Guard mode

[homefry]

What does guard mode do for non-pike units?

I find placing a unit (non-pike unit) on guard mode is the same as just having them stand in the same spot.

It seems useless because you might forget a unit is on guard mode and might want to go on the offensive mid-way through the battle.

[Orisian]

If a unit has guard mode on and they route an enemy unit they will not pursue it. Just about the only thing I see when guard mode is on.

[Theseus1234]

guard mode i think means that the unit will try to maintain cohesiveness and their current formation rather than attacking

they will only attack when an enemy unit is close enough and they will try not to move from their current location

[homefry]

A unit that has guard mode off and no orders also will not pursue the fleeing enemy.

[Theseus1234]

well, guard mode tries to keep the units like this:
E: enemy

S: swordsmen

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

instead of like this:

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
SEEEEEEEEEEEEESS
SSEEESEEEEEESEES
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[ReyMandez]

also it keeps your units from attacking themselves. I've found my swordsmen randmonly charging an enemy that is really close. When in Gaurd mode, they wont.

[The Rights 2]

the basic point with gaurd mode is that the unit will not go after routing units. this is important because you can hold a line and not have a unit stranded. a good example is the battle of hastings, normans flee...saxons follw and are slaughted bit by bit.

[dr_guerra]

Like the others have said, guard mode is good to keep unit cohesion. It's also good to receive infantry charges, as it minimizes casualties in the initial charge if you don't want to counter charge.

[Teastain]

i use a unit in guard mode to hold gates to cities.

It's also quite useful if your using a mod which has the shield wall option as it can hold this formation and not give ground unless you are completely overwhelmed

[sirfiggin]

When guarding a gate your units are always in danger of being pushed back, to avoid this, absorb the shock of the initial charge, then turn off guard mode and tell your men to attack, they should be able to push the enemy back out of the city and (in Kingdoms) into hot sticky death! archers with the wooden stake option are also good to use, especially when the enemy general prances through the gates...

[Nole4694]

A good use I see for guard mode is when you have men that are being attacked by mass cavalry.

using an exaple frm above:


instead of:

E E E E EE E E EE EE EE E E EE E
SEEEEESSSEEEEEESSEEEEEESS
SSEEEESSSSEEEESSEEEEEEESSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S

its:

E E E EE E E E E E EE E EE EEE
EEE EE EEE EE E E E E E EE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
SSSSESSSSESSSESSESSSEESSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

E=enemy S=swordsman

and of coarse they wont chase if enemy rout

[xxxMoRaVexxx]

guard mode is for the units to maintain formation, because at times, when the enemy is routed, units of yours is likely to chase them, your pursuing units are then isolated from the main battle line and can be very vulnerable to an enemy reinforcement army, being isolated on a battlefield is one of the things a good general wouldn't want.

I always (and sometimes accidentally)put my units in guard mode when an enemy reinforcement army is approaching, a likely thing some dudes will do if outnumbered is always to hold the line because lots of your units will likely to be exhausted after a fight, so being on the offensive on the reinforcement army isn't a good thing, instead, do a defense, its like being sieged in a ctiye when you're outnumbered, except, the enemy will have more casualties in sieges...just my opinion

[Lone Crusader]

Guard mode is a lifesaver. I always use guard mode on my infatry/archers when defending. One time, it frustraded me to no end that archers began running down from the walls, trying to pursue the enemy I ordered them to fire.. fire at will - button would have covered this problem, but they end up shooting something stupid, like a peasant mob, rather some more juicy targets, like some cavalry


So, Id suggest that all archers that are on walls should be on guard mode. Wont be running after the enemy.

[Thompson45cal.]

I used to use guard mode on every unit, just because in multi-player I didn't want my units running off chasing routers in mid battle while I was distracted by other action on the field. Recently though I've found my cavalry units have much more success in their attacks when the guard mode is turned off.

[Nole4694]

I used to use guard mode on every unit, just because in multi-player I didn't want my units running off chasing routers in mid battle while I was distracted by other action on the field. Recently though I've found my cavalry units have much more success in their attacks when the guard mode is turned off.

Oh yes NEVER put cavalry in guard mode as when you charge in to the enemy the first line will only do the attacking ant the reswt just stand there and in the discription of guard mode it says they fight definsevly cavalry suck when fighting defensivly. also if you charge something narrow the rest dont rap around t attack.