Why doesn't the AI recruit spearmen vs drakes?

[A Guy]

I know Wesnoth AI isn't the brightest, but what makes spearmen so unappealing to it in the drake matchup?

[Crow_T]

http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=38885

[Alarantalara]

Alternately, if you have 1.11, play against the Experimental AI in multiplayer.

In a quick AI vs AI game by turn 22, the drakes recruited:
1 Burner
8 Clashers
6 Fighters
2 Gliders
4 Augurs

The loyalists recruited:
1 Bowman
3 Cavalryman
2 Fencers
2 Heavy Infantrymen
20 Spearmen

(The loyalists won)

[A Guy]

Uh-huh, interesting. Thank you.

[Kymille]

The other answer to your question is that a few versions ago an "improvement" to the AI made it never recruit spearmen, elvish fighters, drake fighters (and various other units) in MP. The current algorithm thinks heavy infantry, woses, and clashers are better no matter what. It's an interesting example of how hard it is to come up with effective AI. It's great that a new version is coming!

[taptap]

The other answer to your question is that a few versions ago an "improvement" to the AI made it never recruit spearmen, elvish fighters, drake fighters (and various other units) in MP. The current algorithm thinks heavy infantry, woses, and clashers are better no matter what. It's an interesting example of how hard it is to come up with effective AI. It's great that a new version is coming!

Yes, this led some people changing to random recruitment because it was harder to counter for them. In campaigns it was also recruiting high level units only despite being allowed to recruit low level ones for bigger armies. Quite odd and easy to counter when the opponent in the campaign only fielded 3-4 L3 and nothing else.