How do you get ballista troops to abandon equipment?

[OBarbas]

I've read in a few threads that if you disengage ballista troops from the ballistas, you can return later and reclaim the weapons (whereas if the ballista troops die, everything is lost).

French cavalry were moments away from overrunning me and I desperately looked for a button to disengage the ballista troops - like the button telling a unit to drop a ram. No such button! Do I instruct the balllista men to flee? Is that how I save the unit? :hmmm:

Thank you gentlemen!

OBarbas

[Ged]

Yeah, you could just tell them to withdraw, or get them to alt attack an enemy unit. Either way, when they're running just move them and they'll be really **** low numbered infantry.

[Monsieur Alphonse]

Alt - right click and have them either attack or withdraw (move them)

[vonKrysiak]

I dont agree Ged. with upgrades they are quite capable swordsman! I have modified the unit size and siege engine ammount and now I use the mto defend flanks in really tight battles - worked out twice so far. Quite deperate I know ;-)

[Ged]

When I say **** I mean they're better using their artillery rather than being swordsman, but upgraded I guess they're capable line-holders if the situation arises.

[vonKrysiak]

True True, I guess the only time you want to use them is when enemy is too close to shoot at him and you could use that extra unit or two to perform a flanking or rear attack hoping to break enemy morale ;-)

[Old Geezer]

With upgraded armor and some experience they can stand up to some of the weaker units - for a short time. If you have a group from four or more units of artillery then they can be useful in a desperate fight. Better to use them than to let them sit an watch.

[Razbojnik]

Arty men are pretty strong,and they have good morale.My upgraded catapult men managed to inflict heavy casualties on DFK

[Douchebag]

i remember using them in a multiplayer battle...all my units routed except 5 or 6 of my artys...i used them against a 'exhausted' mounted crossbow unit, and a single general bodyguard...I won LOL. I saved the battle, but unfortunately i uninstalled MII along with the battle replays

[COMIS -3- ΠΑΝΙΩΝΑΡΑ]

Select the Ballista and double click to move(same as run) and the crew will leave down the equipment and run

[Mithrantir]

Or when you have selected the unit on the circle of the buttons at the right down corner, the top one (on the circle) will do what you are searching for.