How does the computor build armies?

[unmerged(5279)]

In one of my first GCs I decided to annex Scotland by force early in the game. First I had to defeat them of course.
At first everything went well and soon only the Highlands remained of this annoying enemy. I decided to wait a while and recruit a large army and smash this last stronghold.
To my astonishment the scot army with the Highlands as their only source for money and manpower outbuilt me! Soon I couldn´t get any better odds than 2:3.

Do the powers run by the computor earn income the same way as me? Can you explain how the highlanders suddenly became so powerful?

 

[unmerged(1095)]

... they eat porridge!

 

[unmerged(3408)]

I have a gut feeling they took out a loan. But can't say for sure.

Has anyone ever seen the AI take a loan in the game files...I know there is a history of all loans each country takes out. Anyone ever paid that much attention to the game files or were you too busy lowering your BB.

 

[BiB]

Oh loans are quite frequent. Also a nice option when u only are one province away from total annihilation

 

[unmerged(3408)]

Then I think that answeres the question of the sudden army.

 

[unmerged(469)]

Loans have got to be frequent, else how could they go bankrupt with such pleasing regularity?

 

[unmerged(4130)]

Or they could have received a gift.

 

[unmerged(3627)]

Doesn't explain the manpower though. The Highlands is not a highly populated province... big armies shouldn't be a feature of its building pattern. Odd, that.

 

[Vulture]

AI countries tend to loan very often... Often taking loans from other countries

 

[dralizaar]

think its based off the minimum manpower 20..nothing that happens will lower that max manpower even if all but one prov is held so if you iwaited 2 years that would be 20k troops he'd have depending on how much man[ower he had saved up prior <manpower comes back at roughyl half the toal per year ie if manpower max is 20 you get 10 a year> how many years did you wait ti assualt him?

 

[unmerged(5279)]

AI economy

I´m not sure but I think I waited something like one or two years. When I called off my offensive the highlanders were 17 000 strong. Soon, they were 37 000 but quickly fell back to 34 000 by attrition I suppose.
These figures could as I see it be explained by the loans and the minimum manpower. I suppose it answers my question.

Thanks

 

[unmerged(3408)]

A 34k army isn't anything to turn your nose up at early in the game, but I think you've got Scottland on the ropes.

Did you finally annex them?