Some ideas

[Hancock the Superb]

In the new game, just some ideas I have.

Regiments that turn their troops to form a V and excetera. So you have men facing in different directions.

Make different formations different to casualties, for example, more casualties for a column formation.

Stone walls, men can jump over, so why have them slow the regiment down so much?

Different defensive terrain for each man, if the flag of the regiment is at the end of the stonewall, and one wing is not behind a stone wall, then the men on that one wing should fall faster. In addition, we should have half the regiment breaking, and other stuff like that.

Firing while laying down, with defensive bonus. However, make it so they lack something, like the terrain bonus or something. In addition, the troops should be able to advance and fall back better.

When a regiment breaks, the rest of the regiments within a small distance of it lose moral.

Anything else, people want to add?

[JC Edwards]

Not sure about the "firing while lying prone", but I would like to see a line formation that includes the 1st line kneeling to fire in front of a standing firing line.

Another idea that would be more of an interest for me, is Cavalry with the ability to open fire while on horseback.

[Phantom Captain]

They actually did fire while prone quite often. Believe me you would too if minie balls were flying around you. If there was any type of terrain they could lie down behind, even rail fences using the bottom rail and the high grass as camo they would.

Problem was loading. It's not easy loading a muzzleloading musket lying down. You have to roll on your back and hold the rifle barrel as high up as you could, butt down by your feet of course and try to pour the powder down the barrel which is at 30 degrees or so only. The try ramming the ball. Not so easy.

So what Hancock is suggesting is very plausible and the men would definitely have a defensive bonus but would take a big penalty to loading and firing rate.

Doubt Norb could get this in at this point although it's certainly something to think about in the future. B)

[ironsight]

On a couple rare occassions, i've seen large regiments form a flat-bottomed U shape when engaged with multiple enemy flankers. Probably just a random oddity maybe due to LOS or terrain anomalies. Really cool though!

What i'd like to see:
A forced 'stop engagement' and orderly 2X retreat command at the brigade and division level.

Visual indication that artillery is runnin low on ammo and resupplyable, maybe a flag indicator of somekind.
A couple of days ago gathered up all available brigades and batteries to blitz a stong counter attack against a very determined Yankee division. Moved my arty up to support the infantry and the enemy 'was' on the run only to find out most batteries were on empty and stopped firing. I normally check and resupply before doing this but in this case getting that arty up fast was a make or break situation and forgot to check their ammo.
A visual low ammo indicator would of prevented this mistake. A real life battery commander wouldn't allow his guns to move up to the front lines without resupplying his 'just about' empty cassons. Just wouldn't happen.
:

[norb]

Hopefully situations like these will come out in testing.