Does the AI use the Sailing attribute?

[iceboy]

On a huge map game I am playing I purposely put Vanheim and Formoria on the two islands because I figured they could use their sailing attribute on their units to move off the islands. But both AIs conquered the islands and then never expanded again. I take it the AI does not use sailing?

On that note how many ocean provinces does sailing allow you to cross to get to another land? Maybe that is the problem?

[JimMorrison]

You can only cross 1 water province by sailing. When they say "oceans", they meant "small seas and large lakes".

I've never paid much attention to whether or not they sail, but I would assume that they see those places as valid targets if they are close enough, since the AI does use flight when they figure out how to get an "all flying" army together, which thankfully isn't often.

[elbnar]

It does when I fight Vanheim SP.

One time the AI ganked my pretender on a quiet coastal province while he was site searching. So it does use sailing against its enemies.

Were you at war with them?

[iceboy]

JimMorrison said:
You can only cross 1 water province by sailing. When they say "oceans", they meant "small seas and large lakes".

I've never paid much attention to whether or not they sail, but I would assume that they see those places as valid targets if they are close enough, since the AI does use flight when they figure out how to get an "all flying" army together, which thankfully isn't often.

Yep that must be the problem then. I wish I could edit the sailing attribute so that you could cross oceans. Would be more fun and make the AI much more dangerous and sailing much more useful!

[JimMorrison]

Well, I'm using Marignon in an MP atm, and I had never valued sailing at all until now. I've already used it a few times before turn 20, and I think it definitely has helped. Though I wish there was a way to sail over rivers.

But as helpful as it is, if you could go more than 1 province, it would become insanely imbalanced.

[Dedas]

When in the right position, sailing can be downright awesome. I like being able to strike without the fear of a counter attack, much like a Viking raid. Attack, plunder (most probably you will have time for this) and withdraw. So annoying! Best psychological warfare ever

Oh, and the stealthy troops of Vanheim just adds to this.

[MaxWilson]

iceboy said:
Yep that must be the problem then. I wish I could edit the sailing attribute so that you could cross oceans. Would be more fun and make the AI much more dangerous and sailing much more useful!

Well, you could edit the map to make the water provinces larger. Would that work? Water provinces are normally larger than land provinces anyway.

If you don't like that you could give them a chain of islands that require sailing to cross.

-Max

[iceboy]

MaxWilson said:

Well, you could edit the map to make the water provinces larger. Would that work? Water provinces are normally larger than land provinces anyway.

If you don't like that you could give them a chain of islands that require sailing to cross.

-Max

I guess Ill go in and edit some of the sea provinces to non-sea provinces even though they will still look like sea provinces!

[Lingchih]

yes, the AI uses Sailing. Not very often, but it does use it.

[Ironhawk]

Yeah sailing can be pretty dangerous when used correctly. I remember in one game I was playing I sailed like 300 troops across a water prov and unexpectedly seiged (and broke the walls) of an enemy's capital in a single turn. Was a major coup. Also, being able to leapfrog provinces along the coast is a treat. Its like a constrained version of flying.