Help with Naval Formations-Admiral Position

[Draetor24]

Ok, so let's say I select 6 ships and put them into line astern formation. My admiral always gets the lead ship. I don't want him in the lead position because if he takes the brunt of broadsides, it effects my morale a lot more than another ship.

However, I've tried different ways and they all seem buggy. For instance, I've tried grouping all my ships except the admiral, and putting them into line astern. Then I add the admiral and line astern again, and he'll either get put back into the front, or he'll get added "outside" of the line astern, messing up his movement with the fleet.

Is there a better way to organize your ships in line astern?

[xcorps]

Keep him out of the group and manuever him seperately is the only solution I can think of.

[HMS Empire Broadsword]

The admirals flagship is tougher than another ship of its type, so it can take more hits. And survive. I always put my toughest ships first in a line astern. They can take more damage and can deal out more damage, plus third rates and below are always faster so you wont be leaving some ships behind.

[Draetor24]

So basically admiral flagships are good in the 1st position? Do you guys ever promote other ships to be admirals, or just make admiral flagships?

[MortenJessen]

Hi there.
On the original question: I keep my admiral as number two or three in my line, and in front of him I always places my fastest frigates (5 or 6th rates) for the extra range. Behind my admiral, the ships are placed in battle order, e.g. 1st rates, then 2nd rates, 3rd rates and so on.
On your second Question: It really depends on my needs. If in direct need I recruit an admiral on a non-flagship ship, but normally I uses flagships for my admirals.
Y.S.
M. Jessen

[happycynic]

Don't use the button for line ahead. Manually place ships in a line formation with the Admiral's ship second or third (all enemy ships will fire at your lead ship and then be reloading as these ships pass). Then use the group button but don't click on any of the formations. Your ships will move together in a line exactly as you have arranged them.

[OldCrowWhiskey]

Jesus do it manually and put him in the middle! Set up the line then swap out the middle ship and the admiral then you're done. Don't bother with the pre-made formations.

[deadlyshadow187]

Every time u change the grouping u have to re-lock the formation,meaning say u put everyone in a line and then u move the general to the back, if u don't re-lock the formation he will simply move to the front, the group will literally slow down until he can get in front again. Anytime your change the formation you need to group ungroup and group, which in turns re-locks the formation, u can always dbl check by alt hold right click to see what formation or space bar, w/e works.

[SCA Tordenskjold]

It is as they say, that you lock a formation when you group them. I heartily recommend using the column formation as the template, and then add distance between all the ships; in the column formation, they are close enough to sometimes get pathway errors. At least this is what I infer from their "slowing down" icon flickering on and off.

[happycynic]

You have to game the system a little. Manually put them in line astern, then start the battle. After clicking start choose the line astern formation which will properly space out the ships but won't try and place the flagship at the start of the line.