Ambush numbers not showing/working for neutral units

[KGB]

Game 17188 (Darklords3), turn 9.

This turn I attacked a neutral city containing a Ghost. I considered myself lucky not to lose a unit to the ambush. When I went back and took a look at the battle result I saw the Ghost rolled a 15 and it was a miss (when it should have been a hit) with a (0) displayed indicating the Ghost had no ambush chance. Just to prove it was no fluke, later I attacked a Wolfrider neutral and I looked at the battle result there and the Wolfrider chance was listed as (0).

KGB

[LPhillips]

I know for a fact that Ambush works when the AI is on offense. Can't verify the defensive, but I hope that info is useful.

[piranha]

A long time ago it was argued that neutrals should not have ambush (I think it was during beta2). I may recall wrong but I think you wanted neutral to not have ambush. I think it could have been the extreme outcomes that people had back then that created the discussion. Its been like this since beta 3 at least. Should neutrals get their ambush skills back?

[KGB]

Piranha,

I recall some of that discussion but I thought once you put in the smoothing in Beta3 that prevented the extreme outcomes that you went back to allowing neutrals to have ambush skills again.

It's really up to you but I would put it back. Many times I have deliberately avoiding using a good unit against a Ghost in a neutral thinking it could get killed. If I now know there is no ambush chance I will obviously change that to use a better unit up front to lessen my losses. This will matter on some maps like Middle Earth where I have avoided the island city of Osgiliath with my Demon due to ambush but now no longer need fear that.

KGB

[Moonknight]

I would vote yes for neutral ambush...I didn't know this rule was in effect either (I didn't join until Beta 3 so I probably missed that conversation).

[LPhillips]

I'm confused. Ambush was effectively eliminating my units a few weeks ago when defending from neutrals. Has something changed since then? Or is it only effective on offense?

[Maze]

LPhillips,
I guess you are confusing indeed neutrals with AI:
- neutrals occupy cities, income buildings, ... but do not participate in the game (and do not attack you)
- AI participate actively, they are just non-human but nonetheless "normal" players and have the same ambush abilities. It must have been an AI player who attacked you, with ambush ability.

[LPhillips]

Thanks Maze!
That is indeed my mistake.