Battlefield Unit reforming- argument for change in behaviour.

I apologize beforehand that this explanation is a bit wordy, but here goes..

When you issue a battlefield command to attack , the unit reforms first then does your bidding. Generally that means that guys further from the main bunch of guys return to join the main bunch(that is the PLACE for reformation is dictated by where the majority of troops are), this seems logical but means that you might have a quarter of your troops in the right position(or close anyway), after the order you have none they all have gone back to where you don't want them.(to join their mates).

Particularly this creates difficulties in traversing gates, eg. some troops are past and in correct position to carry the fight , you issue an order to further attack and they retreat throughout the gates !!!, not only going the wrong way but obstructing and entangling your other troops going through the gates.


So my suggestion is that the PLACE where the unit reforms is where the player has pointed NOT reform where the majority body is, then march to that point.

The down side of course is your few units at the PLACE first may be killed before his mates get there, but I think this behavior should be better overall for gameplay.

Any comments?

I completely understand what you are talking about and your solution makes sense to me. However, perhaps it would be more appropriate to use that style for different units depending on general discipline. It would make sense that Roman cohorts and other highly trained units would place great emphasis on maintaining formation at all times, especially before closing to combat. At the same time, poorly trained units and non-cohesive barbarian units would be more likely to just charge in piecemeal. This would give added flavor to the units as well.

I guess what may be needed is two movement buttons, one as is another where formation is secondary to position. Or as you suggest different troops do it differently, though when I was playing as greeks most of your guys are phalanx and they would all suffer reformation (and congestion) at gates.

It also strikes me that the basic design of the game engine may not allow this modification , it would be nice to know if it was possible to change the reformation point from CA.