How do I choose the initial 16 units in my attacking army?

[hecose]

I've seen this mentioned in another thread, but I can't remember which one, so I'm going to start a new thread. When I attack a province bringing more than 16 units, how do I choose which initial 16 will fight on the battlefield? In the past I hear that it's the first 16 you drop into the province (on the strategic map), and recently I heard you can actually choose/swap them during deployment, i.e. on the tactical map. It was mentioned that there's a button on the top left corner of the screen, but I only see the HALT button. Any ideas?

[celtiberoijontychi]

When you attack (or defend) just afer choosing weathe you get this screen where you are asked to select one of the standard formations (arrowhead, wings, etc.)At this point you have a button next to the "fire at will" button that's called "cycle reinfocements"
You just select the units you don't want to use in the first wave and replace them with reinforcement units (one unit each time)

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Long live Celtiberos
Glory and Honour to Clan Celtiberos

[Dark Phoenix]

Hecose it is at the top right of the screen.

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DoragonPhoenix of the Clan Doragon (http://clandragon2.homestead.com/Dragon01.html)

"DP is correct" - Shiro

[Kiwi]

Yes it is definitely on the right and it has a black(?) background and an arrow in a circle. It is the only button at that stage that you can click on.

A word of caution - do not group your units first and then try and rotate them out. You will be thrown out of the game. Voice of experience here http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

May I say that it is one of the best new features of the new game. Great to see it.

[hecose]

Arrgghh... I am an idiot. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif I kept staring at the Halt button and wondering where's the darned Cycle Units button.

Thanks guys.

[hecose]

Is there something wrong with my version? I bought the WE (not MI xpack). In my campaign game battles, when I bring more than 16 units, I still can't see the rotate button next to the Fire At Will button. There's only an empty space. Now, this is just before the battle starts, i.e. when I see the dialog box to Press BEGIN to start the battle. This is after the dialog box telling me which province it is, and after the dialog box for choosing weather.

[MajorFreak]

for anyone still unclear on the concept...
Stage one (http://www.guidestone.com/files/temp/tmp/Reinforce1.jpg)
Stage two (http://www.guidestone.com/files/temp/tmp/Reinforce2.jpg)
Stage three (http://www.guidestone.com/files/temp/tmp/Reinforce3.jpg)

Stage 3 is where you see the reinforce button.
http://www.guidestone.com/files/temp/tmp/Reinforce4.jpg
(note that it cycles through the available reserve once you've selected at least one unit to switch first.)

Okay, there's one other thing...your main army isn't placed as the first 16, exactly. (the commanders of the other armies are included by default. other than that it's a piece of cake)

EDIT: your main army is considered the highest ranking general's army (or the first placed one if it's a tie)

[This message has been edited by MajorFreak (edited 08-30-2001).]

[Anssi Hakkinen]

One thing I noticed - if you have a manageable amount of reserves, you can use them to customize your initial battle formation to some degree. I use this to swap the archers the Arrowhead formation puts at the fore for AX/teppô. Interesting.

[Vanya]

Assemble your armies before you invade. The highest rank general takes command. This way you know to put your choice units with such general and bada-bing! no swapping needed!

[MajorFreak]

yes, but be careful about the "autoswap" with the commanders of the other armies involved in the battle (you might be missing that critical unit cause the computer decided that ashigaru commander of the reserve army randomly swapped with the Kensai in your main army. *g*)