Infantry changes

Can't remember if I read it somewhere or if it was all in my head. In NTW, isnt line infantry now going to not wait for stragglers anymore and just fire if they are close to forming a line?

You are correct Sir. As we have seen in a few videos this does occur.

Outstanding! Thank you

Also Infantry won't form square while in combat

Originally Posted by eleftherios

Also Infantry won't form square while in combat

I'd love it-but when did we hear this (thats taking CA's word on it)? They've said the melee charge (unless the units cant win a firefight) has been stopped-nothing more when it comes to retarded infantry

Originally Posted by Soveriegn

I'd love it-but when did we hear this (thats taking CA's word on it)? They've said the melee charge (unless the units cant win a firefight) has been stopped-nothing more when it comes to retarded infantry

I can't recall who, but it was one of the gentleman who went to a preview event who confirmed this for us. Also some of the recent videos have confirmed that men will properly fire at will while in square, instead of waiting for every man in the formation to finish reloading. Furthermore, horses will apparently rear up and refuse to charge into squares.

This more authentic square will be really interesting to put to use on the battlefield. If you correctly anticipate a cavalry charge, you can totally decimate the horsemen. On the other hand, if you fail to see the charge coming you could easily be decimated yourself. Then again, with such a heavy penalty for failing to square in time, it will be easier to fake a charge, panicking the opposing player into forming squares prematurely and making the infantry vulnerable to musketry. I can't wait to try it out myself!

Originally Posted by Keiichi

I can't recall who, but it was one of the gentleman who went to a preview event who confirmed this for us. Also some of the recent videos have confirmed that men will properly fire at will while in square, instead of waiting for every man in the formation to finish reloading. Furthermore, horses will apparently rear up and refuse to charge into squares.

This more authentic square will be really interesting to put to use on the battlefield. If you correctly anticipate a cavalry charge, you can totally decimate the horsemen. On the other hand, if you fail to see the charge coming you could easily be decimated yourself. Then again, with such a heavy penalty for failing to square in time, it will be easier to fake a charge, panicking the opposing player into forming squares prematurely and making the infantry vulnerable to musketry. I can't wait to try it out myself!

From what I've read in the previews it'll still be very optional to form square. Forcing infantry into square and then taking advantage of the juicy target was a very common tactical ploy, albeit it requires significant cavalry superiority as well as a mobile fire element.

Don't have the game yet, I'm with you, can't wait to try it out.

Originally Posted by Randall Turner

From what I've read in the previews it'll still be very optional to form square. Forcing infantry into square and then taking advantage of the juicy target was a very common tactical ploy, albeit it requires significant cavalry superiority as well as a mobile fire element.

Don't have the game yet, I'm with you, can't wait to try it out.

Indeed it is optional, you form square by clicking a button just like in ETW (I cannot imagine what a non-optional square would be like ). And indeed it is a common tactical ploy, I employ it nightly in multiplayer battles of ETW . A common mistake amongst my opponents is sending their cavalry far forward of their infantry, meaning they cannot capitalize on any disruption caused by their cavalry and furthermore their cavalry does not have friendly lines they can quickly retreat to in case of pursuit.

What is exciting about the changes to square formation is how critical it becomes to form square ahead of a charge, and how much higher the reward will be for executing the square properly. In ETW, it's almost better to wait til after the cavalry charge strikes before forming square. By staying in line til the last moment, your men will continue to fire at will at the cavalry (supposing they are facing the cavalry). Then, once the enemy cavalry is among the line, pressing the 'form square' button immediately grants a defensive and morale bonus to your troops while simultaneously trapping the enemy cavalry as the square begins to form around them, thus making it more difficult for the enemy cavalry to disengage.

Of course I'm not advocating that one should always let cavalry charge their un-squared lines in ETW, simply illustrating how silly it is that the tactic works. It will be very interesting to see the more authentic square of NTW in action.

Yes I was happy when I saw a unit firing when only 3 quarters of the unit were in formation.

This might have been one of the most important additions they have added to NTW. I hope with ETW's BAI patch they would just add this because it really is annoying and makes pathfinding more of a glaring problem then it already is

I also heard from somewhere, I can't remember, that infantry can't form square while in melee.