How is PRIORITY used in the game?

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but there a field in WE (and SLK's) that is called priority. I know what priority is, but how is it used in game, and what effects/differences does it make?

Object editor part of WE? I think it either chooses which unit the computers attack first, or it may just choose who is put first when you make a unit group selection. It's also in items, so that is probably just which item will get picked up first.

I've noticed melee and ranged units seem to have different priorities. I'd also guess it determines the order the computer chooses targets.

Yea i've noticed that too. The computer seems to attack magic casters and ranged first instead of the big melee dudes

What about items? Does it make any different for JUST PLAYERS playing? If there was no computer opponents at all.

It shouldn't matter. How are targets determined if you just tell a unit to attack move? Is it just the closest one?

I think for the items it is only an indicator for computer players how important the item is. But I can't confirm that, so test it.

After reading this, I tried giving a nice little test- the computer didn't go after any of the items at all : ( Pity, since the more prioritized item had revenge... Maybe the computers just don't go after gold coins for some reason, though I would think it should. I probably have to apply some sort of special AI other than melee to make them go for items. I'll play with it.

Priority effects which units computer and player units Attack clicking hit first. For example a mountain giant has a higher priority than an archer so it would be hit first.

Priority seems to effect where your unit appears in the tab order of a grouping of units.

High priority places them first (IE heros), low priority places them at the end (IE some melee unit without any special abilities).