More historical formations

[Rommel76]

This is a great game but it may be better if it incorporates more historical formations , only allows the formation column division , but there were three more that could be included.

The next is from "French Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 1792–1815". OSPREY PUBLISHING:

"BATTALION COLUMNS
Battalion columns could be drawn up in various different ways; these are a few of them:
(A) Open column by platoons, at full or ‘deployment’ distance.
The full-length intervals between platoons allowed enough room
to manoeuvre easily into other formations, such as a square,
or

(B) Line facing to the flank, by simply wheeling each platoon,
or

(C) Line facing front, deployed to one side of the leading
platoon. The line would be formed successively as each
platoon came up into its place. Given the time it took for the
last platoon to take its place on the far flank, deployment on the
centre was often preferred, with successive platoons moving up
to either side of the lead platoon alternately.


(D) Closed column by platoons, each platoon drawn up at the
minimum distance from the one in front. The advantages
were that all were within voice range of the commander;
keeping alignment was easier during movement over rough
ground; and the compact mass was suitable for shock action –
either attacking enemy infantry, or defending against cavalry. It
was too cramped, however, for the platoons to manoeuvre easily
into some other formation when that became necessary.


(E) Closed column of divisions, according to the 1808 regulation
which reduced the battalion from eight to six platoons. By doubling
up its platoons into divisions a battalion column could double
its frontage for giving fire, and reduce the complexity
of deployment into other formations. This was the
favoured infantry formation during the later Empire."

[Rommel76]

Image from the same book.

The attachment FrenchNapoleonicInfantryTactics17921815.jpg is no longer available

[Gunfreak]

I would like more brigade and division formation.

I would like mixed brigade formations, a mix of line and columns that was often the standard brigade formation, giving the brigade lots of options, some times it could be a whole division working as a "big brigade" in mixed formations.

[gunship24]

Just so you know; there are many more formations in the game that used primarily for scenarios but are not unfortunately available on the toolbar due to space and to prevent over complication. If you know how to mod you can mod the UI to make buttons yourself to use them. All formations can be seen in the file drills.csv. There are loads to try out . You can also make your own formations if you wish or edit the ones provided.

[Saddletank]

there are many more formations in the game that used primarily for scenarios but are not unfortunately available on the toolbar due to space

To me this is another indicator that MyGUI was the incorrect choice for this game. At every turn there are threads on this forum that highlight it's limitations. The modders are running up against limitations as well.

[gunship24]

The toolbar was optimised to cater for all players, new and old. We could have stuffed all the formations on there if we wanted. As I'm sure you will agree there are many formations to choose from in this era, many need some knowledge of the finer points of napoloenic warfare to understand their usefulness. We did plan on having various toolbars for the player to choose, some having more formations than others so newer players were not baffled by all the choices. One of those things that we were unable to complete in the time unfortunately.

[Jim]

Excerpt from the draft SDK. These are in the base drills.csv. However the AI does not have the ability to use all of the formations. However feel free to mod in the additional formations on your own.

-Jim



Legal Formation Names

French Infantry

Battalion DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Line_3L
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_LineFight_3L
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_ColumnbyDivision_Fr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_ColumnbyDivision_Half_Fr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_ColumnbyDivision_Quarter_Fr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Square_Fr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Fr_Skirmishers_Co
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Fr_Skirmishers
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Fr_Skirmishers_Batt

Prussian Infantry
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Line_Pr_3L
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_LineFight_Pr_3L
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Attack_Col_Pr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Attack_Col_Half_Pr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Attack_Col_Full_Pr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Square_Pr
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Pr_Skirmish_small
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Skirmish_Pr_Full-Batt
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Pr_Skirmishers

British Infantry
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Line_Br_2
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Line_Br_2_Fight
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Line_Br_2_Skirmishers
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Br_Skirmishers_small
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Skirmish_Br_Batt
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Br_Skirmishers
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Line_Br_4
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Line_Br_4_Fight
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Square_Br
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Col_Co_4D_Br
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Col_Co_2D_Br
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Col_Co_FD_Br

Common Infantry
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_ColumnofTwo
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_Column
DRIL_Lvl6_Inf_RoadColumn

Brigade British Infantry
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Line_Br
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_LineFight_Br
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_LinewithReserves_Br
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_ColumnbyCompany_Br
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_DoubleLine_Br
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Bgd_Squares_Br

Prussian Infantry
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Line_PR
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_LineFight_PR
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Attack_Column_Pr
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Bgd_Squares_Pr

French Infantry
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Brig_Line_FR
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Brig_LineFight_FR
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Brig_DoubleLine_Fr
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Brig_ColumnbyDivision_FR
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Brig_Col_Btn_FR
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Bgd_Squares_FR

Common Infantry
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_Column
DRIL_Lvl5_Inf_RoadColumn

Division French Infantry
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Div_Ord_Mixte
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Div_Col_Btn_FR
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Div_Line_FR
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Div_DoubleLine_FR
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Div_Squares_FR

Prussian Infantry
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Attack_Cols_Pr
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Line_Pr
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Square_Pr

British Infantry
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Line_Br
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_DoubleLine_Br
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Square_Br

Common Infantry
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Column
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_Reserves
DRIL_Lvl4_Inf_RoadColumn

Corps DRIL_Lvl3_Inf_Line_Corps_Br
DRIL_Lvl3_Inf_Res_Corps_Br
DRIL_Lvl3_Inf_Line_Corps_FR
DRIL_Lvl3_Inf_Res_Corps_FR
DRIL_Lvl3_Inf_Line_Corps_Pr
DRIL_Lvl3_Inf_Res_Corps_Pr


Cavalry

Regiment DRIL_Lvl6_Cav_Column
DRIL_Lvl6_Cav_Line
DRIL_Lvl6_Cav_LineHold
DRIL_Lvl6_Cav_SingleLine
DRIL_Lvl6_Cav_Skirmish
DRIL_Lvl6_Cav_ColumnbyDivision

Brigade DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_Line
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_SingleLineHold
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_Line2
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_DoubleLine
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_DoubleLine2
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_Column
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_RoadColumn
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_LinewithReserves
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_LinewithReserves2
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_Skirmish
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_ColumnbyDivision
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_ColumninLine
DRIL_Lvl5_Cav_ColumninLine2

Division DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_Line
DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_Line2
DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_DoubleLine
DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_DoubleLine2
DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_LinewithReserves
DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_ColumnbyDivision
DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_ColumninLine
DRIL_Lvl4_Cav_Column



Artillery

Gun DRIL_Lvl6_Art_Line
DRIL_Lvl6_Art_RoadColumn
DRIL_Lvl6_Art_March

Battery DRIL_Lvl5_Art_Line
DRIL_Lvl5_Art_DoubleLine
DRIL_Lvl5_Art_Column
DRIL_Lvl5_Art_ColumnbySection
DRIL_Lvl5_Art_RoadColumn

Battalion DRIL_Lvl4_Art_Line
DRIL_Lvl4_Art_DoubleLine
DRIL_Lvl4_Art_Column
DRIL_Lvl4_Art_RoadColumn
DRIL_Lvl4_Art_ColumnbySection

DRIL_SupplyWagon
DRIL_SupplyTrain

[RebBugler]

The next update of the Grog Toolbar will include a popup Formations window with additional formation buttons. My Gui serves this purpose well.

[Rommel76]

Good news !, the idea is not to criticize this great game my purpose is to improve from the historical point of view and I think that is also the desire of many colleagues , I love this historical period and I usually read books specializing in the field.

On the other hand I don't know how you can change the game so I'll wait for future mods.