Loss of Control

[Faust|]

Hi CBR, I'll draw a diagram:

Normal movement
1)+++++++++++++++++++++2)++++++++++++++++3)+++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(Alt + click)++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
_____/\_____++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|L+++F++++R|+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|++++++++++|+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|l__________r|++++++++++++++____________++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++|L++++F++++R|+++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++|+++++++++++|+++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++|l___________r|+++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++||+++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++||++(movement)+++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++\/++++++++++++(facing)++++
+++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++_____/\_____++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|L+++F++++R|+
+(Destination)+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|++++++++++|+
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|l__________r|+
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

L indicates the position of the man who is originally in the 1st rank, 1st column position. R indicates the man who is originally in the 1st rank, last column position. l indicates the man who is origianlly in the last rank, 1st column position, and so on. F indicates the flag bearer.

You see that the unit does not rotate in order to move to its destination. Each man retains his rank/column position while individually each rank/column position rotates to face the direction of movement. It is most familiar to imagine this as a skirmishing cavalry unit.


Afflicted movement:

1)+++++++++++++++++++++2)++++++++++++++++3)+++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(Alt + click)++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
_____/\_____++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|L+++F++++R|+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|++++++++++|+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|l__________r|++++++++++++++__________++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++/L+++++++R\+++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++\l____F____r/+++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++||++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++||+++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++||++(movement)+++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++\/++++++++++++(facing)++++
+++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++_____/\_____++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|L++++F+++R|+
+(Destination)+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|++++++++++|+
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|l__________r|+
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You see that as soon as the movement command is given the individual men reorder themselves as shown and then begin movement. Before the unit moves backward they wait for the flag bearer to move to the unit's rank that will be the leading edge of the movement. Once the entire directional movement is completed the men form up around the flag bearer so he ends up in his original position. I think this is similar to what happens if you only left-click. However, unlike left click, the unit does ultimately retain its original facing.

And yes, the spontaneous movement is similar to the movement that happens when two units overlap, but that is not the cause, and the resulting movements are over long distances.