new stratagy tactic?

[sambasam]

how about allowing your troops to do a fake rout to a position, like if you are being lit up really bad, you can use a fake rout which makes your enemy think you are routing when actually you are just retreating to a new position.

[Tercero]

i think there's a button for that, in MIITW was W, but now.. dunno

[coman]

All you have to do to trick a player or the AI is to pull them back. You may also want to continue moving them forward if the enemy doesn't have ranks or groups behind. Maneuver is a powerful thing, whether it's a rout, a fake rout or changing the situation to your advantage, the AI WILL react when in combat.

[Stildawn]

Wouldnt the lack of a flashing flag give that away?

[Theseus1234]

pressing the withdraw button gives the units a flashing flag, as if they were routing, and they run to the nearest red line, but you can still stop them and/or give them new orders to ovveride the withdraw order

[guerra]

Yes I've used this before. The problem is if they run in the opposite direction of where you want and they run into enemy fire.

[MyKingforahorse]

I've used this as well, but it is a gambit since for whatever reason your men will not always run to the nearest red line exit.

So its hit or miss.. I've had it work brilliantly on MP where I drew someone into a cross field of fire with skirmishers and cavalry that were hidden. And then I've had it run horribly horribly wrong and gotten annihilated because of it.

[sambasam]

i mean retreating to a specific spot

[Yodarkore]

fake rout will often turn into real routing since your unit will often be engaged in close combat. And when you order that unit to retreat (either "manually" or with the withdraw button) you will usually take massive casualties.

That tactic had utility in older TW series, since almost all units were using swords/pikes/clubs/axes, but has less utility in ETW: when an enemy unit routs from a melee, i order my unit NOT pursuing it, just let it form its line again and fire at the cowards, its very effective.

In RTW/MTW you could make an unit pull off the line and engage fresh reserve troops. Here its dangerous: the "reserve" unit has to wait the retreating unit to leave its line of fire, in order to avoid friendly fire. And if the enemy is pursuing, you will probably unable to fire a single shot with that second line unit without being also engaged in melee.

Tactical retreat at long range is another thing. Its aint routing. As an example, its light infantry trying to pull an enemy unit (often cavalery) into a trap.

So i would advise not using this tactic, unless and even if situation is desesperate. There is way much more effective tactics to use.

[upsettingshorts]

You could use it in a limited fashion. Like, say that unit of dragoons you keep around for miscellaneous purposes. You can send them on flanking maneuver and have them withdraw after getting hit. Let them run a good way off, then, once you think the enemy (humans only really) has forgotten about them, bring them back when they least expect it.

I think a better unit to use would be any that can remain hidden while walking, like natives. Have them rout until you think the enemy buys the ruse, then walk them back into combat.

[Numbered Peasant]

I think somebody watched The Patriot one to many times.

[Farnan]

I think somebody watched The Patriot one to many times.

That battle closely resembled the real battle of Cowpens where a fake route was used, and Guiliford Courthouse where the same thing was used.

[upsettingshorts]

The Patriot sucks. But it worked at Cowpens... a real battle?

[Keepbro]

You spelt Strategy wrong. But I agree with fake routs being a cool tactic. Possible Mod idea???

[Theseus1234]

You spelt Strategy wrong. But I agree with fake routs being a cool tactic. Possible Mod idea???

it's not really a thing that can be modded, only a strategy that can be employed. i'm not sure if specific unit functions can be modded anyways

[Lubeck]

Didn't Napoleon use this tactic sometimes?

[eatme]

how about allowing your troops to do a fake rout to a position, like if you are being lit up really bad, you can use a fake rout which makes your enemy think you are routing when actually you are just retreating to a new position.

One tip though

Can be tricky when used with many units at once. They ll get stuck, slowed by terrain or entangled - while taking hits from behind - then it is real routing you get.

This tactic I found is good when fighting overwhelming forces - dragoons suite well for the purpose of splitting enemy forces.