Changing Starting Army Formations

[Jack ONeill]

All,

Don't know if this is a Mod question or a tech question so here goes - Is there a way to change the starting Formation of an Army in Sandbox? Example - Right now, in Sandbox, (Hunt them down, Objectives or no Objectives), the Army starts in a box-like shape formation, roughly square. Doesn't matter where on the map it spawns, it's always the same. Can it be changed to Divisions in line like a "Line of Sight" Battles? I'm sure this has been asked before. Just can't find it in a search.

Jack B)

[Leffe7]

If you are using the stock Sandbox, then IMO no, this can't be changed.

[Jack ONeill]

Leffe/All,

I realize it MAY not be possible, but I know in the Drills.csv file, (I think), there are provisions for formation changes.
Also, in running aimlessly around inside the game files themselves in the past, I know I've seen where the "Line of Sight" and the "Hunt Them Down" sandbox setups are, but, as usual, can't remember where they are or what they look like. Could be wrong though.

Jack B)

[Garnier]

It places the divisions on a grid, and if you use army sized battles that have tons of divisions, much of the grid will be filled resulting in square armies. So it's not using a special "army" formation from the drills file.

You might be able to change the layout of a given division, and you could put more units in one division to have more control.

[Jack ONeill]

G,

Thanks. Figured it wasen't from the drills file. That was the only example I have off the top of my head. Still think there has to be some way to, in essance, transfer, say, the Line of Sight staring setup to the Hunt Them Down side of the Sandbox arena.

Jack B)

[Ingles of the 57th]

Hi Jack,

That was I who raised the point about three-four weeks ago. Trying to pin down the actual post now.

I suggested that the 'attack/defend' modes in sandbox be changed to use the same starting formation as 'hunt them down'.

The grid used is clearly much larger than it needs to be and, when using an Army OOB, inevitably causes silly overlaps on all but the very largest maps. It could easily be half the size ...... if two of your own larger formations overlap slightly, it doesn't really matter.

Geoff Laver Late of Her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot

[Jack ONeill]

Geoff,

Thanks. I knew I'd seen it somewhere recently. It would be nice if we could do this. Line up like "Line of Sight" only each side against the edge of the map. Perhaps make it a mod somehow. My bet is that it's hardcoded in and can't be changed.

Jack B)

[Ingles of the 57th]

Hi Again,

This was the one. Commenting on your Waterloo OOB
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spectacular, Jack, no other word for it.

The french infantry marched straight into Uxbridge's massed cavalry on the march-in (Using Trevilian Station map, with its limited roads). I have never seen a bigger pile of dead horses in my life, this side of a British supermarket.

The size of this OOB really does push the limits of the sandbox format though. Only really works as currently programmed on the larger maps using the 'hunt them down' mode. Anything else produces ridiculous overlaps. The "line of sight" mode lined up the entire two armies in parallel, nose to nose, and any chance of controlling the battle thereafter became a pipedream.

This does not have to be though. The individual Divisions in 'defend' and 'attack' are placed initially with a lot of unnecessary space between them. If the total formation 'footprint' could be compressed and the starting positions of the two armies moved farther apart on parallel facings then even the smallest maps, like the first four Gettysburg maps, could accommodate Army v Army without overlap..

I proved this, using the Pickett map, by amending the .ini file to suspend temporarily the AI and allow Alpha Omega and then resolving an horrendous overlap by placing each Division manually as suggested above. Adequate room to do this ..... and the battle then proceeded smoothly.

Geoff Laver Late of Her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot.