Battle AI in large battles

[Ragnar Dreadbane]

I bought warband on monday and have changed the battle size to 5.00 for grander battles. However whenever I'm in a fight with multiple Lords the ai is broken. They stretch the entire army into one big line and then the two parralel battlelines rotate about the battlefield in a rediculous fassion, no one charges until I charge. For me this is gamebreaking, the only large battles that are possible are seiges. (even then if I issue party commands the ally AI freaks out if attacking)

Is there a mod or fix that changes AI behavior with big battles with multiple Lords? Even if they charge en masse without any tactics it would be better than it is. I love this game, its so immersive but I can't see myself carrying on if I have to avoid big battles.

Any suggestions?

 

[Adorno]

... changed the battle size to 5.00

500?

I don't know any mods that fix it, but have you tried mods with formations?
I know we had discussions in Brytenwalda about formations and large battles.
Motomataru making the formation scripts has tried to avoid glitches.

 

[Ragnar Dreadbane]

Instead of using battlesizer mod you can change the battle size in one of the text files. 1.00 is standard, so at 5.00 I assume that's 5 times bigger.

No I havnt tried a battle formation mod but sounds promising- which is best?

 

[candyman]

To be totally fair, the maximum stated battle size is 150, so you can hardly blame the developers for not compensating for battles more then that

 

[Ragnar Dreadbane]

To be totally fair, the maximum stated battle size is 150, so you can hardly blame the developers for not compensating for battles more then that

true but I don't think the problem is with the amount of troops on screen but the behavior of the units, even in small scaling the ai does the same thing (but with less soldiers). Having more soldiers makes it more obvious- but I don't think it's the cause. I don't know I'm no expert.

I'm more interested in mods that can help than blaming original devs. So any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Caba`drin]

A battle size of 5.0 is 630 troops, not 500 and not 5*150.
Formula: battle_size = (Number of Troops - 30) / 120

So far as mods that improve Battle AI, at the moment your options are mods for Native that include motomataru's formations, or total conversions that include parts of those formations and make other changes to battle behavior.

For Native, with formations (a sampling in ascending order of # of changes...and they essentially nest with one another, get the one at the bottom of the list and you've got everything above it):
-A lone packaging of motomataru's formations, found on the M&B Repository: http://www.mbrepository.com/
-Pre-Battle Orders & Deployment (PBOD)
-Native Mod Compilation (NMC)
-Floris Mod Pack (Expanded)

Total conversions that have formations and/or some changes to battle AI (in no particular order):
-Brytenwalda
-Blood and Steel
-Prophesy of Pendor (PoP)

 

[Azrooh]

Don't forget diplomacy! It's the one I use, and it's awesome.
http://www.mbrepository.com/file.php?id=2688

 

[Caba`drin]

Don't forget diplomacy! It's the one I use, and it's awesome.
http://www.mbrepository.com/file.php?id=2688

I'm a strong Diplo supporter, too...but it doesn't do anything for Battle AI, which is what the OP was looking for. (Also, it is included in the Native Mod Compilation and Floris Expanded, both mentioned above.)

 

[Ragnar Dreadbane]

Great I'll try the floris one with all when I get home- I had looked at diplo so glad it's in there. Thanks for the info guys- very helpful n speedy replies. One last question: Ill have to start a new game obvs but can I import my char from Native if using floris?

 

[Dalkar]

Yup you can. It's also possible to get savegames on Floris, but I'm not sure how.

 

[Caba`drin]

Great I'll try the floris one with all when I get home- I had looked at diplo so glad it's in there. Thanks for the info guys- very helpful n speedy replies. One last question: Ill have to start a new game obvs but can I import my char from Native if using floris?

Diplomacy & PBOD (or their combination) will load up a native savegame without a problem.
Floris Expanded can load up a native savegame if you download an extra file (found in the Floris info/download thread).

The remainder on the list I provided will require new games.

 

[XSevSpreeX]

Yup you can. It's also possible to get savegames on Floris, but I'm not sure how.

I wouldn't recommend trying to convert the save file to Floris. When I did my saved game got completely messed up and I had to uninstall Floris. Apparently my kingdom still existed, but I was not the leader of it (I can't remember why my "kingdom" was called, but there were 8 kingdoms on the list instead of 7). Also, my vassals no longer acted as vassals and the fiefs I owned were not in my possession anymore. However, I realized after that I accidentally overwrote the Native module as Floris instead of having it as a second module. I fixed it, but I had to start a new game in Floris. Maybe that can't really be considered converting though.

 

[Ragnar Dreadbane]

Unfortunatly the AI is still being retarded.

In fights with multiple Lords on both sides (naturally allys troops not under my command) the mounted noblemen run to the edge of the map and then run around the perimetre, with a long single file of their troops behind. If anything the larger maps on Floris make it worse, because the enemy AI is doing exactly the same thing only further away on the other side of the map. Circles after circles after circles. It reminds me of circuit training. The armies dont go anywhere near each other. I managed to leave the battle and the report after ten minutes was no casualties from anyone, because the opposing sides never met. I can re-enter the battle again and am thinking on recording it on fraps or something to better show you guys the problem im having.

 

[Caba`drin]

Did you turn on AI formations in Floris? There shouldn't be any long lines with that...

 

[Ragnar Dreadbane]

Did you turn on AI formations in Floris? There shouldn't be any long lines with that...

where is that option? In camp mod settings because when I went through that list I didn't see it. Am I being blind or is it somewhere else.

 

[Caba`drin]

It's in the camp mod options section. A tick box.

 

[Ragnar Dreadbane]

It's in the camp mod options section. A tick box.

Success, cheers bud

 

[Felonious]

Also, you could get a companion you don't like very much (I always choose Lezalit  ), assign them to their own groups called "Fodder" or something.
Have Fodder charge at the start of the battle, straight into the enemy lines, usually breaks all their formations and turns it into a wild charge.

 

[candyman]

its funny, cause I swear the AI do that to me....

So many times have I seen a single sea raider charge my line while the other 50 or so wait patiently at their spawn point

 

[Bobsama]

Here's a tip: more archers. When the enemy line takes damage, they're more likely to flee or charge. If you kill the enemy commander, they'll all default into charge mode. Simply charging the line doesn't guaranty they'll charge your lines--though there's the chance.