Using formation in battle

[bretwalda]

On the tactical screen if you press ctrl + p you get a "group formation" menu. There are formations 1-9

You click on this:


Then you get these icon that represent formations 1-9


An example for "foot first 3 line"



The question is: do you use it? If yes are there a really good way of using them? And I am especially curious about multiplayer since there is no pause so every second you gain can be battle winning...

Thanks!

[jadast]

I use formations to approach enemy formations. I go with the 3 line missle, melee, cavalry. I use this to give my archers a clear field of fire and keeps my melee units out of enemy range. Once I get to my preselected stopping point I bring my calvary units to the wings and begin to circle. If my opponent charges my archers have a nice wall of melee units to retreat behind.

Obviously this plan is very basic and changes with the make up of my forces. Hope it helps.

[Mithrandir]

wow,
played MTW for ages (been a long time now though), mostly online...
and I never knew about these formations...

[ichi]

Select any group and hit the number of the formation. I rarely use any formation other than number 5.

try this in custom battles

Take a second and make each unit the depth that you want - I prefer my missile troops 2-3 ranks deep, my spears 4 ranks, my elite infantry 3 ranks, and my heavy cav 2 ranks deep.

It is not necessary to arrange the units just make each one the depth you want.

Hit Ctrl A to select all units, then hit G

then hold down the 5 key while dragging the left mouse from left to right.

This will create a formation with missiles first, infantry second, and cav behind.

hope that made sense

ichi

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I never use them, I meticulously set up my army and then once the battle commences I usually only break off a unit or two at a time to deal with a new threat or to flank the enemy.

[bretwalda]

Thanks for the replies! My problem is if I drag the selected units from left to right some of then will be different ranks (number of rows) than others. This usually happens when there are different types of units involved. Now this formation button does not seem to alleviate this problem...

[TonkaToys]

Thanks for the replies! My problem is if I drag the selected units from left to right some of then will be different ranks (number of rows) than others. This usually happens when there are different types of units involved. Now this formation button does not seem to alleviate this problem...

Ichi suggested holding down the 5 key as you drag... did you try this?
(Dunno if it works, but will try it next time I play as it sounds like it could save me some time).

[ichi]

Thanks for the replies! My problem is if I drag the selected units from left to right some of then will be different ranks (number of rows) than others. This usually happens when there are different types of units involved. Now this formation button does not seem to alleviate this problem...

Exactly. Each unit retains its shape in relation to the other units, so if you have 2-rank deep missiles they will be wider than a 5-rank deep Mili Sarg unit.

If you simply select all units and drag left to right then you get a very poor formationdue to the long missile units. Holding the 5 key allows you to drag the formation out, but it will be 3 units deep rather than one.

ichi