Norfy, it may just seem that way (the AI "cheating" by nailing commanders deep in the rear) but what I suspect is really going on is that the AI is trying to arrow much more frequently than that and you don't get any clue because there's no warning of failed attempts when the AI misses. You don't see a message saying "An arrow fell out of the sky and landed harmlessly in a pile of horse manure."
The only real cheating is that the AIs know which provinces are under your control, even if they are in your "rear areas".
[ February 23, 2004, 05:14: Message edited by: Arryn ]