COmmond to move Army in formation

[Gauthijm]

here goes a new n00b question...

I set my army up all nice and pretty and then the enemy does something that I need let say reorient my axis of attack/defense (that's why he's called the enemy )

Since I would like to keep my formation, and just pivot, OR I am attacking and would like to move my horde of units in the same way, is there a command to make the units move, and stay in the same order and grouping ?

A A
S S S S
H I I G I I H

A, Archers in 2 line depth, S, Spearmen in 3 line depth
G, general behind, S, swordsmen behing each paired Spear unit and Horse on the sides.... for flanking...
If Defending, Horse in trees for 'surprise ...

Now if I am attacking, IF I would like to keep this formation, and move againts the enemy, how would I do it ?

if I click in front of the enemy army, would all my units move in the same formation, or do I need another click-command to do it ?

Thanks in advance
Jean

Question 2: What do you think of this formation BTW, or am I dead on arrival ?

Question 3: Is it better to put swordsmen/axemen in forest to ambush enemy horse, or spearmen to really put the hurt on horsemen (even if they lose their rank bonus in trees ?


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[KyodaiSteeleye]

Hi,

The manouvering question is one that took me quite a time to work out in STW Basically you have the alt key/left mouse button option to move all selected units so that they end up facing the same direction/in the same formation. This is simple enough to work out.

If you want to wheel your army formation (eg: when that pesky AI general keeps trying to flank you) - you need to group all your units using the 'g' key, then alt/right button/swing mouse to change the facing of your whole formation. If you don't group them first, your units will change facing independently and you'll end up in a fine mess. WORD OF WARNING - remember to ungroup your units (using 'g' again) after this manouver - the amount of times i've forgotten this and then regretted it later on....

As for formation - looks fine. I don't often ambush, just because its often more hastle than its worth and leaves your ambushing units potentially vulnerable and your main army body weaker should the enemy not do as you plan. On option with that formation is to move a few of your swordmen units out so that they can easily go round the outside of your spears to flank the enemy - remember the spears are only there to tangle the enemy up while your main shock troops can get around them.

Hope this helps.

Span.

[pdoan8]

1) Moving in Formation: KyodaiSteeleye already answered. That's the basic but very important when you want to keep your army in good formation.

2) Formation: I guess most people have their own formation depending on the playing style. For me, I have a few variations in SP campaign .A = Archer or foot missiles, C = Cavalry (including mounted missiles), D = Defensive troops, O = Offensive troops, G = General:

- Standard or Defensive Formation: defensive in front with offensive on flanks, cav in rear and archer in center. I may put archer in front of defensive line.

D D D D
O A A A O
O G O
C C C C

- Infantry Charge: offensive in front, cav in flanks, defensive behind offensive and rear, archer in center. Rush formation.

O O O O
C D D C
C A A A C
D G D

- Cavalry Charge or Cavalry Skirmish: all cav in front, offensive behind cav and defensive cover flanks and rear around archers. Another rush formation but may begin with a cav fake charge. I may replace all foot archer with horse archer.

C C C C
O O O O
D A A A D
D G D

- Offset Formation: defensive in front, archer behind defensive, offensive on one flank and rear, cav on the other flank.
D D D D
O O A A A C C C
O G C
O

My main aim is having a formation that is well defended on all sides and flexible enough when I have to change facing or re-arrange.

3) I think polearms are best in the wood against cav. Swords/axe are good in the wood for ambushing or to avoid archers fire. Spears would lose to cav (and all others except spear, pike and maybe archer) in the wood. I would never put pikemen in the wood.