Newbish question

[PvK]

I've been playing Dominions since the first edition, mostly against the AI which isn't a brilliant tactician, and I still get lots of fun out of micromanaging my army deployment and watching the battles. But that's my personal taste, mostly.

Anyway, yes there are many creative things you can do with non-magical army orders, though many players don't explore that to the degree I have, since the high-powered magics in the later stages of multi-player games can make such subtleties not so relevant.

The archer/blocker tactic you describe though is do-able, more or less. They won't stand in a block as you imagined, but the general effect you have in mind can be accomplished. Generally, use Hold & Attack Closest on the blocking forces in front of the archers, and use slower troops for them, and play with the position on the battlefield and observe what happens.

PvK