[RERomine]

I think you are correct and that the objectives being scattered doesn't matter as much since it was a meeting engagement. It did seem to have a single minded fixation on capturing the forward most flags first. This resulted on large numbers of AI troops passing laterally in front of a position I had on one hill. They would return fire, but not stop and engage my position.

It makes sense that the AI defends grouped objectives better. I suspect that goes back to the original code years ago where all the objects were grouped. To be honest, I've never paid much attention to which battles seem easier, scattered or grouped objectives. Grouped are easier to plan for and attack, but scattered are more difficult to cover once you have them. The odd isolated AI units can come and pick one off easier.