AGEOD Forums

Still being new to the game (though an avid AACW-I player), I'm still picking up on the nuances of the battle planner. However, most of the AI suggestions on which plan to choose in battle have really seemed to let me down. My last one was the icing on the cake - I was defending Manassas with nearly 2,000 power vs. McClellan's 1500 power advancing army. My troops had an entrenchment level of 4, fully supplied, full ammo, defensive posture, and full cohesion. McClellan apparently was left with 1 of 2 choices, both of which was a retreat / withdrawal of some sort. The AI suggested two battle plans for me, and I chose the flanking one (don't recall the other one). I ended up with over 11,000 casualties to the AI's 1,000... Are you serious? Though this is the worst option and result the AI has suggested, I haven't had much better luck in the other battles in which I've chosen one of the AI's suggestions.

Does the AI "trick" the player into choosing the worst possible battle plan so that ATHENA has a better chance of winning? It's the only conclusion I've come to as I'm continually given bad choices by the AI (after learning my lesson not to choose the AI's suggestions, I have been doing much better).

I doubt it is intentionally.
AI maybe thought I am stronger than my opponent, so I'll try to encircle him. But, if the opponent is retreating, it is the worst plan he tried to choose. Your encircling wings were defeated in detail without achieving the encirclement.

The numbers do seem a bit over the top.
I remember having had similar results when I clearly had a stronger, bigger force.
The Union was retreating and I also chose flank. Although I won, the casualties were also very high.
I don't know how retreats are supposed to work, but I'll retreat any day when I can inflict such huge losses on the enemy.

Every plan has 3 other plans that can counter it - make it worse for you than you would do without the plan at all.
On top of that withdrawal should lower casualties for you and your opponent alike.