And what do you think about the diplomacy, economy and combat AI?
Let's see....
1. Diplomacy
Current form, diplomacy is unfinished in its official form, but even at it's primitive form it's working quite okay. Of course, I don't see the "make peace" option in the Diplomacy screen, but I have a way of making peace in the game, with both political and military pressure, AI will make peace with you in due time. To me, this is actually how the backbone of diplomacy works even up to modern age, and is pretty realistic to me.
2. Economy
I have not roleplayed a merchant, but apart from the e1.1.0 patch where towns gone bankrupt which was fixed 2 days after release, so far, I find great freedom to trade and hog the goods that I see fit all over Calradia...no complaints from me.
3. Combat AI
I don't go to arena, as I die to single pitchfork wielding looters if I set difficulty on realistic more than they die to me if I'm on a horse on 1v1. (not exactly an inspiring fighter for my troops I know
), but hey, there are commanders who don't fight well yet are brilliant on the battlefield ya?
In battles, of course there are some glitches here and there, but non are really game-breaking for me. I reported a few bugs I witnessed here and there on specific units behaviours, but in general, the AI uses tactics, their soldiers change formations on the fly and some battles can be challenging and are most enjoyable when especially when you have a combined arms composition.
Granted, AI still AI, they have limited battlefield tactics so far (HA always charge in first for a skirmish round and sustained if your line is disassembled, always finding a high ground as its only utilisation of terrain advantage, always split cav in to 2 grps to cover both flanks, never seen using chokepoints on the battlefield) but I believe to expanded AI is no small effort and right now there's enough variety for the game to be playable.
I could be wrong, but I believe battlefield AI and tactics is more related to underlying game engine mechanics including pathfinding and situation awareness exposure to the AI itself, thus, not likely any mods can improve this bit right now? (except hitboxes, skill levels for units, equipments...which are more likely in an xml table to be used in the said engine rather than the overhaul of the engine itself)