a new .map to improve AI?

[Gandalf Parker]

OK I think we still have time for this. If someone modifys the Aran .map file (eye is overused already) to provide the AI some of these items maybe we all can see what these "needs" are?

1. The AI is massing weak troops

How about if each AI started the game with another army of hvy and elite units? Or even 2 more armys.

2. The AI wont protect his pretender/commanders/priests/mages

If I actually BUILT the pretenders for each AI then I could assign bodyguards to it. I can also bodyguard priests and mages but only if the .map file gives them.

3. The AI wont build forts

I could start the AI's with a couple of additional provinces and forts/temples/labs

4. The AI's battlefield tactics could be better

Hmmm I dont see where I could help this much. I could toss in a bunch of ally commands so that the AI's dont waste time and resources fighting each other.

5. The AI is making very odd things. IE. wandering around with his pretender alone etc.

Hmmm bodyguards is all I can think of.

6. The AI won't stay in a province, it is always moving his armies.

I think this is a good tactic for an AI. If you cant make it capable of good decisions based on whats coming then moving around alot helps.

7. The AI won't make complex strategic maneuvers. IE. Making a focused attack against a province.

Not sure what can be done here unless a new map image (tga file) is created with more bottlenecks.

8. The AI won't equip his supercombatants..at least I've never seen that in the demo.

That would tend to be very late game but if I create the pretenders I CAN also give them magic items.

The problem with so much pre-placement on such a map is that it wont have alot of replay value. The AIs would always start in the same provinces.

Also, should I only do this for the AI's that cannot be selected for human play? Or should I do it for all the races. If its all, then the human player will also have his pretender pre-selected and extra troops at start.