Request for new "set-unit-ranks feature" in the next patch

I get tired of the constant micromanagement required to get units of different size to line up properly in battles.
For example: I have two units of Hastati, one at 160 men and the other at 100. If I select them both and draw a single line formation the unit with 100 men will be a lot thinner than the one with 160 men, making it more vulnerable to cavalry charges.
How about adding a feature so that you can hold down a modifyer button (shift, ctrl, alt, whatever) when you draw the battle line so the units get the same number of ranks (i.e. the smaller unit won't be as wide as the larger unit but it will have the same number of ranks instead)?

Quite likely this is a bit too late, but I agree... It is very bad when it comes to phalanxtroops.

That is a great suggestion, I have also found this to be annoying, but it is not a major problem. I would prefer if they would work on making the AI smarter, because even though it is quite good for its complexity it is no match for most people who have some knowledge of waregames and tactics.

It would be far better if the drag and click line tool maintained relative unit depth rather than relative unit frontage.

In M:TW/VI you draw the line using the left button. If you press the right button while doing so, all units will be adjusted to an equal number of ranks.
Pretty easy. I wonder why it's been changed/dropped.

R'as

I agree.

Another cool thing would be something that allowed you to merge 2 units with combined number of men equal or less then the size of one unit of their type.

Hmmmm..seems to me that is is more "realistic" for it to be a little difficult to get the men properly lined up. That's a lot of people you're trying to get all in a row in a timely manner.

Doesn't the fact that it's been concluded that there are no rank bonuses in R:TW make this somewhat moot? Is it aesthetics that you're after or am I missing something obvious?

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Originally Posted by Proletariat

Doesn't the fact that it's been concluded that there are no rank bonuses in R:TW make this somewhat moot? Is it aesthetics that you're after or am I missing something obvious?

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Well line up your infantry 2 deep against a cavalry superior army and then tell me there are no rank bonuses ~D

Actually rank bonuses may not be needed with this engine. Possibly rank penalties for missile units. Depth bonuses obviously do not occur a numerical or stat bonus. But when you are maintining a line the depth bonus is apparant.

Indeed... Losses and smallscale breakdown of formation (such as enemy troops among pikemen) are serious problems for understrength units, not because the unit can't really deal with it, but because it has to cover the same width as full units. I usually concentrate my best troops or heavy cavalry against a particular section of the line, prefrably against such understrength units in drawnout fashion. The results are swift.

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Originally Posted by oaty

Well line up your infantry 2 deep against a cavalry superior army and then tell me there are no rank bonuses ~D

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Right. Then I'll line up two ranks of peasants vs a block of elephants to verify this.

I know that was a 'throw away' comment, but really... I'm not sure how relevant it is to the original poster's query.

Seriously, try two equal phalanx units against each other. Have one in the default ranks and depth, and have the other spread out into two ranks. They will never flank the latter, and will be destroyed.

Well I don't know about rank bonuses but enemy cavalry rides right through my understrength legionary units like they weren't even there if they don't have enough ranks.

Considering depth is very important in RTW. The controls and the interface however have been kept pretty much the same as Medieval TW. I found this annoyingly disappointing because although the game tactics had advanced, the way in which you carry them out is the same.

In other words, when you were an ickle baby you used to eat this jarred liquid stuff with a spoon, well now youre grown up but youre trying to eat steak with the same spoon.

Secondly. Depth is important for 2 big reasons (in real life). Firstly, it determines the amount of "stress" a unit can take before it breaks and falls. Secondly, it determines the amount of support the front line will recieve if things get hairy (handy for stopping routing).

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Originally Posted by derF

Secondly. Depth is important for 2 big reasons (in real life). Firstly, it determines the amount of "stress" a unit can take before it breaks and falls. Secondly, it determines the amount of support the front line will recieve if things get hairy (handy for stopping routing).

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Obviously. I would love, absolutely love to see someone argue depth mattered nonewhatsoever in real life. But, we're talking R:TW where every test I have ever conducted shows that these bonuses are not calculated.

Edit: Nevermind me, I should have done a more thorough test before saying that there's an "optimum rank size". Now that I have done such a test it seems rank size doesn't really matter except for preventing cavalry to break through your formation.

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Originally Posted by derF

Considering depth is very important in RTW. The controls and the interface however have been kept pretty much the same as Medieval TW. I found this annoyingly disappointing because although the game tactics had advanced, the way in which you carry them out is the same.

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Not from what I've seen, quite the opposite. MTW seemed to be more dependent on proper rank depth than RTW is. There are some minimum depths in RTW that seem optimal, but they make for rather thin lines, not the default squarer formations. The jumping cav thing does pose some depth issues. However, phalangites can suffer from rap around by melee in default formations. Rather than use defaults, I string pikemen out 4 or 5 ranks deep for optimum performance and durability. Missile units in RTW have NO depth penalty and every man will fire even when 16 ranks deep. That is very weak compared to MTW/STW. (Non-LOS accuracy penalties seem non-existent.) Depth does grant your unit the ability to take more losses before becoming fragile.

The contols *were* changed from MTW, that's the problem. MTW's control interface was better.

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Originally Posted by Proletariat

Right. Then I'll line up two ranks of peasants vs a block of elephants to verify this.

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And how were you planning to accomplish this?! ~;)

To Proletariat

It is indeed true that when you put two equal strenght phalanx units againts each other and stretch one out, it will win, because it will wrap around the other phalanx and flank it. But the people here were talking about a cavalry charge, which changes the situation. If you put a stretched two line phalanx up against a cavalry charge, it will do worse than a compact phalanx. Because the cavalry will brake through it's lines and will have the center spearmen surrounded and fighting with swords, while the men on the flanks of the phalanx will not even see the fight as they are so far away. This will lead to cavalry picking phalanx men one by one and not even facing spears after the initial clash.

Thus it obvious that the number of lines and the depth of the formation both matter when facing different enemies, the unit stats won't change, but it will fight with different effeciancy based on its formation and the enemy.

I would like to have a way to set my units in a custom formation simular to this: First line, [Spear] [Heavy Infantry] [Heavy Infantry] [Heavy Infantry] [Spear] Second line [Spear] [Archers] [Archers] [Archers] [Spear]. I have tried to do this but as soon as I move the line everything gets rearranged and of course the AI takes advantage of the chaos in my formation. I feel this would offer some protection on my flanks against cavalry, read on. :furious3:

I'm playing the Julii right now and I have been attacked by the British I held my ground fairly well until the chariots attacked then every thing went to pieces. The chariots went through my ranks like a knife through butter, my archers ran from the advancing chariots and my spearmen seemed useless as the steeds sliced through them just as easily as the archers and even the praetorian cohorts! The one thing I don't understand is the chariots suffered only moderate losses. Does the auxilia spearmens bonus defence against calvary actually work? everything I have read says don't attack spearmen with calvary it WILL be disastrous~:pissed:

How do I fight these chariots??? I have experimented with several custom battles one of which I played medium difficulty on british grasslands with 100000 denarii and purchased 19 spearmen (Auxilia) and one general. I let the computer choose the british army and I've noticed the british army always gets nine chariot units with random pics. The british army gave me a severe SMACKUS MAXIMUS the spearmen hardly scratched them! I also tried other unit types and mixes but so far nothing seems to stop them. Archers seem to work best at killing the chariots but they are so fast that they are attacking before I can kill them off and then my archers scatter and run! I tried flaming arrows too but it didn't work either

I have found that the trees help slow the chariots down a bit but I want to be able to stop them in open terrain and this is one of the reasons I would like custom formations. As for the spearmen, they just don't seem to be working right otherwise I think they would have done a far better job of stopping those chariots.

Someone give it a try and let me know what happened I need a solid tactic that works :help:

Crutis
Try using the [G]roup command. The computer will then remember the formation and you can drag your entire army formation onto a new location. There are bugs in version 1.0/1.1 but they are fixed 1.2 *crossesfingers*.

Your best bet to hold chariots with Romans Auxilia Spears is to make deep formations, 6+, and place your units side by side. The chariots will bash through, but they will lose eventually. I did 2 tests with 3 Heavy Chariots + 3 British Warlords versus 8 Auxilias and the latter only lost 15 or so soldiers per unit.