Wavering Units

**tmsmith** · March 18, 2009, 03:03 PM

I gave this a quick search but couldn't find anything. Hopefully I didn't miss it.

Since I am rather new to the Total War series I was wondering if there was anything you could do when you begin to see your troops wavering (about to rout)?

I've tried multiple times to try and "reinforce" them with back up but it seems its always to late. Even trying to get them to fall back (not retreat per-say) doesn't work.

Maybe there just anything you can do...? Reason I ask is because I have had a unit of 60 guys out 150~ rout when they were "slightly winning".

I also remembering hearing something about the general being about to stop a unit from routing. Is this just random? Does the general need to be near?

Thanks for the help.

**coman** · March 18, 2009, 03:56 PM

In the older versions of the game, a general had a rally ability. That's done passively now. Simply supporting your troops by having another unit nearby, protecting their ranks, or flanking the enemy will give them a morale boost.

Getting off a volley, then charging, has dramatic effect. Receiving a first volley, then charging is a bad thing.

Try and keep your general within 200 yards of any major fighting, or closer even if he's unengaged. A general with 3 stars near a melee or volley match will result in steadfast troops. I've never had a unit rout when a general was nearby until 3/4 of their men were killed and the enemy was receiving flank support and reinforcement, whereas I had none left to commit.

**Keline** · March 18, 2009, 04:18 PM

What exactly is the order of "conditions"? Eager, confident, steady, wavering, routing?

**coman** · March 18, 2009, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Keline

What exactly is the order of "conditions"? Eager, confident, steady, wavering, routing?

Broken. Shattered.

ed up.

**Mechstra** · March 19, 2009, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by Keline

What exactly is the order of "conditions"? Eager, confident, steady, wavering, routing?

Between Steady and Wavering comes Shaken. If troops are Shaken, they're very close to Wavering and then routing.

If a unit is wavering and the pressure is kept up on them, they'll break, most of the time. If they somehow get a respite, or a new morale boost (such as from a general) then they'll go back to shaken.

**Keline** · March 18, 2009, 05:01 PM

These two come in between wavering and routing?

**Theseus1234** · March 18, 2009, 06:16 PM

there's different types of "routing". broken, where the unit can return to control, and shattered, where you have no hope of rallying them in any way

**Mr.Excitement** · March 18, 2009, 06:47 PM

Keep your general out of combat/the line of fire, i have him patrol behind my lines near pitched battles to keep my men from routing

**keith moons liver** · March 18, 2009, 09:05 PM

There are also certain "elite" units that boost morale like a general, though perhaps not to the same extent.

**Darth_Revan** · March 18, 2009, 09:22 PM

having good ground or regrouping on good ground and having general near always helps the men fight better also if ur on sloping ground u get the perfect advantage

, i wish they still had the rally button..

**Hebrew_Hero** · March 19, 2009, 12:42 AM

if you "order them back" they will rout sooner, as they can now only recieve fire.

Generally. Keep the general near engagements that see the heaviest action, normally hes already there cause the computer is after him.. lol

Anyway, to help. bring up skirmishers or heave cav at the enemy force.

**Naked Emperor** · March 19, 2009, 03:07 AM

For me, when I see wavering men I know where to send my reinforcements, I know they are most likely to break in the next few seconds but it helps getting a visual cue so I can reinforce the battle line, get my general there to hold them together for a few more seconds until the reinforcements are in place

**eatme** · March 19, 2009, 05:01 AM

Yes the two most basic keys to morale boost are:

-Keeping reserve troops near enuff to reinforce in places where enemy overcomes.

-Keeping general unit close by and our of harm's way.

**notger** · March 19, 2009, 05:24 AM

The thing is, you should never ever get to the point, where they are wavering. By then, the thing is more or less lost and you were to slow to react to the opponents tactics (deliberate sacrifices withstanding).

**MyKingforahorse** · March 19, 2009, 07:17 AM

If you've gotten to wavering, then hope is almost lost unless you can reroute moral boosting units near.

Typically it would go, swing your general in close while you reroute reinforcements to that line. This is where grenadiers can make or break a battle.

Your general holds their morale long enough for your shock troops to come in and turn the tide.