[Sake]

Battle AI could always be better, but the most needed part is air unit management, AI is even more retarted using air units compared to land or naval units.

Few changes i'm hoping for air warfare are:

-AI doesn't attack with bombers when they are at red health and heals them instead.
-AI does not attack to targets if it notices anti-air unit in range, AI should use fighters for air sweep first (first of Ai should learn how to use air sweep )
-AI never attacks with fighters unless target has under 10% health and all other attacks are already used (for finishing unit)
-AI always keeps fighters in intercept mode unless it tries air sweep or to finish unit with low health

These changes would make air combat in SP 10 times more interesting and challenging.

Some other thing(s):

-AI shouldn't waste range attacks in city that is already at zero health, it doesn't even give xp so it should attack nearby units instead.

 

[EgyptRaider]

I just played a game against ghengis khan. I conquered one of his cities with a really small army. Then his entire army showed up, only consisting of ranged units and the city has been at 0 health for so many turn now and he still doesn't bring in a melee unit to conquer it. Ranged units should either be able to conquer a city if they still have all movements points or the AI should be smart enough to bring a melee unit in...

I also hope the soldiers, when they're attacking stop moving around all the time and just attack a focalized unit. But I last saw a preview of the Zulu fighting Poland and it seems like they're still doing it :/

 

[Shadow717]

I also hope the soldiers, when they're attacking stop moving around all the time and just attack a focalized unit. But I last saw a preview of the Zulu fighting Poland and it seems like they're still doing it :/

Yeah the way the AI will just dance its units back and forth while you kill them rather than actually used them has saved many a city I should have clearly lost...

 

[Basspower]

Or before the AI invade they will dance around your borders for 5 turns or so.

 

[kingchris20]

Or before the AI invade they will dance around your borders for 5 turns or so.

I've thought about this one before, and I'm sure that the "dancing" around is the AI trying to position their units based on terrain to maximize damage to you city? But most likely I'm totally wrong and the AI is just ********.

 

[Sonereal]

I've thought about this one before, and I'm sure that the "dancing" around is the AI trying to position their units based on terrain to maximize damage to you city? But most likely I'm totally wrong and the AI is just ********.

No, the AI is just mentally impaired. Austria danced on my border for six turns, declared war, and try to lead in with chariot archers despite the hills and jungles.

However, Austria did send a good number of warriors and spearmen at about a 1:1 ratio between melee and archers. Too damn bad the warriors were picked off quickly by my comp bows.

Edit: I would make the AI weigh melee units a bit more or make ranged able to take cities.

 

[digrosz]

The Ai should recognize a battle they are unable to win, an then retreat/come with a new strategy. I am aware that that new strategy might be hard for the AI, though.

 

[TheMarshmallowBear]

The Ai should recognize a battle they are unable to win, an then retreat/come with a new strategy. I am aware that that new strategy might be hard for the AI, though.

They do.. on Warlod they do, if I'm dominating and owning their offense they begin to back out to re-group.

 

[Sonereal]

The Ai should recognize a battle they are unable to win, an then retreat/come with a new strategy. I am aware that that new strategy might be hard for the AI, though.

The AI does do this already, or at least seems to do this. Austria, after losing several front units quickly, pulled their forces back and ended up getting my warrior killed due to comp bow and chariot archer spam.

 

[kaspergm]

They do that, but only on a global scale if I'm not mistaken. If the AI has a total army strength that is less than your total army strength, it will retreat and re-group, but if it has a total army strength that is greater than your army strength, it will think that it is doing well in the war - even if it on a local scale has no chance to proceed because of your units being more advanced or just tactically placed to block them.

 

[Velex]

The AI should not jump units into the sea when in range of your cities. Especially catapults.

 

[sumodaz]

I would happily pay for an expansion which the only feature was an improvement to AI. It's the only let down for me of Civ V. I really hope they at least improve battle AI a bit in BNW. I often find myself willing the AI to beat me in a battle. In over 500 hours of play i can only remember losing one city. I agree the dancing units is one of the AI's biggest problems, a more focused attack on individual units would improve battles IMO.

 

[Sonereal]

The AI should not jump units into the sea when in range of your cities. Especially catapults.

AI barbarian ships should stop sailing into range of your cities, then out, then back in until they're sunk.

 

[theadder]

I would happily pay for an expansion which the only feature was an improvement to AI. It's the only let down for me of Civ V.

Absolutely.

 

[Sonereal]

I would happily pay for an expansion which the only feature was an improvement to AI. It's the only let down for me of Civ V. I really hope they at least improve battle AI a bit in BNW. I often find myself willing the AI to beat me in a battle. In over 500 hours of play i can only remember losing one city. I agree the dancing units is one of the AI's biggest problems, a more focused attack on individual units would improve battles IMO.

Absolutely.

Why would someone pay for a patch?

 

[theadder]

It's worth it to have the AI working properly.

I'm not saying that I like the idea, but rather that it would be worth it. The game should have launched with a functional AI, but it didn't.

 

[kingchris20]

They do that, but only on a global scale if I'm not mistaken. If the AI has a total army strength that is less than your total army strength, it will retreat and re-group, but if it has a total army strength that is greater than your army strength, it will think that it is doing well in the war - even if it on a local scale has no chance to proceed because of your units being more advanced or just tactically placed to block them.

This makes a lot of sense! Wish they could alter the AI to focus on weighting small scale battles along with the global scale so the AI could compete better. If I'm going turtle and just defending my borders, it usually doesn't matter what the AI shoots at me (as long as they are not a lot further up the tech tree). I can defend, hit, swap, heal my way to not even allowing them to cross my border. And I'm not an advocate of going backwards and allowing multiple units per tile, but this is because of 1 UPT that it is so much easier to defend your borders. IMHO, it is a lot more fun with the Chess-like experience with 1UPT, but along with 1UPT, they need to ensure the AI knows how to properly use the terrain and 1UPT to stay competitve.

AI barbarian ships should stop sailing into range of your cities, then out, then back in until they're sunk.

Yeah, I just cant understand this.....and even with land units. Just for fun sometimes, my first build is the monument, and I send my warrior exploring (its a little backwards and that is what the scout is for), but the barbarians will just come in and dance around, I don't have a worker at these times, so there is nothing to pillage, and they don't even attempt to attack the city. Of course, one time with Nebby, I researched writing and got the free GS, and built an academy, they did pillage that LOL................but seriously barbarians......ATTACK my city......make me afraid to leave my city only guarded with the "Bombard".

Why would someone pay for a patch?

I say, why not..... I mean if they aren't going to do it (don't find a way to spend time making a patch unless they can be compensated) I would buy it........but we have to be careful here, because its just another way to monetize games. DLC used to be free, and now we are paying for those, comprehensive mod tools used to be abundant, now they either don't release them, or release "mini-versions" that don't allow you to do much.........I mean I'm not saying it would be a good thing to release an AI improvement DLC, but I would probably buy it

I mean they'd have to release it as a DLC with probably some more units/buildings, etc. But I'd buy a DLC that significantly improved AI, if it was packaged as such with a few new units per era, not even a Civ or scenario. Just units and AI improvement, I'd probably buy it.

 

[pilot00]

I mean they'd have to release it as a DLC with probably some more units/buildings, etc. But I'd buy a DLC that significantly improved AI, if it was packaged as such with a few new units per era, not even a Civ or scenario. Just units and AI improvement, I'd probably buy it.

Great idea, they leave half the game out, because they can sell it separately, now they will be selling the AI as well No hostility meant just had a laugh though

Or before the AI invade they will dance around your borders for 5 turns or so.

The dancing on the borders, happens because they try to position their units as close to their target as possible. The borders impede them and because the AI of civ has Alzheimers (cant remember what it did in the previous turn) it needs some turns to decide it cant move any closer.

EDIT: Hence why sometimes the dance out of your borders and DoW a CiV on the other side of the globe and the actual war never takes place.

 

[sendos]

Here are my pros and cons of battle AI:

Pros:
- they know how to use siege gear and ranged units relatively well. They won't attack unless they have decent strength to attack. They will also use ranged units first before attacking at close quarters.
- They know when to fall back.
- They use planes quite a lot, even though OP has stated a few problems when they simply sacrifice their planes at low health.
- They will always try and take out your general one way or another as well as target transport units.
- They know how to use generals (except when they move them to highly vulnerable areas, when they're unguarded).

Cons:
- Before war, their movements are very predictable: step 1, move force towards my borders, step 2: fortify, as if I will declare war and launch counterattack. Step 3: attack.
- They are quite stubborn.
= not aware of my ranged units on defence. Charge into plains, get mowed down.
= Sending cavalry against my spearmen or pikemen (full HP) in rough areas.
= Sending lone units against me
= Barbarian units may sometimes attack my units in well fortified areas and lose miserably.
- barbarian AI navy is quite stupid, as Sonereal stated.
- They sometimes declare war on me when their forces or empire are nowhere near me.

It's hard to suggest what improvements to make, but I agree with Sake's recommendations.

 

[Hulking Lummox]

Would also be nice if the AI ever foresaw the need to defend. If they move back it's just to prepare another offensive wave. These regrouping units are prime for being picked off because they're usually just milling about and not fortified unless injured. Would love to see the ai allowing the ranged to do the work behind the meat shields (and withdrawing behind the city when a unit has exhausted its hp). If they would have patience to stay fortified at times just to deny the player ideal positioning/surround that would make things much more difficult.