Reinforcement order problems

[Gilrandir]

When I have reinforcements they arrive not in the order I have chosen for them. Well, they keep the order but the first to come are cavalry units irrespective of their place in the queue of reinforcements (they keep the order set by me for mounted units, though). On the one hand, it seems sensible as cavalry travels faster than infantry, but 1) what is the AI's reason to ask me to arrange the reinforcements the way I like and then have it its own way, and 2) it is embarassing when expecting a complete unit of italian infantry to receive three mounted sergeants instead. Any bug involved?

[drone]

I don't think it's a bug, it's just that reinforcements can take quite a long time getting to the flag. As a rule, I generally move the flag to the map edge, which gives me control as soon as possible, but the cavalry will still be "useful" sooner than infantry. On the attack, unless the battle is one of the really drawn out affairs, I rarely get reinforcements into play. Defence is a little better, I can usually swap out archers and depleted cav without too much trouble.

[Gilrandir]

I don't think it's a bug, it's just that reinforcements can take quite a long time getting to the flag. As a rule, I generally move the flag to the map edge, which gives me control as soon as possible

I do that too, making use of reinforcements mostly in defence battles, but even placed at the end of the reinforcement queue cavalry units arrive before the infantry ones and infantry never appears until all cavalry units arrive. Does anyone have such a problem or it is unique for my game?

[gaijinalways]

In longer battles, reinforcements can save the day. I have had problems with overextended supply lines, especially when you're hoping to completely rout the enemy, and either you don't (and you're suddenly outnumbered in their end of the battle field) or sometimes the enemy is able to bring in reinforcements behind you (which may bring a nasty surprise).

And yes, the foot troops probably can only help you in partial retreat, or as noted, if you're mostly in a defensive position and near your reinforcement point.

[edyzmedieval]

In longer battles, reinforcements can save the day. I have had problems with overextended supply lines, especially when you're hoping to completely rout the enemy,

I hate it when that happens in big battles. You're never able to supply enough reinforcements to keep the wheel spinning so you have to sacrifice a couple of units to retreat your main body so they can link up with the fresh troops.

[Trapped in Samsara]

I hate it when that happens in big battles. You're never able to supply enough reinforcements to keep the wheel spinning so you have to sacrifice a couple of units to retreat your main body so they can link up with the fresh troops.

Hi

Yeah. For big engagements I assume I will have to use two or three waves of troops to attrition the enemy to death. I take it for granted, even try to engineer, that the first wave will die to a man - barring general, of course. This heartlessness gets your reinforcements onto the field quicker than having them rout off first. I set the reinforcement flag, say, a third of the way down the field, with a view to building up a force of ten or twelve fresh companies and then mounting a big second round, rather than throwing in units piece meal which is always a temptation if they are close to hand. I regard this as my Haig doctrine.

If you're lucky the AI will not have withdrawn and replaced it's depleted units, and you could find yourself with a numerical advantage (despite not having your full 16 unit complement) for round two.

One 'sneeky' thing you can do with the reinforcement flag: if you're loosing a battle you can sometimes reposition it so that your reinforcements appear on or behind the AI's flank. I remember one battle in which I was taking a terrible beating. I managed to rally a rag tag band of stalwarts in a corner of the map and moved the reinforcement flag a good distance off to the left. As the AI closed in for the kill a couple of my cav became available in the nick of time, charged the AI's flank-most units in the rear and caused a chain rout.

Regards
Victor

Sapere aude
Horace