AI not responding to movement orders sent by courier

[Son of an Irish Noble]

When I play army/corps battles, I like to use courier based orders only (no movement by mouse except for the commander sprite). After downloading patch 1.301, I've found that ordering a corps commander to move to a specific map location (or landmark) results in only the commander moving, the unit itself remains stationary. It's a very satisfying way to play so hopefully this is an easy fix.

[Little Powell]

You can only move Corps commanders alone, they do not have unit formations. You would have to order his division commanders separately.

Also, if you are trying to move a division commander or brigade and their units, you issue the movement command, then you must give them a formation. This was put in a patch to fix an issue with all units piling up on each other at a destination. Commanders require a formation or the commander will be the only one moving anywhere.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

LittlePowell wrote:

You can only move Corps commanders alone, they do not have unit formations. You would have to order his division commanders separately.

This is true. I once made a small mod with a corps formation which allowed me to order the entire corps to a spot. I didn't really like the result, because the divisions would go to their assigned spot without any regard to the terrain they occupy. And since a division takes up a lot of real estate, it doesn't look very realistic. However, I do notice occasionally that if a corps commander is ordered to some location, he will eventually order the divisions to move nearby. Maybe the division(s) do so on their own. I discovered this because I usually use corps commanders as scouts, since they serve no other use. I send them out and after a while, one or more divisions will move to his general location. It's really a nice effect when it happens. Maybe for a future patch/game Norb could strengthen this so that after a certain amount of time it always happens.

[Son of an Irish Noble]

I seem to recall it working with corps when I played as Grant and it being a lot of fun. Also this particular incident was with division commanders (I was playing as Hancock's corps)

Edit: The opening post was mistaken, this was playing as a corps commander and the courier orders were issued to division commanders

[Marching Thru Georgia]

SOIN wrote:

Edit: The opening post was mistaken, this was playing as a corps commander and the courier orders were issued to division commanders

As LittlePowell wrote, this is probably because you forgot to add a formation to the order. Here is a typical movement order that I give brigades and divisions.
1. Move to e.g. Cemetery Hill
2. Face your unit NW
3. Change to double line formation
4. Defend
5. Use roads

This is all one order. They will always obey.

[Son of an Irish Noble]

Yeah, just a shame it can't be done with Corps. Was that ever possible or am I misremembering? Could've sworn I played as grant once with the Shiloh OOB without an issue.

[Little Powell]

Yeah, just a shame it can't be done with Corps. Was that ever possible or am I misremembering? Could've sworn I played as grant once with the Shiloh OOB without an issue.

It's never been possible. You might have been thinking of a previous game? It was possible with the CMP mod for TC2M. For this game, the sprite ratio is lower, many more troops on the field, it's just not practical and realistic to give a full Corps a formation. Like MTG pointed out, it just gets messy.

[con20or]

Yeh - this was something I had been hoping to get fixed but there was just too much stuff on the courier wishlist that took priority. It's been reported and I'm sure someone will take a look at it in the future,the guys on the dev team are really good at that. We got lots of new improvements for the courier system for this patch.

A couple of tricks that might work, use the courier menu and give your corps commander a division formation, try something easy like line. He definitely starts moving troops around, ive tested it before, although i have no idea how many troops he will move,or where they will end up Alternatively try a brigade formatino order, try an easy one like line, maybe it could work. Although maybe he will just move a division, or a brigade.

Try giving a 'probe towards this location' order - that could work.

[Martin James]

.................use the courier menu and give your corps commander a division formation, try something easy like line. He definitely starts moving troops around, ive tested it before, although i have no idea how many troops he will move,or where they will end up

Yes, that does work. I've used it, although not much. I think he will move the guys where you order him to, provided you use MTG's 5-part order.

Martin

[con20or]

I have a feeling though if you use a division formation, he only moves one division, could be the same with brigade as well. I think I remember it went into some crazy formation at the end too...

I havent tested it properly though, it's on my to-do list but busy with Antietam the last few months.