omine-san
07-09-2002, 20:00
There are several possible improvements on unit behavior, maybe they can be learned in the drill dojo (which at the moment I see no use for) :
I noticed in the demo that when an archer unit is ordered to move directly sideways, without any forward of backward shift, it still turns partly, marches, then turns back - unlike the WE where they just march sideways. It really annoys me since I like to wait to the last minute before ordering a missile unit to move and the infantry unit behind them to attack.
Also when a unit turns backwards, it would be faster if all soldiers just face backwards, first line becomes the last, and forward march. when a unit in 5 x 12 turns sideways, say to the right, the rightmost 5 can become center of first line, the rightmost 5 x 5 stay standing and the rest of the unit men fall into place to their sides.
hold formation under attack : when polearm units stick to their formation, they should have better resistance to charges, especially by cavalry but not exclusively. their ability to do so can be a function of valour, number of lines (3 x 20 less resistant then 5 x 12 ), and drill dojo. when units with big shields hold formation, they should have better cover from arrows (the roman turtle for instance), and again there are simple factors affecting their ability to hold.
When you have one unit engaged and you want another unit to pass by its side and attack the enemy unit from the flank, often there isn't enough room, either because there is another engagement half a unit's width away, or distance to the riverbank etc. This often stops the unit completely even though there is room to pass. Once I tried to get a taisho unit past an engaged unit as above, and only the taisho marched ahead, and of course got himself killed. Better trained units can automatically adjust their width so as not to get entangled , pass and attack.
When a unit outnumbers an enemy unit , the back rows can optionally flow around the engaged front rows and engulf the enemy. maybe this needs a command 'engage eagerly'. If you don't want a stiff formation but don't want to break cohesion entirely, choose normal 'engage at will'. maybe there can even be a 1-10 scale of unit voluntary cohesion you can choose, that affects moving around cliffs or houses etc. as well as combat situations.
I think these can improve gameplay quite a bit.
I noticed in the demo that when an archer unit is ordered to move directly sideways, without any forward of backward shift, it still turns partly, marches, then turns back - unlike the WE where they just march sideways. It really annoys me since I like to wait to the last minute before ordering a missile unit to move and the infantry unit behind them to attack.
Also when a unit turns backwards, it would be faster if all soldiers just face backwards, first line becomes the last, and forward march. when a unit in 5 x 12 turns sideways, say to the right, the rightmost 5 can become center of first line, the rightmost 5 x 5 stay standing and the rest of the unit men fall into place to their sides.
hold formation under attack : when polearm units stick to their formation, they should have better resistance to charges, especially by cavalry but not exclusively. their ability to do so can be a function of valour, number of lines (3 x 20 less resistant then 5 x 12 ), and drill dojo. when units with big shields hold formation, they should have better cover from arrows (the roman turtle for instance), and again there are simple factors affecting their ability to hold.
When you have one unit engaged and you want another unit to pass by its side and attack the enemy unit from the flank, often there isn't enough room, either because there is another engagement half a unit's width away, or distance to the riverbank etc. This often stops the unit completely even though there is room to pass. Once I tried to get a taisho unit past an engaged unit as above, and only the taisho marched ahead, and of course got himself killed. Better trained units can automatically adjust their width so as not to get entangled , pass and attack.
When a unit outnumbers an enemy unit , the back rows can optionally flow around the engaged front rows and engulf the enemy. maybe this needs a command 'engage eagerly'. If you don't want a stiff formation but don't want to break cohesion entirely, choose normal 'engage at will'. maybe there can even be a 1-10 scale of unit voluntary cohesion you can choose, that affects moving around cliffs or houses etc. as well as combat situations.
I think these can improve gameplay quite a bit.