[idea/suggestion for CA] How to FIX blobbing

[JaM]

I have posted this in totalwar.com:

The biggest problem of Rome 2 is blobbing during combat. So far, no matter what changes CA came with, it didnt solved anything, because problem is more deep than many think.

Core of this issue is in the way how unit engages enemy unit. Each unit has a central point. When player attacks, his unit always wants to engage that central point no matter what. It is fine for one on one situations when opposing units are directly against each other. But, if you want to engage enemy in the flank, attacking unit completely ignores flank and instead engages that central point of enemy unit.

This means any battle maneuvers are completely pointless, because no matter how you flank enemy, your unit will still run to the center instead of engaging that flank.

Ideas for solutions:

- add more these "central points" to every unit. Instead of single point, every unit would have 4 - 2 in flanks, one in rear and one in center, so it would be possible to engage certain portion of unit in battle.

or

- make unit attack AREA instead of unit themselves (indirect attack approach). This way, attacks would mean attacking unit would engage all enemy entities in targeted area, instead of trying to get to enemy unit. (should work similar like a move command) This way it would be possible to send units to empty space in flanks and engage enemy entities there without units blobing together.

Area attacks should be also enabled for ranged weapons as well - they should be able to just throw their javelins, shoot arrows into certain area and cause damage to whoever is in that space, friendly or foe.

[Aenima]

I just don't understand,if I'm honest, how they managed to make a mess out of this when, to my knowledge, there's never really been a "blobbing" problem in any previous title, at least not in the past decade.

[JaM]

Actually, this was present in all Warscape games since ETW. Anyway it is much more of a problem in Rome 2 as it is focused on melee combat. Even in ETW/NTW, it was just not possible to attack enemy unit in flank, because attacking unit turned to attack them directly into central point.

[jamreal18]

Blobbing is for shogun 2.

Formation is for rome 2.

[JaM]

What i mean by blobbing is the unit refusal to attack anyhow differently than directly into that single central point. If you select several units and attack single enemy unit, all your units will end up occupying same space, which creates massive blob. formation turning around is a problem too, but not as significant than this.. Because with this behavior, you cannot employ any tactical decisions. There is no way to send unit around enemy flank, because it will ignore it and attack frontally.

[jamreal18]

Samurai's waiting for their turn until the men in front of them get killed before they fight is not realistic. When samurai's are ordered to attack, they will attack enemy and everyone of them will each look for a chance to kill someone in the enemy. Thats why i like everyone in a unit to fight at the same time in SHOGUN 2.

Romans and other civilized nation in roman era fight in formation. Most soldiers in roman era were trained with discipline. For example, in a legion, the men behind the first rank wait for their turn. Also in phalanx, three front ranks stab the enemy at the front while those who are in the back support those who are in the front. I like formation and cohesion in ROME 2.

Back to the topic,

Its not a good sight when you order your men to attack at enemy flank, they will attack at the center.