What does enabling guard mode do????

[Taiwan Legion]

Sorry I just started playing, and I'm a big noob. I don't understand what's the significance of putting in guard mode as it appears the same for me.

[CMcMahon]

I believe that it keeps your skirmisher units from chasing after retreating units, so they don't get massacred in front of your lines.

[YAKOBU]

Welcome to the org Taiwan Legion

My general impression is that guard mode will increase unit defense stats at the expense of a reduction in attack stats. The increased unit defense allows your line to hold for longer while you attempt flanking etc. It will also stop units chasing after the enemy and breaking up your line.

I tend to use guard mode on my main line and archers so that my main line will stay together. Then I will send my cavalry round the sides while my infantry is holding the line. Hopefully while my line is still holding I will charge my cavalry into the backs of the enemy and they will rout.

Hope this helps.

[Zatoichi]

Welcome to the org Taiwan Legion!

Basically, when you enable guard mode, your troops will hold formation and not chase after units that rout. It also increases your unit's defence, but lowers their attack. I'll let the other folks fill you in on any more details, but that's it in a nutshell.

Edit> It seems Yakobu is faster on the keyboard than me!

[Lancome]

If you are playing Greece I dont suggest you do that for the Hoplites.

[Conqueror]

Guard mode works well with pikemen so long as you don't order them to attack, but let the enemy come attack you instead. Hoplites might be different though.

[spacekraken]

Guard mode is a godsend to me.

In MTW when I had a defensive line of melee troops they'd go running after routers ruining my sturdy formation I spent ten minutes before the battle setting up. And if the enemy rallied they could tear my undesciplined army apart. I kept having to manuallly bring my defensive line back into formation. With guard mode, they stay put. CA read my mind and they made it specifically for me.

They can do that you know? Read your mind. They put mind reading scripts in their code.

[professorspatula]

Guard mode is a useful thing to use if you want a unit to hold their position. As others have said, it'll prevent them chasing after enemies that run away, and stop archers and missile troops moving to stay in range of a chosen target. For some reason it won't prevent artillery from doing the same thing though - if you tell them to attack a unit, they'll chase after them after they move out of range, which is annoying.

And it improves a unit's defensive capabilities. They'll defend more, attack less, or certainly with less effectiveness. Weak spear units like town militia can be stuck on defensive mode in front of gates or breaches in walls to try and absorb as much of the enemy's initial charge as possible before breaking, so that your other units can throw their javelins, pila or whatever and get into position.

With phalanx units, guard mode is a bit more tricky. Generally it can be left on if you want to them to guard an area and only attack when the enemy is in spear-prodding range (ideal for pike units). But if you want a phalanx unit to close in on the enemy, turn guard mode off. When ordered to attack a unit, the phalanx unit should then be more aggressive and close ranks, often forcing the front rank to resort to swords. Pike units are rubbish with swords, so it makes sense for them to stay out of this close range against stronger opposition.

[Orda Khan]

Basically it does what it says. The unit will guard the area it holds. it will not skirmish, it will not chase. Used wisely it is a very useful feature

........Orda

[Dutch_guy]

Guard mode is very usefull for bridge battle s - when defending.
It makes your deathtrap even more deadlier, since your units will stay in position.

when done right , no one get';s through

[jacked]

I always thought it would just make your units stand there until anything got close.