Let's talk formations

**Riekopo** · January 16, 2015, 01:41 PM

Vanilla Total War games have (in my opinion) had a severe lack of formations. Modders often add formations. I find formations are a much more compelling mechanic than the magic buttons CA has grown fond of lately. I have a very limited knowledge of battle tactics during this time period though. The formations I can think of that should be in the game are:

Loose Formation for all units
Guard Mode (not a formation I know)
Fulcrum (an anti cavalry formation)
Square or Hollow Square formation
Orb Formation
Wedge Formation

**Sheridan** · January 16, 2015, 01:49 PM

Each of these formations have existed or do exist in some game. Wedge is old and has been present since the original Rome if I'm not mistaking, loose formation and guard mode typically the same. Schiltron (orb) was introduced in BI, square and hollow square in ETW. Fulcrum is an exception though - it does exist in Rome 2, as a buff but with no changes to the formation (at least not originally, may have changed in some patch and likely has in certain mods if not else). The big task is to get them all into one and the same game but still not so every unit has every ability.

**crucify_ego** · January 17, 2015, 06:42 AM

With a month or so till release, I think it's safe to say all the things you want back from the older games isn't happening at this point bud.

**Destin Faroda** · January 17, 2015, 01:20 PM

I'd also like to see the column formation ingame.

**Altimis** · January 17, 2015, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Destin Faroda

I'd also like to see the column formation ingame.

Er.. I believe we already had that? you can manually put your units into column by using rightclick-draging-you-want-formation, no?

There army formation called "column" as well, no?

**Destin Faroda** · January 17, 2015, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Altimis

Er.. I believe we already had that? you can manually put your units into column by using rightclick-draging-you-want-formation, no?

That's a line formation with more rows. I want a proper column formation and a unit cohesion system.

**Garensterz** · January 17, 2015, 07:38 PM

I would gladly see an arched formation in Atilla, which i have been hoping for since Rome 1. I also wanted to see schiltron to appear as well.

**La Tene** · January 19, 2015, 02:02 PM

Totally agree - go with formations and not magic abilities, please CA. They have to be careful though and not reduce the complexity of the game too much IE: DeI. DeI is great but, depending on the troops you end up recruiting, you can end up with armies that have no complexity at all and it becomes a march at the enemy bore fest - at least that's my experience with barbarian tribes.

It seems to me that nearly any unit with shields should have a protective formation that restricts them to walking but allows them to move towards missiles with increased security - I can't imagine even the levy barbarian troops not being able to agree that "we should move forward with protection in mind". In R2 this stance is quite diminished by the fact that it force shrinks the capacity for the unit to spread out wide - this really needs to be looked at because the whole battlefield should revolve around whether or not one army chooses to go the defensive approach, or not, yet I rarely use shield wall because I worry my troops will be surrounded too easily.

**Wintercross** · January 20, 2015, 09:04 PM

Formations and such are way better than magic 'fight harder' buttons. It's fine for general abilities like Inspire etc, but regular troops should just have formations and special ammunition where appropriate. (I would even argue fire arrows should only be available in a siege)