Snatching defeat from the jaws of Victory

[Tuidjy]

Here's a topic for war stories about the tactical AI screwing up big time.

As an example, among a thousands, here is what it did for me on my last turn in
my current game.

I was storming the last castle of one of my opponents. I had a rather powerful
arch-devil, a warlock loaded and scripted for hellbind heart and a few commanders
ready to pick up any items that may still be around. It seems that my opponent
was running out of gold or food, because all I found inside the castle was
a dwarven smith with a random in nature.

Turns one-three - the smith buffs. My warlock decides that the opposition is
not worth a hellbind, so he casts buffs. Everyone else is scripted to wait, to
give the warlock time to roll against his targets' magic resistance.

Turn four - the smith casts swarm. The warlock decides that, all of a sudden,
the level four arch-devil is in danger of being point-blank anihilated by the
terrifying dragonflies. He casts 'Summon Imp'.

Turn five - the imps rout. My whole squad routs. Oop-tee-doo-dah.

I knew about the AI's reluctance to spend gems against tiny forces, and should
have anticipated it. But this is not the first time that I see the AI snatch
Defeat from the jaws of Victory. An old favorite is to have astral mages start
a communion, kill a few of their number from exhaution, and rout. Or a Tartarian
to cast Rain of Stones, and kill a hundred Machaka slaves and a thousand golds
worth of mages from his retinue. Etc... Etc... Etc...