Withdrawal Turns into Suicide?

[Favre]

I was wondering, What are the conditions that need to be right for you to withdraw and have all your units slayed?


I was fighting carthage in a total war and I was attacked by 3,000 Carthaginians, i only had 2,000 in sicily. I withdrew and then my WHOLE army was slain. What condition need to be right for this to happen? I wanted to live to fight another day

[Crimson Scythe]

If your troops don't have anywhere to withdraw to (i.e., neighbouring province or ships), they're completely lost. I don't know how the new land bridge between Sicily and Italy in 5.1 CE (I'm assuming this is what you're playing) affects this.

Hope that answers your question.

[Mega Dux Bob]

If you see a little scull in a red field next to your General's head in the pre-battle screen that means you can't withdraw without being destroyed.

[Shadow_Imperator]

Good way to withdraw and army is to not press the withdraw button funnily enough, but fight. However, deploy all your troops at the edge of the deployment area closest to the battlefield boundry, and then use the 'withdraw' order button and take your troops from the field as soon as the battle comences, don't do this too often with generals as you will sooner or later rack up some nasty traits... However, THAT is how you make your army fight another day..

[Musopticon?]

It's also a neasty way to use horse archers.

Shoot all your arrows and then withdraw all your units individually. Then do it again. And again.