Guard Mode

**Titus Maximius Thongus** · July 21, 2009, 04:42 AM

I'm not sure if it's just me, but whenever I order a unit that is in guard mode to attack an enemy they fight as if guard mode wasnt actually on. Eg, if I have a infantry cohort that is attacked at 45 degrees from the side, and when order them to attack the enemy they don't retain their formation. Kinda annoying

**Ejergard** · July 21, 2009, 07:26 AM

And thats not the purpose of guardmode either.
Guardmode ON disables a unit from taking ground against an enemy unit it is fighting, if the enemy unit routs, it won't pursue it. Guardmode on missile units will make that unit more restrictive with firing missiles at units that might result in friendly fire (not perfect, but better than in guardmode OFF). If you tell a unit in guardmode to attack something, it will do so as if it wasn't in guardmode until the unit it is attacking routs, then it reverts back to guardmode.

**boofhead** · July 21, 2009, 07:34 AM

if the enemy unit routs, it won't pursue it.

This.

The formation will still shift to engage the enemy's front. They just won't break and chase.

**Titus Maximius Thongus** · July 21, 2009, 11:06 PM

ic. kk then. just dont really like it when my troops break their shield wall

**el_dude** · July 22, 2009, 08:09 AM

i love guard mode...it keeps my cohorts from running all over the field. let the equites do the pursuing, or if you decide not to give chase, sometimes the routing enemy units will regroup and come back for more (i like this as it gives me a chance to wipe out most if not all of the enemy army...of course, they can also turn the tide of battle against you).

**Raglan** · July 22, 2009, 10:25 AM

yeah i compromise this by putting my hastari on guard and leaving my princips off, this way they tend to hold the line when needed and still chase once they break

**saienga** · July 22, 2009, 10:27 AM

Think of it this way: your troops with hold their formation as best they can (including if you rotate them or order them to march somewhere). Once you order them to attack someone, though (the right click sword), this overrides the guard mode directive to hold the line, and they will charge. So if you're conscious about ordering your units to move to receive an attack, as opposed to going to make the attack, guard mode will serve you quite well.

**czePowerslave** · July 22, 2009, 10:31 AM

I always set all troops to guard mode as the battle begins. Then with the line engaged and enemy troops tired a bit, I disable it so they break formation and start pushing them back.

**Titus Maximius Thongus** · July 22, 2009, 02:00 PM

hmm the idea of principes behind with no guard mode for greater flexibility sounds like a good idea. prevents my line from being pushed back too far.
I normally use the 'move to recieve attack', although sometimes in the thick of battle its kinda difficult, if a unit has shaky morale it may result in an outright rout at times.