"hold position" and attacking

[.:vVv:.Monkey]

I understand the "hold position" command when defending with spears or when ordering the archers not to skirmish and just sit there. However, I don't quite understand what happens when I order an infantry unit that was on "hold position" to attack. Is the unit supposed to attack the enemy and when the enemy routs, they go back to their original position? (unless of course they're lunatics like ghazi infantry and don's listen to you http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-dizzy2.gif )

I basically lose track of my units when they rout the enemy, they go after them, of course being the not so careful general I forget about them and when the enemy rallies, they butcher my units that have gone far away from my main army http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-no.gif I was wondering whether "hold position" would solve this problem

Thx a bunch

-monkey

[rpasell]

Hold position works until you explicitly tell the unit to do something. So if they are on hold position and then you order them to attack, they will. I believe once the enemy routs though, they won't chase.

[Beirut]

Lord Monkey,

I find that resetting my battle lines when the enemy starts to run helps a great deal. (Keeping in mind I'm nowhere near a hardcore player)

When I've got the bums on the run, I put my whole army back into formation, and then chase the largest unit while keeping formation. Helps prevent nasty surpises if the enemy decides to stop and hit back. Maybe one of the hardcore guys here would know if there is a moral factor in play with this.

[ichi]

IIRC, there is a -2 Attack and +2 Defense change in stats for units on Hold Pos.

Yes, once they are no longer engaged they will return to the last location that you ordered them to. But, I have seen units on Hold Pos that were ordered to attack chase routers quite a long ways - apparently as long as they are engaged they keep fighting and chasing.

There are times when units on Hold Pos are returning to their last location that they do stoopid things. If the battle has moved they can walk away from where you need them, sometimes right past enemy units.

Sometimes after fighting a very tired or exhausted unit starts marching back when what I really need them to do is rest, get a few bars of energy before I use them again.

Also, it seems like I have had units on Hold Pos rout their opponent, then turn around to return to their last location and rout themselves due to (I think, not absolutely positive) getting the 'Back to Enemy' morale penalty.

Finally, I monitor unit activity using the icons at the bottom of the screen. I seem to have no problem identifying an idle unit, but sometimes when I put a unit on Hold Pos it looks like it is busy when really it is walking away from the battle.

ichi

[Ludens]

Ichi, I think you are confusing 'hold formation' (HF) and 'hold position' (HP).
HF influences the behavior of individual soldiers: they will try to stay in formation. This gives -2 attack and +2 defence. Also, it is supposed to be more resistant against push-back and other formation disruptors.
HP influences the behavior of the whole unit: as you mentioned, it will try to regain its location after being pushed/skirmished away. It also makes them less likely to charge without orders.

[Servius]

Say you have a front line of spears, on Hold Possition...

a) when the enemy reaches them and attacks, the spearmen will defend. The spearmen might move a bit forward off their line to continue engaging the enemy, especially if the spearmen are winning. The key here is that, if you don't specifically order the spearmen to attack the unit they're engaged with, if that other unit runs away, the spear will break off and return to possition.

b) as opposed to if you specifically order the spearmen to attack a unit, regardless of whether you have them on Hold Possition or not, they will pursue their target all over the map.

[ichi]

Ludens, thanks for pointing that out. Thats why I usually start sentences off with IIRC, cause frequently I don't.

ichi

[Kampfen]

Hey, I just got it. IIRC means If I Recall Correctly You guys are just too much All this computer jargon is like a whole other language. I'm rolling on the floor laughing my 'you know what' off. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

On topic; this is why I don't think using the pause button in a battle is wrong or wimpy as some say. In a real battle little details like this are something individual unit commanders would have specific orders or training to refer to to avoid such mindless behavior such as runnung back to original position when chasing routers.

What I'd really like to see is a unit with low loyalty for instance change sides in a battle because it's commander had been bribed.



"It means Luca sleeps with the fishes."