Auto-resolve is no fun!!!

Sure it saves time - but I never grow tired of taking heads on the Tactical battlefield.

My advice is to copy down the battle Hot Key commands on a cheat sheet - then practice w/ them in custome battles - especially concentrate on using the group commands.

Then, when you are in a campaign the commands are second nature and you are more confident.

Finally, when I enter a battle I go through a checklist;
a. Unit Formations - line for missile troops (SA, Musketeers) and defensive troops (Naginata), wedge for offensive troops (YS, No Datch, WM) & cavalry.
b. Army Formations - missile troops up front, backed by defensive troops, offensive troops close behind, cavalry on the wings.

The usual flow for me is to get everyone close to the enemy line, allow my missle troops to beat on the enemy, use my defensive troops to stiffen the front line, launch my offensive troops to break up enemy formations, use my cavalry to sweep around the flanks.

Then it's shift this and that unit to here and there until the enemy heads for the hills. Then kill anything that is cut off and pursue, pursue, pursue.

These are general comments of course that can be modified by terrain and wether one is attacking (mostly) or defending.

Barkhorn.