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Will the enemy AI charge me? A flow chart for "range advantage"

Ever wonder why the enemy sometimes rushes your line and sometimes just sits and shoots? Here is the actual decision the tactical AI makes each turn, pulled from the game files. Work top to bottom, stop at the first YES.

Two terms first

TermWhat it means
SafeShooter one of your men who this turn can shoot an enemy while no enemy can shoot him back
WeightedShooter one of your men who can shoot an enemy this turn. Worth 1 if his weapon reaches 6+ tiles (bow, crossbow, sling) and he has 45+ ranged skill. Worth 0.5 otherwise

(The AI's men are counted the same way.)

Battle Brothers Range Advantage flow chart: when does the enemy AI charge you instead of hanging back to shoot?

The flow chart

Will the AI charge me?

0. Is the enemy a mindless type (beasts or zombies)?
      YES -> it CHARGES.
      NO  -> go to 1.

1. Are more than 5% of the AI's men already in melee with mine?
      YES -> it CHARGES.
      NO  -> go to 2.

2. Did the AI attack me on the world map, and does NOT have a
   crushing range advantage*?
      YES -> it CHARGES.
      NO  -> go to 3.

3. Does the AI heavily outnumber me?**
      YES -> it CHARGES.
      NO  -> go to 4.

4. Do I have more SafeShooters AND more WeightedShooters than the AI?***
      YES -> it CHARGES.
      NO  -> go to 5.

5. Did the AI charge me last turn?
      YES -> it CHARGES.
      NO  -> it does NOT charge.

Footnotes

* Crushing range advantage: the AI massively out-shoots you, in either WeightedShooters or SafeShooters (at least 4x yours, plus 3).

** Heavily outnumber: orcs about 1.5:1, humans about 3:1 in the open or 6:1 in a camp, militia and caravan guards almost never.

*** Shooters over the AI. Open field: 1 more SafeShooter, and at least equal WeightedShooters. Camp: 2 more SafeShooters, and 1 more WeightedShooter. Exceptions: militia and especially caravan guards are so defensive they might still stay back.

The takeaway

To make the enemy charge you (so you get to be the defender), out-position and out-shoot it: more men who can shoot from safety, and at least as much total shooting. Real bows, crossbows, slings, and high ground make that easy. Throwers and standing inside enemy range make it fail.

Sources

Battle Brothers 1.5.1.8 game scripts.