A n00b question about MTW

[CountArach]

Well I just bought MTW Gold Edition so I could play Napoleonic Total War (Awesome Mod, you really should try it), but the one thing that perplexes me is the deployment. Is it possible to customise where each unit is, like in Rome Total War? Also is it possible to choose where I deploy?

Thanks in advance, and I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

[Sensei Warrior]

You are given a large amount of leeway when deploying while defending. When you are the defender in a battle you can deploy your units anyway you want to within a substantial part of the battlefield area.

It is not possible to choose where you deploy when you are attacking. You can choose from a number of preset battle formations from the icon in the lower left of the screen. You either click or right click to open the formation options like three line attack, three line defense, english half square(?) etc. I almost never use these options preferring to order my troops after I start the battle.

With that said, I seem to remember a thread (which I can't find) about being able to mod the preset formations to include custom formations that you have created. Unfortunately I don't know how to do this, so I am not much help there either. The theroy would be to set some custom battle formations that you typically use so you can click on the name and it will order your troops as you modded it to.

In regards to the Napoleanic Total War mod, I have never played it, so if the creator knew how to do the above, might have expanded on the preset list..

[The Unknown Guy]

There´s a file which lists all formations and further on, gives you a brief description of their purpose. Maybe that´s where you might tamper...

[Martok]

You are given a large amount of leeway when deploying while defending. When you are the defender in a battle you can deploy your units anyway you want to within a substantial part of the battlefield area.

It is not possible to choose where you deploy when you are attacking. You can choose from a number of preset battle formations from the icon in the lower left of the screen. You either click or right click to open the formation options like three line attack, three line defense, english half square(?) etc.

To just add to what Sensei Warrior has already said, the attacker *does* get to deploy its units in siege battles. In open field battles, however, the attacker is restricted to the formations like he said.

I too have heard of creating your own custom formations, but unfortunately I have no more idea how to do so than Sensei Warrior. If you're interested in finding out, though, you should visit the Repository and/or the Alchemist Lab.

[CountArach]

Thanks guys, that was hepful.

I don't know if I could be bothered to create custom deployments.

[Sensei Warrior]

Your welcome, always happy to help where I can.

Like I said previously, I never use the preset formations. Terrain, your troops, their troops, weather, and cover all play into how I arrange my troops so preset configurations almost never fit. Its like the addage, 'One size fits all just means that it will fit no one.'

I do as much planning as I can before clicking the start battle button. Grouping units, setting spears to hold formation and etc, but once the battle starts, I put the game on pause, issue the formation orders, and then commence the inevitable victory.

[caravel]

When defending I line my units up in the formation I want then start the game and alt click them into a more precise position. After this I fine tune them if needed. For attacks I just start and then draw out my formations manually with click and drag. I've never used the preset formations. When drawing out lines of e.g. spearmen, it's best to first drag the group out from one end of the map to the other to create a very thin line, then immediately drag again in the form that you want. By doing this you'll make the individual units sit closer together.

[Martok]

When drawing out lines of e.g. spearmen, it's best to first drag the group out from one end of the map to the other to create a very thin line, then immediately drag again in the form that you want. By doing this you'll make the individual units sit closer together.

Does that really work? I've used that method as well, but with inconsistent results. Sometimes they stand closer together, sometimes not. I wonder if that's affect by terrain, perhaps.