Is the AI programmed to focus on the player?

[sr902]

I've always wondered this, since during wars, AI always seem to ignore my allies, but my most recent war just took it to a whole other level.

I'm playing as Kurland, and I'm the only ally of France, who has actually been struggling quite a bit lately. They started a war with Burgundy, who have been doing quite well, and have powerful allies. Basically, Burgundy and it's allies should have no problem destroying the French army. But as soon as the war starts, Burgundy sends half it's army to invade me, and sends the other half to invade my colonial nation in Canada. I defeated the army they sent for me, but it just came right back a year later. Over in Canada, they seiged all my colonial nations' provinces, but even then, they ignored the three completely undefended French colonies right next door.

I've seen the AI make odd decisions before, but this was just ridiculous. Instead of fighting, and mostly likely defeating, their main rival, they focus completely on me, and my colonial nation, while France takes over their entire country. So are the AI just programmed to ignore other AI, even when it means their own defeat?

[Dingus]

They may be trying to separate peace you so they only have to focus on France, that would be my theory.

[Dashing]

Or they declared war on France to actually get you into the war... ;)

[Palmirinha do Hotdog]

Originally posted by Whistling:

Or they declared war on France to actually get you into the war... ;)

I think that's vastly overextimating the intelligence of the AI, lol.

But yeah, probably just want to sep. peace with you, or maybe they see you as the biggest enemy.

[Supplican]

Is the AI programmed to focus on the player?

Not at all. But you are, of course.

[sr902]

Originally posted by Dwarfism:

They may be trying to separate peace you so they only have to focus on France, that would be my theory.

That's what I was thinking, just seemed an unusually dumb way to go about it, even for AI. I had no trouble repelling them from Kurland, but they just kept coming back, going around the French armies to do so, and I just kept beating them.

The colonial thing just didn't make sense. After all my CN's provinces were occupied, they could've just moved over one province and taken the French colonies. Or they could've sent the army home, but instead they just stayed there.

In the end they lost 4 provinces and their best alliance in a war they should've easily won, while I lost nothing but a few years worth of tariffs.

Originally posted by Supplican:

Not at all. But you are, of course.

Wow, you're clever.

[Kenneth]

The AI is very keen on sending their fleet to annoy the player even if that is strategically a waste of the AIs resourses. They also have no naval attrition, so even if i am in Italy and England happen to be in the same war against me, they will guaranteed send their entire fleet over to offload their troops. Just an example :)