Movement in column

[Blaugrana]

Something I just noticed the other day (which doesn't mean it's necessarily anything new!):

With a brigade in line, I order (by clicking, not courier) the Brigade commander to a position a few hundred yards ahead, then click on 'single line'. The brigade's regiments all form into columns, march forward then manouvre into line when reaching their destination. Surely this is historically wrong?

Jeff

[Garnier]

Well historically it took more effort for regiments to change formation, and it was dangerous, so once you deployed into line you wouldn't go into column near the front generally. In the game the column moves 50% faster and with no penalty for changing formation really, so there's a certain distance where it makes sense to always form column, at least when you're not under fire.

Columns can take a lot of damage now from solid shot from artillery, so it is sometimes worth moving in lines.

[Blaugrana]

Yeah - that's what I believed. For greater historical accuracy shouldn't it be much 'costlier' to move into and out of column?

[SouthernSteel]

Perhaps, but with the fatigue settings where they are now, another fatigue hit doesn't seem like it would go over well. They might be able to slow change from formation to formation, but you can always double quick and bypass that.

[norb]

Each unit has a default fighting and marching formation. They will use the march formation if they have to move anywhere but very local.

[Blaugrana]

Thanks, Norb.

I guess the scale (time & space)is sort of reduced in the game, as it is based on failrly short engaements within battles. Historically, I believe regiments would not 'advance' or 'attack' in column, but they definitely can do in the game.