For me I never use them.
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For me I never use them.
what do they do?
Krast not need this formation thing.
Is nice idea, but it not work for Krast's style of play.
I don't use them. I can setup my own formation just as easly in the same amount of time.
I think I used it once when me troops were scattered in no order whatso ever. They formed up nicely altogether with one click but the spacing and order was not as I wanted so I've never used it again. Also annoying in the ctrl-shift-# to get a number recallable group. I takes a real long time to select the group and sometimes if you miss click it changes the formation.
i do use it to group men into single lines when they already are where i want them. if i am movingt them to a new position i just select and redraw them by rank and file.
most of the formations are unweildly unless you have a 4x4x4x4, which i seldom do. besides, 2 of the 4x's are usually foot and if you use one of the 3 row formations(lines of missile, foot and cav) all your foot get in one line rather that spears in front and swords behind.
i always use 4
left right centre shooters centre combat
and somethimes 5 general
or catapult
I occasionally use formation n:o 5 (missile first) to gather my infantry and ranged units after a chaotic battle. Sometimes the units need "stretching" to get the spacing reasonable...
Same as Crand. Formation #5 and #6 can be useful.
seems u r talking about different things
army formations: select group and then press 1 to x
individual groups: assign group numbers and select them during battle by pressing ctrl-shift 1 to x
army formations: i used them a while but in formation 5 the spears were to close to the shooters and were in the line of fire.
individual groups: use them never, but in Shogun it helped to play in games with mouse lag, if it d took too long to select units with the mouse, you had an advantage
Can you give me a break down? what formations are in 1-9
I use formation with CTRL+SHIFT+1-9 when i have to change my attack or defense formation i plained before.
But i like more use CTRL+select units,for me is more easy use mouse for select then keyborad on the topic of battle http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif
Ave
Hehe I still see some are confused with group formation.. it has nothing to do with assigning hotkey to units with ctrl+shift+num, and recalling them using ctrl+num.
Group formation activated by selecting some units, and hitting the main keypad 1-9 to have them grouped *yes the units will be grouped as per [g] function* but also arrange them in a pre-defined formation, e.g.
num1 = all unit single row
others are (in two rows), (two rows with missile in front), etc..
IIRC the formations are as follows:
1, single line
2, single shorted line
3, double line
4, double shorted line
5, inf- missile -cavs
6, missile- inf -cavs
7, cavs - the rest
8, cavalry skirmish (do not ask the difference http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif )
9, column
back in STW there was "square" (which was not exactly a square http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif ) and "left hand"/"right hand attack" IMHO these later ones were quite useful, I miss them sometimes.
I initially said that I seldom used them, but that was hotkeys. I didn't even know about these formations until now. But just like hotkeys, I'll probably try it once or twice, then abandon it for whats comfortable.
Remember that you can use the formation keys while dragging out a line. Simply press a number key while dragging out the formation, and they'll line up in that formation instead of a line.
Also if your units are being dragged out in different formations to others, click the right button while keeping the left button down, and the formations will be reset to all be the same.
Personally I find formation 3 the most useful. It arranges the units in 2 lines.
Wow never knew this. This will be quite useful for me personally. Nothing worse when you re dragging out a line of units to find one in a slightly different formation. I like my formation to be neat and tidy.Quote:
Originally Posted by [b
A question not too far off topic I hope...
Sometimes when you re dragging out a line say of four units, there are large gaps in between them and sometimes the units are close togther. Why?
I deleated them (along with some other stuff) to prevent accidentall activation..
Ah I now find the point by Nobun and LJ very useful, didnt even know the num key works while dragging out the units' ghost, good to use esp when consolidating dispersed shooters and foot after routing enemy as Nobun suggested. I had tried #5 #6 and find them to be the most useful for my need. But speed wise its almost the same as drawing them out myself I think.
Thanks guys http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/idea.gif
When you are drawing out the groups, before letting go the LMB, click on the right will change the units to equal number of row *i think* thus closing the gap, click again and it turns to previous state of unequal rows *thus the gap*Quote:
Originally Posted by [b
hm
Marco, I have the same problem. It seems to me that when you draw out the line first there are large gaps, but when you draw out the line second the gaps are much smaller. So, I always draw my lines two times http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/frown.gif this is part of the reason why it takes for me ages to deploy http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ons/tongue.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by [b
I hope that there some better solution/explanation for this. Perhaps longjohn has the answer ...
Also you can adjust these custom formation somewhat. For example if you use #5 or #6 then the archer line may be longer or shorter than the spearmen line, depending on the number of archers/spearmen. Now, if you want equal lines then you can draw out the archers to the same length as the spearmen and the computer will remember the relation. So, if the next time you draw out the same group using custom formations then you will get equal archer and spearmen lines. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/dizzy.gif I hope it is clear http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif
I hate dragging lines twice or more. The gaps between units depend on how deep there formation is, so deeper the unit/units formation the bigger the gap, when dragging a line. I guess it has something to do with the units trying to keep the same formation. I wish it was put back the way it was in stw, along with allowing units to just march sideways, when marching just a short distance.
Bah why did they change it? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/frown.gif
That right click while dragging out thing is actually very useful, thanks longjohn. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif Now, where was it documented again? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif
FYI, the right click toggles between the unit's default unitdepth and the "remembered" unitdepth. I tested it quickly in a custom battle just a minute ago, dunno if there's more to it but this is what I found out. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/smile.gif
Right click while drawing: I use it all the time and it closes gaps between units nicely.
Ah yes the right clicking bit is very useful, just tested it and it does close the gap between units as well as making them form in nice orderly manner.