[Peter Ebbesen]

Originally posted by Arralen:
I think this should fix most issues with the AI troopbuilding.

I think (by a quick scan) that this one would have, e.g., Machaka wasting its money on a tiny elite force of Sorcereresses and Sorcerors (Mage Commanders, typically available for 50% of gold after upkeep) and Black Hunters (sacred and expensive) backed up by Machaka archers.

It would also keep AI nations from buying their very most powerful priest/mages (Anathemant Dragons, Grand Masters, Niefel Jarls, Vanadrotts, Grand Theurgs &etc) unless extremely wealthy. (> ~800 remaining after fortress building and upkeep).

That aside, the two worst potential weaknesses with your algorithm are that a) recruitment as presented is completely separate from the already existing force composition and b) recruitment is independent of location.

case a)
That means that in case of casualties, troops will not be recruited to replace capabilities lost, except by chance. If a lot of leaders bite the dust (e.g. through a determined assassination campaign on behalf of an enemy), no more leaders are bought to replace them than those who would be bought anyhow. Likewise, if a series of battles sees the light elements of the AIs force composition slain, it will not rush to reproduce the capability.

case b)
As a country grows larger, it becomes much more important where troops are recruited. The current AI recruitment strategy of hordes of troops all over the place is pretty forgiving of this case, as the troops bought are ususally quickly moving and can easily be gathered where needed. The AI can easily mass troops because, honestly, masses of sword fodder is what it recruits all over the placed.

Your recruitment strategy, based on fewer but higher quality troops, would work much worse with the "any location goes" for recruitment as it can take an obscene amount of time to move heavy troops from one end of an empire to the other.

I fear your entire step 1) is deeply flawed - as described, it seems incredibly easy to counteract as a human.

Step 3) seems intended to set up the AI for defeat in detail. Patrols of size 20 in each border province? Yes, PLEASE, today is a good day for somebody else to die.

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Sorry for being such a spoilsport, but unless your AI takes the currently existing force composition and the front needs in mind when recruiting, I fear that a top-heavy recruitment strategy is one of the worst possible.

[ April 16, 2004, 09:48: Message edited by: Peter Ebbesen ]