I really want FE to have the best AI possible. To that end, I'll be making posts like this from time to time. I'll try to keep things interesting writing wise and include lots of pictures. I want to draw the eyes of the powers that be towards some issues with the AI. I'll be playing with my mod installed, but that would only make the AI better. In fact, many issues I have with the AI, I feel I should be able to solve myself in the XML. It's something modders need to make the AI in our mods play well. I'll specify things later. Well, here we go!

Once upon a time...

There was a strong and brutal warlord in the north. His name was Warlord Verga. His dominion was called the Trog tribes of Yithril. He ruled Trogs with an iron fist, slaying any that dare oppose him. In the beginning things were good. He rampaged across the land, taking what he wished, expanding where he dared. Yithril prospered after so many years since the Cataclysm. The land was dangerous, but Lord Verga's well disciplined warriors were often able to outmatch the trolls and ogres of the land. For thirty years Yithril continued to expand, building fortresses across the plains. A conclave was developed for research. A town was developed in a rare area that offered large amounts of food and materials. Now Yithril could afford to keep grand legions of berserkers, using roundshields and axes in unison. There was no greater power know to the Trogs. Resoln and her dark magics grew nearer their power, but had not surpassed. Tarth was rising, but still on par. There was a disquiet peace between nations. It made the Trog women howl at night for the glory of war.

Then one glorious day, the foolish Tarth vermin became belligerent enough to think they could pose a threat to the tribes of Yithril. Their cowardly bandits traveled from the south past the Beleaguered Desert. They were unorganized, a scouting part of archers. Their death was swift and offered few tales of bravery for the coming fortnight. An army of trolls blocked the obvious counterattack to the south and western passes. Lord Verga sent his general, Skuzu, the Weaponsmith, to vanquish the tolls and clear a path. The battles raged on for three years. By then half or more of the troll hordes had been killed. After a raid, one delightfully overcast morning, a beat was heard in the hills beyond the battlefield. It seems the Knights of Asok had heard tales of Troggish bravery and had come to test them in battle. The battle was fair, both sides equal in number and skill. But to call it a battle does shame to the word. The knights rush in with pikes, wiping out the Trog front lines in a single strike. The rear came forward and tried to surround them. It was the correct tactic, but proved futile. General Skuzu leaped in between his men and the terrifying knights. He worked himself into a flurry and slammed his fist down three times on the ground. With each strike, a shock wave blasted forth, damaging the knights. However, the Order of Asok was renown for training their soldiers to withstand such magical feats. Few of them were affected by the blasts. On the knights' second strike, the victor was clear. They seized the advantage and won the day. At the end, General Skuzu, the Weaponsmith lay broken and defeated. To add cruelty to his defeat, they left him alive, taking his ear as a reminder of his failure in battle. An oath of vengeance was sworn that day against the Order of the Knights of Asok. One way or another, blood would be payed with blood.

Now that the prologue is out of the way, this be the realm of the tribes of Yithril.

After the defeat of General Skuzu, all factions declared war on Trog kind. Our weakness was evident and seized upon. This was the correct course to take on a weaker faction. I hold no grudge. It is insulting how few soldiers they put in their armies. They must think us weakling children to send a single champion and unit near our borders. The pain of losing that hero will destroy any future hope of him becoming a competent general. He is not needed in the army. Why send him at all? Why not leave him in a city until a full army can be trained? It makes little sense. Their reasoning is like that of a troll. 

This be the army.

It is a huge strategic error. I will not let them forget it soon. There is even a crow demon and an archer not too far away. Why would they not combine forces? The enemy factions all have expert spies, knowing every inch of the realm. They must see my armies and know that I can intercept and kill them before they take the outpost. Even if I use the unfair magics and teleport the two units near each other, they refuse to group up and continue on the path to their inevitable destruction. May the gods be kind and fix this.