new orders planned?

[Chris Byler]

Originally posted by Pocus:

quote:

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Originally posted by Kristoffer O:
There is a new function in hold and attack. Missile units will fire during hold and then attack.

you mean in the incoming patch? That would be rather handy yes. But will they cease to fire when the 2 rounds are elapsed, to charge berserkly against the enemy? Because as of now a group of archer in hold&attack will do nothing, then attack without firing.

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Fire for some number of rounds and then charge the enemy is the *desired* behavior for Tien Chi cavalry, Daoine Sidhe, many other javelin armed infantry etc. (Although in the case of the javelineers, it would be nice if they used all their ammo first. I think the current "fire" order achieves this.)

However, I don't see why a "fire or hold" order (or firing by bodyguards) would be problematic. Dom II already enforces a time limit that resolves stalemated battles. At worst, you could have two regiments of archers that fire at each other, and if neither has routed by the time ammo is exhausted, they both stare across the battlefield at each other until the time limit arrives and the attacker retreats.

While this could certainly be unfortunate for the attacker, it's his own fault for not bringing a contingent of melee troops (or having them routed early) - or using the normal Fire order for his archers, which would let him give a target priority and have them attack when their ammo runs out. The battle will still end with a definite resolution.

Currently units such as Vanir, Daoine Sidhe, Red Guard, Centaur Warriors etc. are considerably reduced in effectiveness as bodyguards because they won't use all their weapons. To say nothing of the poor Things of Many Eyes which have no use if they can't even guard summoners...