Controlling backup armies when being attacked

**davethelucky** · June 03, 2010, 12:27 PM

Since I`m repeatedly annoyed by this - what is it about the little option Command this army in battle?
--> This option never works for me for it is not activateable!!!

Is it perhaps linked to your generals attributes? That`s the only reason I can imagine since I had (still have btw) troubles getting stars. (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=361937)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Kameraden** · June 03, 2010, 12:36 PM

I believe that way you can command other army to attack or defend. Without clicking those little boxes they are part of your army. I've never had any problems.

**davethelucky** · June 03, 2010, 12:59 PM

The two little boxes to the left are no problem at all. The only thing I cannot activate is the circle - as I tried to make clear by the red marking...

**Lurkerekrul** · June 03, 2010, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by davethelucky

The two little boxes to the left are no problem at all. The only thing I cannot activate is the circle - as I tried to make clear by the red marking...

The circle isn't meant to be activated, the checkbox next to it is. Once activated you can order your reinforcments to be aggressive or defensive. Or just chill there (but I think that's in 6.2).

**HolyDevil** · June 03, 2010, 01:41 PM

Problem i have with this is that if i have a full stack, my reinforcements don't join me since i can't put them anywhere, but if i want them to join battle, i can only set their stance, agressive or defensive...

i want to be able to command them as if they are my own units....

**sbroadbent** · June 03, 2010, 02:54 PM

When both boxes are un-checked, you control all units, but you can only access 20 units at a time. When you lose an entire unit, either because the last man died, or they routed off the field, troops from the reinforcements will become available at the edge of the map where they are placed.

When both boxes are checked, the reinforcements go under AI control, and can join the battle, but you can only give them basic orders (aggressive stance, defensive stance, etc). If you unselect the box beside the circle, you lose the option to even give them these basic orders. The circle isn't selectable.

In short, if you have two full stacks, as much as it would be nice to do so, you can't micromanage control all 40 units at the same time.

**davethelucky** · June 03, 2010, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by sbroadbent

In short, if you have two full stacks, as much as it would be nice to do so, you can't micromanage control all 40 units at the same time.

Ok, at first thanks for your all advice.

I haven't thought of actively controlling max. 40 units at all, but I've hoped that one could at least choose which army to control actively. I think if the game is essentially about controlling your army it would be nice and suggestive to be able to do so. Otherwise you have to let the AI ruin your best troups be senselessly assaulting the foe.

So ... ... ... ... ... - *hmmm* - ... ... ... what does the circle stand for?

(I haven't seen it in vanilla or in any other mod so far...)

**sbroadbent** · June 03, 2010, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by davethelucky

Ok, at first thanks for your all advice.

I haven't thought of actively controlling max. 40 units at all, but I've hoped that one could at least choose which army to control actively. I think if the game is essentially about controlling your army it would be nice and suggestive to be able to do so. Otherwise you have to let the AI ruin your best troups be senselessly assaulting the foe.

So ... ... ... ... ... - *hmmm* - ... ... ... what does the circle stand for?

(I haven't seen it in vanilla or in any other mod so far...)

With regards to choosing which army you control, and which the AI does, when you're attacking you have a bit more control, though when the enemy attacks, it pretty much depends on which stack they attack, which means you may want to micromanage where your stacks end turn, as in if you have enemy stacks directly east of the army you want to control, keep your reinforcements on the west side of the stack you want to control. Odds are the AI will attack the stack you want to control, otherwise the AI would have to spend extra movement points to swing around and attack the reinforcements, which I don't think it'd do so.

When sieging a settlement, use the army you want to control to lay siege, and have the reinforcements adjacent to the city and your sieging army. The AI will have to attack the sieging army, guaranteeing which stack they attack. If you lay siege with both, the AI can pick which one it wants to attack.

As to the purpose of the circle, I have no clue.

**Kameraden** · June 04, 2010, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by HolyDevil

Problem i have with this is that if i have a full stack, my reinforcements don't join me since i can't put them anywhere, but if i want them to join battle, i can only set their stance, agressive or defensive...

i want to be able to command them as if they are my own units....

Same here. Is it hard coded or something, that only CA can change it?

But I remember that someone long ago in far away thread said that he was able to control more 20 units. Or perhaps I was dreaming