how do I make my units stay in formation?

**Vergilius** · June 16, 2006, 01:45 AM

well. how do I make my units stay in formation when I'm eg marching them into the enemy line...

they always clutter on one of the enemies units.. they never attack in formation...

**Hannibal Barca** · June 16, 2006, 06:20 AM

well if i'm understood correctly you are telling your army to attack one enemy unit.
You could: order each of your units to attack the enemy in front of them or group your entire army and right click to move them just behind enemy lines. That way they will walk straight into the enemy line and start fighting.

**Razmul** · June 16, 2006, 07:39 AM

putting on the guard option and just marching them in often helps...

**Vergilius** · June 16, 2006, 08:34 AM

ok I'll try that

**eunuch lust** · June 17, 2006, 08:14 AM

When using the technique of marching your troops just beyond the enemy line to engage them, I take it this means you won't be able to get off a round of missles before you charge.

**ozz** · June 17, 2006, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by eunuch lust

When using the technique of marching your troops just beyond the enemy line to engage them, I take it this means you won't be able to get off a round of missles before you charge.

Correct, they'll keep on marching till they start fighting toe-to-toe... also any units in skirmish mode will refuse to march and fall back after they get too close to the enemy...

**eunuch lust** · June 17, 2006, 09:00 AM

Hmmm...Well I think there should be a way of being able to throw your javelins and getting an attack off in an orderly fashion. I know you can individually get the units to attack, but then your troops become staggered as they move forward. The best compromise I've found is to keep your units moving while quickly giving them their attack orders as they draw closer to the enemy line. But this doesn't work too often as those barbs seem to like to start running around the closer you get. It would be nice if the game had a feature where you could drag your line of troops over the enemy and would interpret it as an attack order.

**HorseArcher** · June 17, 2006, 09:40 AM

there should have been a command in RTW for "stay in formation" while attacking.

**Legionary Jezza** · June 17, 2006, 09:42 AM

You can make that right? Or is it hardcoded?

**eunuch lust** · June 18, 2006, 07:48 AM

When charging your troops to just beyond the enemy line they will automatically engage, but if you try the same with cavalry they'll just try and push right through without taking any sword swings. Is this true because I haven't really paid that much close attention to it? If so, what would be the reason for it?

A little off topic but also I was just wondering whether it's better to let your your spearmen accept a cavaly charge or counter charge. Thanks.

**NobleNick** · June 19, 2006, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Vergilius

well. how do I make my units stay in formation when I'm eg marching them into the enemy line...

they always clutter on one of the enemies units.. they never attack in formation...

Use ALT-RightClick to march them wherever you want. IF they are all the same unit type (or at least the same unit speed) and you are marching them straight ahead, they will march in formation. This will eliminate the clustering you are talking about, as the formations approach each other. If the units have different speeds, or you are moving them obliquely to the way they are facing, and you want them to arrive at the same time, move them in short increments (using ALT-RightClick), and allow the slower units to catch up before issuing the next short move command.

I **think** this will also work ---> You can also select the units and press CONTROL-# (e.g. CONTROL-1, CONTROL-2, etc.) to group them under a tab number. Then press the number to select all units in the group, and RightClick a destination to move them in formation.

Once near the enemy, I do the same as has already been mentioned: Hit the pause button and individually assign targets for your units to attack. Or, if it is important for your units to stay in formation, put them on guard (within javelin range if your units are so equipped and you want to get in an initial hit). Unless your guys are Phalanx, though, I would not just wait around for the enemy to charge your lines; since you lose your charge bonus. At the last 2 seconds before contact, pause and double-click your non-phalanx guys onto their targets.

Originally Posted by eunuch lust

When charging your troops to just beyond the enemy line they will automatically engage, but if you try the same with cavalry they'll just try and push right through without taking any sword swings. Is this true because I haven't really paid that much close attention to it? If so, what would be the reason for it?

I have been spending lots of time with cav units in RTW 1.5 vanilla. If your cav has been directed to attack an enemy unit or simply to move to a location, and their path allows them to make contact with another enemy unit, they will engage the obstructing enemy unit. I do not know if they lose the charge bonus, but they do, indeed, forget your original order and start "swinging their swords," on the unit with which they first made contact.