Does AI just target the player?

[GoldenTalon]

Playing as England against a massive Spain that keeps attacking me as soon as truce is up. They have 120K units against my 40K. However, Ottomans are Spain's rival and despite being at war for 20 years they don't attack nor does Tunis. What gives? Seems like the AI is geared toward blocking the player or am I missing something?

[the_panther]

The AI only attacks someone they think they can beat. Also, the AI does not care whether or not the enemy is another AI or a human (even though they really should since human opponents are far tougher, lol). But since they have 3 times the troops you do, obviously they have your number.

In your case, the Ottomans and Spain are likely close to equal in strength so neither feels it can beat the other. Thus, the standoff.

The only way to end these attacks is to get a powerful ally like Ottomans, France, the HRE emperor, possibly even Denmark or Papal State. By the way, the best way to play England is usually to ally both Austria and Castille immediately, thus preventing your scenario. Then you can kill France, who is your true enemy.

[GoldenTalon]

Originally posted by the_panther:

The AI only attacks someone they think they can beat. Also, the AI does not care whether or not the enemy is another AI or a human (even though they really should since human opponents are far tougher, lol). But since they have 3 times the troops you do, obviously they have your number.

In your case, the Ottomans and Spain are likely close to equal in strength so neither feels it can beat the other. Thus, the standoff.

The only way to end these attacks is to get a powerful ally like Ottomans, France, the HRE emperor, possibly even Denmark or Papal State. By the way, the best way to play England is usually to ally both Austria and Castille immediately, thus preventing your scenario. Then you can kill France, who is your true enemy.

I did. Then when Castille was almost dead Aragon joined them (event?) and formed Spain.

[the_panther]

Originally posted by GoldenTalon:

I did. Then when Castille was also dead Aragon joined them and formed Spain.

Ha! Hate it when you pick the wrong side...

[GoldenTalon]

Originally posted by Hermóðr:

Ottomans are like om the other side of Europe. They can’t even get to Spain. AI usually only attack when they will win for sure. On my latest byzantine game which started yesterday. Ottomans got at war 5 times in a row and 3 wars at the same time when i declared my first war. Which led to a very early downfall for the turks. At the time My truce was up they only had 2 provinces in bulgaria and like 1/4 of Anatolia.

The AI doesn’t focus the player more than the AI, it focus whomever that is weakened and that they can conquer. If you got the DLCs you can see which provinces a certain country wants. They will mostly only attack the country who has those provinces. Also they will surely attack them when they are weakened and the odds are in their favour.

Finally in third war Ottomans are involved. Not sure why as they weren't an ally of mine - maybe a great power thing? Now Spain will be crushed underfoot!

Edit: They quit for some reason. Argh.