Enemy fails to move from starting position

[stephenterrell]

I have found, in a number of mix and match campaign battles that, other than sending out skirmishers, the main enemy force just stands its ground in the starting position.
In my most recent battle (Campaign stage 6 of 11) there was a long line of enemy troops, perhaps 3/4 of the width of the map. Some of the skirmishers set out on their first move. I was parked on a large hill about half way up the map.
My skirmishers were around the enemy facing slope of the hill.
On move 14 left enemy reinforcements arrived and moved towards the rear of the enemy lines.
By move 12 left only one enemy skirmisher remained and more reinforcements arrived.
And so it stayed 6% to 0 win without the enemy main force moving.
Easy but not very interesting.

I was outnumbered 12646 to 10713 but the enemy was too afraid to fight!

Is this to be expected?

[DerekP]

Yes - I've seen this. Usually they have a decent defensive position or yours is too strong.

If you probe their lines they will usually (not always) try and catch isolated units which can offer up opportunities.

[MVP7]

Usually you can trigger the enemy advance by damaging some of their melee troops with skirmishers. If the enemy leaves a reserve behind the advancing force you can usually force them to move with skirmishers as well (or avoid triggering them by leaving them in peace). It's very gamey but there's not much else you can do when enemy has a superior force in good positions and refuses to move otherwise.

[Paul59]

I would say this is a very rare occurrence.

In all the campaign battles that I have fought, and that is a lot, I have only ever seen this once. It was in an enemy reinforcements scenario, just as you describe. I assume that the AI thinks it is too weak to attack at the start of the battle. Why it does not attack after they arrive, I do not know.

Of course, my experience might be obscured by the fact that when I get an enemy reinforcement battle I usually attack. I try to win before the reinforcements arrive. It was only in a recent battle when I was playing with a very weak army, and did not feel strong enough to attack, that I took up a defensive position and waited for the AI to attack, they never did.

[MVP7]

Weird, for me the AI waits almost always if my army and/or the AI army has a good defensible terrain at deployment zone. It always advances if there's preferable terrain in the center of the map though.

I have mostly played on Tribune and Legate difficulties so maybe the enemy avoids attacking because it doesn't have as overwhelming superiority as it would on higher difficulties?

[Paul59]

Weird, for me the AI waits almost always if my army and/or the AI army has a good defensible terrain at deployment zone. It always advances if there's preferable terrain in the center of the map though.

I have mostly played on Tribune and Legate difficulties so maybe the enemy avoids attacking because it doesn't have as overwhelming superiority as it would on higher difficulties?

Yes, the difficulty level must have a lot to do with it. I always play on Emperor, so the AI always has a big points advantage.

[stephenterrell]

Phew, i am a mere Governor! As you say the enemy can be triggered to advance but my poor triggering unit struggles a bit to escape without too many casualties.

[Ludendorf]

Skirmishers will usually do it. If you can take up position somewhere advantageous near their lines they'll usually start moving as well. If all else fails, send out the cavalry and be ready to book it quickly if they move after you!