How's the AI for casual/beginner players?

[Mortal Motö]

Any casual players or beginners who play singleplayer here? How is the AI? After all these years I still suck at RTS games and in AoE2 I really struggle to find a good balance for the AI. Either the AI just straight up doesn't do anything or it's a bit too aggressive with the early game raids that I never manage to counter and then I'm ruined. Is this game similar or is there some sweet spot where the AI fights back but is still manageable even for me?

[Mortal Motö]

I've dabbled in RTS games all my life. I've played Warcraft 3 campaigns a couple times, I've done some AoE2 campaigns (mostly on easiest difficulty which, as I said, didn't offer any sort of challenge), I've done some AoE3 skirmishes (love the setting and everything, but not big fan of the card system and the cramped feeling maps) on I think easy (or possibly even normal) difficulty.

I'm also pretty decent at historical Total War games (but those are all about maneuvering your units and the hammer and anvil tactic. Really satisfying and I've even beaten armies much bigger than mine thanks to these systems). And a bit of Dawn of War 2, but that's obviously a squad based game. So these games don't help with AoE type of game, but at least I've managed to learn some type of strategy games.

I suppose the genre died because people prefer games that focus on a specific part they enjoy the most. Like base building? Try a city building game. Like big battles? Try Total War. Like trading, diplomacy and in general feeling like you're running an empire? Try grand strategy. Back in the day you didn't have as much choice, I suppose? I was around back then but not old enough to pay attention. But whatever the case, for some reason after all these years I still once in a while get the feeling I'd really like to find a classic style RTS game where I can actually fight back but still feel like I'm being challenged.

[2GenL]

right now, it is great for new players (they broke the ai a bit)

[FloosWorld]

Originally posted by Mortal Motö:

I've done some AoE2 campaigns (mostly on easiest difficulty which, as I said, didn't offer any sort of challenge)

I recommend trying them on higher difficulty then :P You can cheese the campaign AI by hitting a random building and then running from their army but most of the time they put off a good fight

[Mortal Motö]

Originally posted by FloosWorld:

Originally posted by Mortal Motö:

I've done some AoE2 campaigns (mostly on easiest difficulty which, as I said, didn't offer any sort of challenge)

I recommend trying them on higher difficulty then :P You can cheese the campaign AI by hitting a random building and then running from their army but most of the time they put off a good fight

I've tried! But then my base gets flooded by AI soldiers way earlier and with a way bigger army than I thought it would and the game is ruined. Happens in skirmish too. I wish there was an in-between setting where the AI is as aggressive as it is on normal but creates only like half the soldiers.

[randy]

The AI has been broken for some time and is stuck in its base.

[FloosWorld]

Originally posted by Mortal Motö:

Originally posted by FloosWorld:

I recommend trying them on higher difficulty then :P You can cheese the campaign AI by hitting a random building and then running from their army but most of the time they put off a good fight

I've tried! But then my base gets flooded by AI soldiers way earlier and with a way bigger army than I thought it would and the game is ruined. Happens in skirmish too. I wish there was an in-between setting where the AI is as aggressive as it is on normal but creates only like half the soldiers.

Have you tried playing around with the other AIs and Handicap setting?

[YouMoMCallME]

Originally posted by Mortal Motö:

Any casual players or beginners who play singleplayer here? How is the AI? After all these years I still suck at RTS games and in AoE2 I really struggle to find a good balance for the AI. Either the AI just straight up doesn't do anything or it's a bit too aggressive with the early game raids that I never manage to counter and then I'm ruined. Is this game similar or is there some sweet spot where the AI fights back but is still manageable even for me?

he AI is very weak . After the last patch it is just terrible :(

[Judeo-communism]

The AI feels very difficult past Normal until you actually learn the game and how to be aggressive and push in. Then it becomes a pushover. Sometimes I play co-op with hardest AI and even when my team mates leave/don't do anything, I just solo all the AI my self with battering rams, archers, men at arms and knights.

If you just turtle and try to win by defense, it can be pretty challenging.