Melee limitations

[exp101]

Is it possible to have more than one regiment on a side join a single melee? For instance, can 2 or more Rebel regiments melee simultaneously with a single Union regiment? From observation (doesn't appear to be in the manual) it seems to me that after a regiment is given the command to charge, neighboring friendly regiments which are likewise nearest to the target will pick other, more distant victims rather than adding their weight to the one already underway. In my experience this is also true for regiments given the command at precisely the same time, as when the order is given to the regiments' brigade commander.

[KG_Soldier]

It is possible to have 2 regiments melee against 1. The best way to do it is to march the 2nd regiment into the melee while TC'd and let it autocharge. If you hit the charge button, there's always the possibility the 2nd regiment will pick a distant enemy to charge.

[Martin James]

It is possible to have 2 regiments melee against 1. The best way to do it is to march the 2nd regiment into the melee while TC'd and let it autocharge. If you hit the charge button, there's always the possibility the 2nd regiment will pick a distant enemy to charge.

Many thanks KG_Soldier. I've been wondering how to achieve this myself.

That said, I think it would be best if this could be addressed in a future patch, for a number of reasons:

(a) Historically, more than one regiment would have charged a target if they could have done.

(b) One of the strengths of the game is its accessibility to folks who want different things out of it - eg commanding at different levels. To have to TC an individual regiment forces you down the micro-management route.

(c) In MP, those players who know about this will have an advantage. I think it’s best if the game favours those who best apply period tactics, rather than those who are aware of idiosyncrasies.

Martin

[KG_Soldier]

Martin,

This is a tactic often used by Seal with his massed division column charges. The column bit is really not important other than the regiments move fastest that way. But the purpose of his attack is to get multiple regiments in melee with individual enemy regiments. You can tell he's coming because he'll set his division's infantry (2 brigades) right next to each other in column formation. Then he rushes the whole thing across the field and into the weakest part of the line he can find.

There are a couple of reliable counters:

Fall back at the point of attack and let him charge into a bag. We've really mauled him a couple of times doing that.

When you see him coming, bunch your division's regiments right on top of each other and slug it out, trying to get 2 of your regiments in melee with 1 of his in multiple melees.