Does running equal charging?

**haidcat** · December 18, 2006, 12:18 PM

Hi. I have a problem with my units trying to attack in formation. When my units are spread out and I click the attack button they lose formation and all clump together, so to counter that, what I do is double click behind the enemy and make the formation run to that area, therfore keeping them in formation. The only problem I can see from this is that my units dont get the charge bonus because they are essentially just running into the enemy. So my question is, does running into the enemy provide charging bonus?

**napoleonic** · December 18, 2006, 03:10 PM

no, if you ordered them to run, they would not be so battle ready than if you ordered them to charge.

**Lord Phoenix** · December 18, 2006, 03:15 PM

Order them to individually attack each unit in front of them in the enemy line while paused. Then, when you unpause, they will all attack. If you are facing less units ahead of you than are in your line, order the remainder at the sides to advance past the enemy lines like you are already doing, and then tell them to attack once they've passed for a nice flank/rear charge.

**OGGleep** · December 18, 2006, 07:27 PM

No. In order to get the charge bonus, the unit has to switch into charge mode. Unless this happens, there is no bonus, no matter how fast you were going before contact.

**haidcat** · December 19, 2006, 02:19 PM

thanks to all. much appreciated.

**claudius2007** · December 19, 2006, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by OGGleep

No. In order to get the charge bonus, the unit has to switch into charge mode. Unless this happens, there is no bonus, no matter how fast you were going before contact.

Completely true. Running through them does prove useful though when you are attacking a settlement especially if you can do it with extra infantry after the hand to hand battle has already begun. You do lose more troops because of not using the charge bonus but surrounding them when you have better troop armor and morale is sweet

**akinkhoo** · December 27, 2006, 06:13 AM

some suggested when facing enemies with 2 or more lines, to attack the 2nd line so the cavalry will be charging across 1st line.... hmm not sure if that is such a good idea...

**Tritio** · December 28, 2006, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by akinkhoo

some suggested when facing enemies with 2 or more lines, to attack the 2nd line so the cavalry will be charging across 1st line.... hmm not sure if that is such a good idea...

Oh yes it is. I did that once with my Byzantine general's bodyguard. They totally flattened the first line of troops and went on to hit the second line - hard. Both routed in a short time. They were unarmoured troops of some kind - perhaps town/spear militia or even archers, I don't remember. The point is that the plow-through effect was present and obvious to see.