Published a first release of Pure Spectator Mode:
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3474366453

@Aten, I've been spending more time playing the game (with this abandoned mod enabled) than actually working on the mod. So far I've read through some parts of the script logic; and managed to import/export the contents to/from .pack file using the rusted pack file manager. So I have a basic work flow to create/edit a .pack file and load it manually into the game for testing.

Now the main missing component is understanding the details of the code objects being used in the scripts and why exactly the 3rd+ reinforcement army is missed out when granting AI control. There is a more recent version of Spectator mode in TW Saga: Troy, and I will most likely play Troy as well and then examine the scripts for that mod, use the ideas, and bring them to 3K.

@Qladstone - How far is your progress in total? I think option toggles for spectating are always good

If time permits I might dive into the Lua scriptis and iron out the kinks to make a 100% spectator mode that fixes any missing AI control bugs. My idea is to modify this to create a mod that is pure spectator mode where you don't have to do anything on battle start and AI just controls everything without needing to press any hotkey, unlike this one which let's you have intermediate options to control general-only or main army only etc. No promises on that though, since this abandoned mod already achieves the same effect about 95% of the way, and it might be too much effort without prior modding experience just to implement the full concept.

Overall the AI occasionally does stupid things with your troops, and I'm not entirely sure if the AI used by spectator mode and the AI used for enemies are exactly the same. (Maybe when I have time to dive into the scripts.) Most of the time the AI does decent and you will win battles if you are in an advantageous position most of the time. Although it is always a coin toss whether your AI or the enemy AI does the better manoeuvres overall. I would say I quite enjoy this experience where you get to watch the battle in real time without knowing for sure what the outcome will be, like watching a sports game. You will definitely want to set the battle difficulty to Normal mode since it's AI vs AI; no need to give the enemy any stat advantages.

Note on battle with reinforcements: you need to wait until reinforcements fully enter the battlefield (all the unit cards appear on the bottom) and then activate/re-activate spectator mode to grant control to the AI. I have encountered a total of 1 situation where this does not fully work. I suspect when there is more than 1 reinforcing army of your faction, spectator mode only grants control for the 1st reinforcing army and the 2nd one is left idle no matter how many time you re-activate spectator mode. This is not a common occurrence especially early/mid game, though it does limit your tactics or force you to manually control the 3rd and above reinforcement army, so you cannot have a 100% spectator battle game.

I've tested this abandoned mod as it it a bit on N/N on romance mode. The furthest I got to is Duke as Cao Cao, kind of slow since I've been learning a lot of the campaign mechanics some of which are quite different from previous TW games.

For the most part the mod seems to be working fine. The AI control is functional in both field battles and sieges, engages in duel mechanics, uses loose formation for troops when under missile fire, and uses active skills on generals. (However I did not pay too much attention to whether they use all of the general skills as most of the time I just sit back and casually watch the battles.)

Okay, I might play a campaign or two unmodded first to get a feel of the battles. I've played other total wars before but not this. After hundreds of TW battles I'm just tired of cycling the same old tactics to beat the mediocre AI. I find it more fun to execute strategies on the campaign map and just watch the mediocre AI battle each other and enjoy the show.

@Qladstone, you'll need to download the TW modding software, i forget the name but its online to download in Github, get a mod download like this or BattleBox and look at the scripts inside to get a sense of it, BattleBox on the workshop works by far the best for AI control.

Hello, I'm interested to take over this mod. I'm new to modding but am a professional software developer.

its cool

Rightists are so fucking goofy lol

bump, alternative mod?

Is there another mod like this?

!!! Z !!!

@Fang - Keep eating the RTL / NOS brainwash cookies man.. and while at it, get another booster, cuz the chicken monkey boogeypox gonna get ya.

@Fang, coming from a dutch lmao

Eh, not gonna use anything from someone who sucks Putin's balls anyway.

ABANDONING THIS MOD - FEEL FREE TO TAKE OVER.

Is there an issue or bug with the mod? When my reinforcements come in it only controls 2 armies and the rest stay on idle or is it a reinforcement bug?

Does this work in sieges i know similar mods all seem to crash

@Captain B.Dick hate is a bit strong word, but i have been playing TW games and Shogun for over a decade now - it's just the same all - recruit, attack, recruit conquer, repeat etc.- i just don't find it exciting anymore.

And a 1000 different units or 100 new Generals wont change that.

vlerk do you hate the game because they abandoned it

warhammer 2 has a similar mod but Shift+f9 is only for selected unit, can you do that? Does Anyone know a mod can do that?

is it still working? I didnt have any effect after pressing

@OrangeRuffy No it does not.

Does this not work with custom battles?

is there a way to choose which units you want the AI to take control of? I'd still like to run around with my generals while the AI controls my archers and spears. Thank you.

Im late to the party, i have just started using this mod and it seems to work so thank you, Is the author still active if it needs an update in the future ?

very thanks u so much

This still works and always should.

这个作者表示已经不喜欢这个游戏把他卸载了，所以不会再更新了

My friends this is a script (battle) i doubt anything has changed - if the game Mod Manager says **outdated** don't pay attention - the mod should work.

I can't test it because i hate this game LOL and uninstalled a while ago - good luck.

Sometimes it seems that the AI control desactivates itself.

I've just tried it in its 'outdated' state, and it works just fine. I tried it using a mid-campaign save in the Mandate of Heaven timeline. All good, brilliant mod, thanks!

update plz

Fantastic mod.Update 1.4 in plan?

主模式跟加强模式是什么鬼，我就想知道如何操作只控制部曲不控制英雄

mod管理器显示过期了耶

你可以使用 f9-so (开始战斗)按 shift-f9是观众模式-按 shift-f9又是主模式-按 shift-f9又是加强模式-按 shift-f9又是加强模式-按 shift-f9一切都关闭。 移动 + f12增援模式——进入战斗地图的增援部队受人工智能控制。游戏玩法提示，决斗后你的将军不会自动回到马上，所以禁用人工智能或只使用控制将军(移动-f11)。

F10观众模式-所有军队是自动的-但按 shift-f9做同样的事情。 F11领主模式——只有指挥官(军队中的首席将军由玩家控制)。 F12增援被 ai 控制(如果你有两支部队，只有进入战斗地图的增援部队被 ai 控制)。 你可以循环与 f9-所以(开始战斗)按 shift-f9是观众模式-按 shift-f9再次是主模式-按 shift-f9再次是强化模式-按 shift-f9一切都关闭

Good job! thanks!

大佬，麻烦您，能不能给个中文解释，文盲看不懂英文。。。。尴尬

work great, thanks.

@Yes, My lord -- enable it with mod manager ? it does work.. played it today and it works.

why it doesn’t work

能否只控制部队中的3个主将，其他士兵自动？

太帅了，太适合我这种手残

太帅了 太帅了

Thank you!