Questions of Conquest, Princesses, and Generals

Question. Is it just my imagination or does the AI's intelligence drop when you're on their side.

In Europe 1809 I just finished as Italy (blue). Poland was crushed, England harassed the North coast of France (threatening Paris quite a few times) and the Eastern border of France wasn't too great either. Scandinavia got occupied by the UK and Prussia. In addition to that France never captured Madrid and was being pushed out of Spain after an initial advance. (It wasn't until after I beat England and the Iberian Peninsula was the last Red stronghold that they made headway again.)

Now I'm comparing that to playing as Moldavia (red.) Poland is going strong, Spain is falling, Prussia and Austria are suffering (Denmark took Berlin), and about the only thing going for me (aside from the fact I'm on a winning trajectory due to having a brain) right now is that Russia has taken some stuff from the Ottomans, but that's only to be expected.

Plus, this isn't the first time this has happened. I've always seemed to notice that France fails on Spain when I play blue and wins big when I play red on this one, hence the question.

'k. Though does that occur with all conquests? I know I've had some conquests where I've been a weak player (Two Sicilies for example) where I wasn't contributing a ton to my side yet my allies were making headway. Would that be attributed to a really lopsided map?

Thanks again. (Oh if I could control them like I do my country.)(Side note: I'm loving Moldavia. Their guards are awesome! Got 56 damage on a Light Cavalry with x3 and no general on the unit, just one flanking.)

Another question: Does a general's trade stars effect their effectiveness with Economic Expert? I use Fatimah a bit for economic stuff on small countries so I'm curious as to that. (By the way, has anyone noticed if she's best at any particular unit [assuming 5 stars in everything]? I've put her on infantry quite a bit simply because that happens to be the quickest unit to get, but I'm curious.)

And one last one for the moment. Light Artillery has 6 movement, same as all infantry units (sans light infantry) yet while the inf can always move two, the light sometimes can and sometimes can't. Do infantry have an innate Geography? Just something I've wondered.

Economic Expert gives you a consant increase of income (+40 %) from the city/industry/port/farm Fatimah is sitting on.
Trade stars reduce the cost of items you buy in shops during campaign missions (4% per star; maximum 20%) and increase the medals you receive for selling items by the same percentage. Since most useful items cost 600+ medals, 20% off is huge.



On flat terrain a unit can move one tile for every 3 movement points. So an infantry unit with 6 movement can run 2 tiles. you can increase this number by adding a genral who has some stars in movement and by giving items to the general that add +1 or +2 to movement.
Normally, diffcult terrain such as woods or mountains "consume" some of your movement points so your 6 move artillery might only be allowed to advance one tile. the skill Geography which all infantry units have automatically ignores terrain so you get full movement.

I believe there's Economic Expert and Economic Master, the later providing a high percent bonus.

Not just stupid but at times almost (?) deliberately OBSTRUCTIVE.