Units keep starting in Guard Mode

[K-Dogs]

I've found that, pretty recently (just in my newish campaign), whenever I enter a battle, most of my units (all of them except slingers) start in Guard mode. It's not too bad, but a lot of the time I forget to take it off, and this is really annoying, especially since my Cidainh (Casse Chariots) also start off like this, and it means their charge is less effective and they're even less maneouverable than normal. And the barbarian roster in general isnt really suited to guard mode anyway, so I end up taking far more casualties everytime I forget to change it, which is pretty often

So i was just wondering if anyone else has the same problem, and if there's a way to stop it happening every time you start a new battle..

[Companion Cavalry]

I have the same issue during campaign battles. There are always a few random units with guard mode on interspersed through the army, requiring manual adjustment. And sometimes even cavalry start out with guard mode on, interestingly enough.

[DaciaJC]

My slingers often start out in guard mode instead of skirmish mode. It's an easy fix, especially since you're under no pressure when deploying your troops.

[Phalanx300]

Yes its very annoying, it makes units fight worse as well so it makes battles against the AI even easier.

[John the Mad]

I've only seen this during defensive battles,or with units like hoplites and phalanxes.

I think the game gives units default stances based on the type of battle and unit.

As an example during an attack my Hastati will start off with fire at will unactivated and guard mode off and my Leves will be in skirmish mode.If defending the Hastati will have fire at will activated and gaurd mode on,the Leves will have skirmish mode turned off.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I take the time to go over each unit and put them in their proper place so it never ends up being a problem because I rarely miss turning it off when moving them in deployment mode.

[HopAlongBunny]

I wish my units would do that :p

All I seem to fight are phalanxes so having my cheesy start spears in Guard mode would be nice.

I always group and arrange my units; if units are in the wrong mode come battle time, it's my fault

[antisocialmunky]

Control + A
D
D

Everyone is out of guard mode.

[Legosoldier]

I suggest just selecting all the units and keep pressing guard mode until it's off.

[strategos roma]

Strangely, my hoplites don't start out with guard mode, whereas my theurophoi amd peltasai do. Weird.

[Macilrille]

Yes its very annoying, it makes units fight worse as well so it makes battles against the AI even easier.

??? I thought the post was about the player's units. How can battles against the dumb AI be easier if his units are worse? /me is confused.

Perhaps the Engine does it to actually makes battles harder, thus providing us some challenges ;-)

[Phalanx300]

??? I thought the post was about the player's units. How can battles against the dumb AI be easier if his units are worse? /me is confused.

Perhaps the Engine does it to actually makes battles harder, thus providing us some challenges ;-)

Guard Mode also applies to the AIs units and that usually results in them being butchered, many "Barbarians" start out in guard mode.

[K-Dogs]

Control + A
D
D

Everyone is out of guard mode.

Yeah, I've got into the habit of doing this now, just gets a bit tedious having to do it every time

[Vasiliyi]

I find this complaint rather strange.

Before every battle begins, I go through every unit and set its preferences. While I usually like to stay on the defensive, I find guard mode useful to keep your ranks and lines straight and neat. I do always turn Guardmode off for my cavalry and assualt/flankers as it would be counterintuative. After the enemy is tired, I uncheck gaurd mode and let them have it.

[Phalanx300]

I find this complaint rather strange.

Before every battle begins, I go through every unit and set its preferences. While I usually like to stay on the defensive, I find guard mode useful to keep your ranks and lines straight and neat. I do always turn Guardmode off for my cavalry and assualt/flankers as it would be counterintuative. After the enemy is tired, I uncheck gaurd mode and let them have it.

Point is for an assault its useless and thats also exactly how the AI uses it as well which makes butchering them even easier.

[dejan07]

The guard mode depends on what is written in the descr_formations_ai.txt in the "default_melee_state" line.
For example, if you want that your missile unit to be in guard mode you need to add default_melee_state line:

; Screen of missile inf
begin_block 0
not_general
unit_type missile infantry 1.0
default_melee_state fire_at_will_and_defend
unit_density close
block_formation line
block_relative_pos 0 0.0 -15.0
inter_unit_spacing 6.0
priority 1.0
end_block

if you want it to skirmish you add:

; Screen of missile inf
begin_block 0
not_general
unit_type missile infantry 1.0
default_melee_state fire_at_will_and_skirmish
unit_density close
block_formation line
block_relative_pos 0 0.0 -15.0
inter_unit_spacing 6.0
priority 1.0
end_block

For hoplites to stay in guard mod you add this line:

default_melee_state defend


The only problem is you must do it for every unit in the formation!!!

[Alsatia]

The guard mode depends on what is written in the descr_formations_ai.txt in the "default_melee_state" line.
For example, if you want that your missile unit to be in guard mode you need to add default_melee_state line:

; Screen of missile inf
begin_block 0
not_general
unit_type missile infantry 1.0
default_melee_state fire_at_will_and_defend
unit_density close
block_formation line
block_relative_pos 0 0.0 -15.0
inter_unit_spacing 6.0
priority 1.0
end_block

if you want it to skirmish you add:

; Screen of missile inf
begin_block 0
not_general
unit_type missile infantry 1.0
default_melee_state fire_at_will_and_skirmish
unit_density close
block_formation line
block_relative_pos 0 0.0 -15.0
inter_unit_spacing 6.0
priority 1.0
end_block

For hoplites to stay in guard mod you add this line:

default_melee_state defend


The only problem is you must do it for every unit in the formation!!!

Hence, just selecting all units and pressing D twice will give the desired result without tiring yourself out with scripting. I doubt that many people here will be bothered to do so.

But really good idea! Take this.

[Ezephkiel]

Its definately all about the short cuts, used to use them when i played NTW online, only recently starteed using them on sp EB, saves so much time.