Table Of Contents With Tactical Map And Basic Strategy
Table of Contents:
1. Tactical Map
Basic Strategy
2. Unit Commands
F1 Movement Orders
F2 Formation Orders
F3 Fire Orders
Other Stuff
(Army lined up and waiting for orders)
This information is not available in-game but it is described in the player's manual.
Understanding how to issue unit commands changes the game, making battles much more interesting, engaging and effective.
1. Tactical Map
While the player is on the battle-field (as opposed to the world map), selecting the Backspace key will call up your Tactical Map.
You will notice the mini-map in the upper right corner. It can be confusing since it is not oriented the same way as your field of view might suggest it should be. Rather than you looking forward, towards your enemy, the tactical map is oriented from above with your field of view pointing downwards, toward the enemy.
There are also no terrain features on this mini-map so it could be confusing in hills or forests since the player can easily lose sight by sending a unit outside of their field-of-view. Trying to get a unit on top of a hill or just behind it, might take some trial and error. Personally, I never use it for detailed troop placement but it can be useful for general movements on open ground.
The player can move units around on the mini-map by first checking the box on the unit's row and then left-mouse-clicking on the mini-map itself.
To the left of the mini-map are your specific units, in rows. Each row has a check-box you can use to select/de-select each unit. Your units are generally set up by default to 1. Infantry, 2. Archers, 3. Cavalry, etc. All of these values can easily be changed on your party menu (the army list...see below). Just click on a group of guys and you'll get options to change things like names or the key configuration. It can be very useful to name them according to the tasks you expect them to do or something else that makes them easily identifiable. For this guide, I added "Companions" and "Sword Sisters", both of whom would have been included in "Cavalry" in my games. I typically reset all mounted troops to "Cavalry" just to keep them out of my shieldwall and separate from the "Infantry" and "Archers".
By doing this, you can use very specific groups of soldiers, for specific tasks, like flanking or climbing ladders, etc.
In the image above, you can see that I have set up a classic box-style of defence where I have my "Cavalry" (Swadian Knights) with me behind a line of "Infantry" (Nord Huscarls). To my right (left on the mini-map) are my "Sword Sisters". To my left (right on the mini-map) are my "Companions". The companions group has only ten members so it is more easily identifiable in the image. Once the enemy moves inside the box, I give the order "Everyone, Charge!" and they close in trapping the enemy and surrounding them completely. In this example, you can see that there is only one bandit left alive by the time I got it set up and took the screenshot. It is that effective.
To set the trap effectively, the units typically start out with a "Hold this position" command, or "Follow Me", etc. As the enemy approaches, the units are moved into position. Setting it up too early could result in the enemy simply targeting one side of the box, rather than walking right into the center. Since the enemy typically targets the closest opponent they see, it's best to keep everyone back or well off on the flanks until they have entered the box (ie the killing ground of your choosing).
Here is the army list under your Party tab. Sword Sisters are selected in the list on the right. By clicking on their name by the image in the center (under "Class of troop"), it is possible to designate their specific unit or rename it.
Basic Strategy
Other useful tactics include things like having a line of infantry with archers safely behind them. Your cavalry can be sent off to one flank to wait for further orders and position themselves behind the enemy for a surprise attack. Using your cavalry in such a way devastates the enemy's morale, inflicts mass casualties by hitting their unprotected backs and typically causes them to break ranks and run for the edges of the map.
In an urban setting, like fighting in a village, the player might want to send footsoldiers in first and send the cavalry around to a position where they can manouever more effectively? I find they are pretty awesome in tight quarters, so I am more concerned with getting my guys in there before the peasants start getting themselves killed.
In a siege, you may want to keep your archers back to snipe the defenders off of the walls prior to sending your footsoldiers up the ladders, etc. I only use the tactical map for information about how the casualties are stacking up for each side during the battle. The movements are too finicky for me to use the mini-map to move troops in cramped quarters. A word of caution - when you call up the Tactical Map, time does not stop and wait for you. You will not be able to attack or move easily and you will drop your shield to your side.
Once your archers have cleared as many defenders as you can, send your toughest infantry up the ladders as shock-troops. When they have taken the wall at the top of the ladder(s), bring your archers up there and position them where they can provide support.
Unit Commands
2. Unit Commands
There are two rows of buttons on your keyboard that you will use for issuing unit commands. The row of numbered keys are for identifying specific units. The F keys at the top are for giving the orders.
Hitting the Esc key will call up the Options Menu where you can check the default key configurations if you ever get confused. Alternatively, you can use trial and error, even in the heat of battle; if you make a mistake, hitting the Esc key will cancel the last thing you did. I do this quite often, especially when I have a bunch of different custom units set up.
As in real life, all orders begin by addressing the people you are speaking to. You get their attention, then tell them what you want them to do. When you want to address a unit, you hit the appropriate number key and get something like [#2 key]"Archers, hear me!". This will bring up the main orders menu.
(In this image, my character has turned around to look at my troops. The infantry is selected to show what a specific unit looks like)
You can see in the image that there are three basic types of orders: Movement Orders, Formation Orders, and Fire Orders. The first is for directing them around the map, the second is for how you want them to do that and the last one is about whether they shoot at the enemy while doing the other stuff, for example.
Each battle begins with the default "Everyone" selected so you can go straight to the F keys and start giving general orders to your army. Once you give a unit-specific order, you will not be able to give general orders again (like "Charge" for example) until you select the 0 key for "Everyone" again (The + key will also select "Everyone").
So it works like this: F1, F2 or F3 to call up the basic order menus, then F1 - F6 for specific orders.
A common tactic for people who want to race towards the enemy might be F1,F2 (for follow me) or F1, F3 (for charge...which they would do anyway, by default).
To order unit specific commands, you must select the number key for that unit to get their attention, then use the F keys for basic orders, and again for specific orders.
F1 Movement Orders
F1 Hold This PositionYour troops will line up shoulder to shoulder, centered upon the player. Holding this key will show you a flag which can be positioned with your mouse, within line of sight. They will go to that position and arrange themselves facing towards the enemy.
F2 Follow MeYour troops line up as they would for "Hold This Position" but they follow the player's movements and orient themselves to your field-of-view. If you turn, they all turn. With a large army, that is a huge line of guys that will shuffle about without consideration for terrain or enemy units, etc. This order is best to get them to the fight, then use "Charge" to have them engage the enemy and stop worrying about you. You can probably get through most battles by simply having everyone "Follow Me" but if you like orderly movements, you'll need to be more specific.
F3 ChargeJust like it sounds, all units will engage the closest enemy. Footsoldiers move forward cautiously, mounted troops speed towards the enemy line.
F4 Stand GroundYour troops will hold their current position and engage the enemy when they come to them. This is ideal for defending a hill or the top of a ladder, etc.
F5 RetreatPresumably, this orders your troops to cut-and-run to the edge of the battle map.
F2 Formation Orders
F1 Advance Ten PacesAll units will move ten paces towards the enemy. They don't actually take ten steps and not all units move the exact same distance. If you are using this to cover a large distance, you may have to reposition your individual units again. It can be useful to push your line forward and fully engage with an enemy shieldwall that is dancing about, trying to be cute. There does seem to be some advantage to doing this as the screen is typically filled with green messages when I do it.
F2 Fall Back Ten PacesAs above, this does what you'd expect. It can be useful when things are going badly and you want to reposition, to make more effective use of terrain/obstacles, or to make room for another unit to charge in?
F3 Spread OutA wise order to give when your units are taking enemy missile fire. Arrows are not like bullets, they target a general area so bunching up is dangerous. Spreading out your troops makes it more difficult for archers to target them individually. There is less chance of them being hit by stray missiles.
F4 Stand CloserIf you want a strong shieldwall that is difficult for the enemy to break through, use this order. As above, issuing the order several times might be necessary to get the desired effect.
F5 Mount HorsesAlthough this might not have much use in an open field, I'm told it can be useful during Praven tournaments, as one example.
F6 DismountYou can order mounted troops to get off their horses. They'll do this anyway if they get stuck but you might want to have control over that situation in harsh terrain, etc.? Maybe there is a way to use the horses as a barricade and have the soldiers fight as infantry? I have no idea, really.
F3 Fire Orders
F1 Hold Your FireUnits put their missile weapons away and draw a melee weapon...if they have them. This order is useful while moving units into position as it allows them to move more quickly across the map. It also prevents troops from clogging up the ladders during a siege. Once everyone is in position, you can then unleash a rain of death upon the enemy and they won't have time to move out of the way. When your army shoots at will, the enemy typically keeps back, out of range if possible.
F2 Fire At WillAll troops will fire their missile weapons at the closest enemies. They will take the longest ranged shots and waste all of their ammo, so it can be useful to make them wait until you get into position.
F3 Use Only Blunt WeaponsThis order increases the chances of taking prisoners. It won't increase the chances of capturing a lord. It is useful for other prisoners in general, however. Troops that don't have a blunt weapon equipped, will be going into battle punching with their fists.
F4 Use Weapons At WillThis is useful for countering other orders you might have given mistakenly? Or for whatever reasons, it can reset everyone to go back to doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Other Stuff
Holding F1: As mentioned, this will bring up a flag that can be placed within your line-of-sight. The selected troops will move to that position, form up, and face the enemy.
- Key: The minus sign is essentially the eleventh number key and will select "Nearby soldiers". Any of your troops within about ten yards of your character will be selected and ready for orders.
Ctrl+J: Causes your horse to rear up and stop suddenly.
Hold ~ : Allows you look around while moving and keeping your shield up.
Alt+Tab: Minimizes the game to desktop without quitting.
G: Drop item
E: Kick. This can stagger your opponent.
+ and - (Number Pad): Zoom in and out.
Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=836321641
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