How to you handle troops in Trees?

[Irish Rover]

Whenever I have to move troops through forests I lose sight of them completely. Even with the pause key I have to double click on each unit and remember which bushes the previous units were under.

In the old Alexander the Great battle series there was an option to reduce the tree cover to better see you troops. Is it "That's the way it is" or does anyone have tips to share?

Thanks,

[CeeBod]

I have problems with trees myself - in a battle last night, I failed to keep track of every enemy unit and was surprised as a unit of Saharan Cavalry came charging out of a copse of trees, unexpectedly - Good use of cover by the AI, but they shouldn't really have got away with it - there were if I remember correctly, a grand total of 4 trees - but the entire unit managed to disappear from my view as they all hid behind them! Very cunning those guys! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Swoosh So]

Try pressing * and / on the num pad to alter the view height http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif


Swoooooooooshoooooooooooooowl

[Duke of Cornwall]

Quote Originally posted by CeeBod:
I have problems with trees myself - in a battle last night, I failed to keep track of every enemy unit and was surprised as a unit of Saharan Cavalry came charging out of a copse of trees, unexpectedly - Good use of cover by the AI, but they shouldn't really have got away with it - there were if I remember correctly, a grand total of 4 trees - but the entire unit managed to disappear from my view as they all hid behind them! Very cunning those guys! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif[/QUOTE]

After many years hiding behind grains of sand, four trees are a doddle ! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[anymapkoku]

What I like to do in trees, and in games in general, is focus on my units which are closest to the enemy and have them charge. Then look at the unit banners and see what units are not fighting, double click on those to zoom to it's view, then quickly attack the unit in front of it. Now you know which units are fighting and which aren't by looking at the banners at bottom. Double click on each one of your units quickly to all make them charge. It really isn't hard to fight in the trees if you do this, although you might be slow which could hurt you. But usually that's due to your own skill and not to trees.

[t1master]

swoosh

if ya got a mouse wheel, it will also alter your perspective, higher or lower...

[Maelstrom]

Why do we spend so much time in the trees in the first place?

Personally I do it to counter enemy archers (I line mine up in front of the wood) and to completely cripple the opposing cavalry. It is starting to feel a bit cheesy, as every time I defend I dive straight into the trees.

I wonder if there is a mild balancing issue here? Cavalry and archers are rendered useless by woods (not unreasonable), but infantry are uneffected.

Whilst that rings true for your Woodsmen, Clansmen, Vikings, Gallowglass, Peasants etc (maybe some of these units should have additional bonuses in trees), I am not sure that infantry that relied on tightly massed ranks would be as effective when confined and restricted in this way.

Perhaps the bonuses for hold position or hold formation should be reduced whilst in the woods?

Maybe I am just getting picky. I could just stop being such a wuss and get out into the open....

[Lord of the Isles]

I'm sure there was a thread a week or so ago discussing fighting in woods, where one of the developers confirmed that spearmen lose their rank bonuses in trees. So swordsmen *do* come into their own there.

Trouble is, I can't find the thread anymore.

I also found fighting in woods a pain when I kept losing track of units. Then I thought to myself: that's realistic. A medieval general would have had similar problems trying to figure out what was happening, units would have got lost and out of touch with their fellows, soldiers would have blundered about into enemy lines.

So now I see it as realistic and an extra challenge. And if I, a major control freak, can learn to appreciate it, so can you. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[Prodigal]

Yes to all the above, however no ones mentioned actual placement of troops in tree's. Is it just me who has them swing off at random angles? Can't actually find a point to click on where i want my line to start, etc. etc. As I say I agree with everyone so far, but setting up a defense is a needless pain when you wanna work an ambush, or actually bring the fight into woodland.

Moan complete http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/frown.gif

[anymapkoku]

Countering someone who sets up in trees is very easy if you brought a balanced army with not too many spearmen, not too many swords, and some ranged units. Trees doesn't make pavise useless, on the contrary it emphasises the importance of them because you very often live or die by whether you were able to shoot him to death or not. Cav and archers have always been useless so I don't know why the trees make a difference either way.