formation attack or not

[Merak]

yepp its me and my questions again :)


was watching heir of carthridge gaul Campaign with rome. and he stated that formation attack he dont need and it is better to not use it?

what abit taken back by this and started to check da web and found this

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/97365-Formation-Attack-Hamstrings-Unit-Performance

what units do i turn off formation attack and what units do i keep it on

(for example keep on for pikemen and turn of for swordmen not eny more specific then that)

[Hooahguy]

Every "study" Ive seen on the formation button shows that while it helps a unit stay in formation, the unit doesnt fight as well, and is more likely to lose. Ill try to find some sources on this, the formation button was added in patch 7 as I recall, so the "study" was done back then.

[fallen851]

Every "study" Ive seen on the formation button shows that while it helps a unit stay in formation, the unit doesnt fight as well, and is more likely to lose. Ill try to find some sources on this, the formation button was added in patch 7 as I recall, so the "study" was done back then.

At my work there is this one manager who does things that make you shake your head all the time, because just about everything he does is the opposite of how anything should be done. When I'm outside work recalling these things with co-workers, I say GD and then his initials, GD being for god damnit.

I'm going to begin saying it about Creative Assembly.

GD CA. GD.

[Merak]

found a comment in one of the youtube "studys" that said that it works better now with the boost for sheilds (or something like this) but better in defensive as well but it is still better to turn it of then on (only exception for me will be pikemen witch is the anvil anyway) will try it now when i am taking over all now that the civilwar is done. other then that it would seem that there is no updated checkes on this (too boring i would Think too make the same attack all the time with a friend)

[Sp4]

I'm not going to tell you what I think about the formation attack but basically, don't bother.

[Buzghush]

If you using pikes stay on formation. But, if you using melee units, such as, Praetorian Guard, Oathsworn, Naked Sword or something similar, don't be in formation.

[Veho Nex]

Right now using formation attack is a disadvantage. I hope its fixed in their next patch.

[nameless]

Right now using formation attack is a disadvantage. I hope its fixed in their next patch.

So exactly what do you want the formation attack mode for? An all-win button where we just hit "Formation on", make a defense line, then let the AI charge in and get itself massacred like in RTW1?

Or are we looking for one where it simply holds the line to buy time for the units on the outside to flank the enemy?

Because when it comes to attacking the guy who charges gets a good bonus in their attack which puts them on top. Charging has to have some sort of advantage.

[The Outsider]

So exactly what do you want the formation attack mode for? An all-win button where we just hit "Formation on", make a defense line, then let the AI charge in and get itself massacred like in RTW1?

Or are we looking for one where it simply holds the line to buy time for the units on the outside to flank the enemy?

Because when it comes to attacking the guy who charges gets a good bonus in their attack which puts them on top. Charging has to have some sort of advantage.

Yes you are right however formation attack is not for defence, it was just implemented to prevent units from forming blobs. As far as I can see it does that to a certain degree however unit doesn't seem to fight as good as before.

[Veho Nex]

Well right now from what I see when you do a formation attack is your unit keeps moving to reform when someone dies. Unfortunately when a unit moves when its in combat its defense values drop so your guys die a lot faster than if you just had them blob. That is why I hope its fixed in the next patch. As of right now it kinda works when you are on the defensive as your guys are already formed and it just keeps them in formation. When you are on the attack though it doesnt really work that way.

[Sp4]

It's a button you have to click for all your line units at the beginning of every battle. Kind of like guard mode for all line units in FotS to keep shooting regardless of whether or not -A- guy in the unit was engaged in melee.

[Ars Moriendi]

The name "formation attack" is a bit misleading since it's not really useful for attacking. Should be changed to "hold formation" or something similar.

I usually keep all my line units on FA because when switched off some units will lose shape then push through weak spots in enemy line (...blob) which sometimes results in them getting surrounded and killed.

Take FA off when attacking flanks or isolated enemy units. If you leave it on when attacking an enemy unit with a narrower side, your soldiers won't "flow" properly around the enemy and fewer of them will be in contact and fighting.

As posted above, FA is just for holding the anvil steady while the hammer moves into position.

[Nelson]

Patch 9 notes contain the following:

Idle units attacked when set to Formed Attack attempt to keep their current facing.
Formed attack charges will now penetrate less than free attack barbarian charges.
Attacks from units in formation are now more powerful than attacks from unformed units.

[Hooahguy]

This weekend I really need to try out formed attack again, see what's really changed. On other forums they are saying that units wheel around much less and actually hold the line.

[Myth]

They also mentioned Tortoise formation for the Seleucids, anyone know what that is?

[Catmand0]

I have noticed a marked improvement in using formation mode in the latest patch. That patch 9 notes mentioned that the units attack strength is higher while in formation attack.

[Alcibiade]

Formation attack should be an advantage in the log term as the soldiers tires slower when it's activated.